Dead and Forsaken

by West, J. D.

  She put on lipstick, eye shadow, and fixed up her hair. Then she sprayed Juicy Couture perfume on her body. The aroma was heavenly and guaranteed to get a man’s attention. The trick with perfume was to not go overboard with the spray. A little was much better than a lot. The last thing she did was adjust her breasts.

  “That’s right ladies.” she joked. “Sit up and look perky!”

  She was perched in front of the mirror as she put on her favorite silver hoop earrings and necklace. By the time she touched up her toenails and slipped on a pair of silver stilettos she was ready to turn heads and break hearts.

  “You are one sexy bitch!” she told her reflection. She picked up her clutch purse and checked her butt out in the mirror.

  “Girl you got a nice ass!” she playfully told herself.

  She blew a kiss to herself in the mirror smiled and went out the door. Tonight when she walked into that noisy club all eyes were going to be on her. A few minutes later she was already on her phone texting. The young woman told her girls that she was on her way. While looking down she ran right into the janitor and dropped her phone. She yelled at the man and bent down to pick up her phone.

  “You need to watch where the hell you are going!” she yelled as she picked it up and rushed past him.” Don’t be so damn clumsy!”

  She was so worried about her phone that she never saw the plug of missing skin or blood stained clothes. He starred at her intensely and slowly followed behind her. Her girlfriend called back and they started talking.

  “Girl did you get my text?” she asked. “I am leaving right now!”

  She walked through the office and past the cubicles heading toward the exit. The young woman was so excited to go out that she was dancing as she walked. Suddenly she stopped and took the phone down from her ear.

  “Hold on girl!” she told her friend.

  She was hesitant and had that sinking feeling that someone was watching her. Then she heard a noise and something was moving behind her.

  “Mister I can here you!” she called. “I am sorry I yelled. Just clean everything up and there won’t be any hard feelings!” No one responded to her but someone was definitely out there. The faint sound of someone moaning was clear and recognizable.

  “I'm not playing anymore!” she yelled. “This shit is not funny!”

  Just like all of the other hospital staff she had to attend a mandatory work place violence seminar. She was bored that day but suddenly remembered the instructor’s words. He said that she should move quickly and quietly to avoid being noticed. The next step was to find a room that could be locked or secured. If that wasn't possible she should conceal herself behind a desk or large object. As a last resort she would have to risk her life and fight. She started walking quicker but was still being followed by someone’s unknown footsteps. The young woman reached down and picked up a heavy paperweight that was on a desk in the cubicle closes to her. She was sure she saw something moving around in the dark.

  “You don’t want to make things worst do you?” she asked. “Just cut it out and we can call us even!”

  She turned around and raised the paperweight up. Her overwhelming sense of dread was growing by the second. It was darker in this area of the office so she used the light from her

  I-phones screen as a flashlight. She turned the phone out from her and scanned the cubicles behind her. She saw something move to her left and lit it up with the cell phone. The I-phones blue light picked up the blood splattered faces of a large group of the forsaken.

  She screamed as they reach their arms out for her.

  “Nooooooo!”

  She hit the beast in the front in the middle of his forehead with the paperweight. The weight opened a large wound in his head.

  “Don’t touch me!” she screamed.

  He fell down but the others keep coming. She started to run but fell down after breaking a heel.

  “Shit!” she said scolding her wardrobe choice. “I knew I should have worn flats!”

  The beasts knocked each other down trying to get to her. They grabbed her legs but she kicked free. One of them bit a chunk out of her thigh. She screamed louder than she ever did in her life. Then she kicked him hard sending her other stilettos heel into his eye.

  “Fuck you!” she cursed. It pierced his skull and punctured his brain. The frightened young woman was committed to staying alive no matter what. She took off running towards her boss’s office and closed the door once she was inside. The quick sprint left her gagging and wheezing for air. She thought the ordeal was over but her pursuers were close behind. As they slowly approached the office she could hear their animal like growls through the door.

  “GRRRRRR! GRRRRRR! GRRRRRR!”

  A halo of moonlight from the window lit up the room.

  “Go away!” she cried. “I don't want to die!”

  She realized she dropped her cell phone and tried to use the phone on the desk. She dialed 911 and was shocked at what she heard.

  “Thank you for calling emergency we will be with you as soon as we can. If this is not an emergency please call...” repeated the recording.

  “You have got to be kidding?” she said hanging the phone up. The well-built petite woman tried to move the desk in front of the door but she was too weak. She stepped into a wet and sticky puddle in the carpet and realized she was in more trouble than she thought. Then she heard a noise coming from inside the room. Something was moving around on the other side of her boss's bathroom door. She slowly opened the door and a forsaken dead housekeeper was devouring her boss.

  “Nooooooo!” she whimpered. “Not you too?”

  The sight made her a little dizzy and light headed. Before the girl could react the thing stood up and stumbled toward her. She slammed the door but the beastly woman knocked it back open before it could close. The housekeeper’s cold dead hand clutched the girl’s wrist. After several tugs she managed to twist out of the grip. The girl was forced to retreat to the other side of the room.

  “BANG! BANG! BANG!”

  Seconds later the growing horde of dead broke open the outer door. Their jaws hung open revealing rows of ruby stained teeth. The predators awkwardly collapsed into the room and rose back up on their feet. The moon light twinkled in their dead frosted eyes.

  “Shit!” screamed the woman.

  A blank expression came over her face as her eyes bulged in terror. She saw what happened to her boss and knew that if she didn't get out of there she would die a torturous death. Frantically she looked around for something to use as a weapon. Out of options she threw things at them from her boss's desk but they slowly kept coming. She started to cry and beg for mercy.

  “Please. Please don’t!” she begged. “Just let me live!” She saw people out in the parking lot from the huge window. One man carried away his injured friend followed by a crying woman. Several beasts followed them nipping at their heels. Light from the full moon bathed her attractive face but she went unnoticed.

  Beating on the glass and yelling did not help draw their attention. She was cornered and stuck somewhere she couldn't escape from. The forsaken pushed the desk aside and viciously grabbed and pulled at her flesh.

  “CHOMP!”

  “Aaaaahh!” she cried. “My fucking leg!”

  The attack left scratches on her soft glitter covered skin and tore her beautiful dress. The woman screamed louder as her finger got bitten off leaving the bone exposed.

  “Noooooooo!”

  She fell down on her knees began to pray. She knew it was all over. Soon it was hard for her to breath as the bodies piled up on top of her. They bit her hundreds of times.

  “CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!”

  Once they smelled the blood and got a taste of her flesh there was no stopping th
e feeding frenzy. This caused extensive bleeding and organ failure causing her to succumb to her injuries. Severe blood loss from the wounds caused her to pass out. At least now she didn’t have to watch herself be devoured. Her chest rose and fell as her blood squirted and gushed from her body. A female sitter finished her off by digging into her throat with her teeth slashing it open. The forsaken ferociously attacked and mutilated her body. They ripped out her guts and chewed them to pieces. The girl’s blood soaked into the thick carpet ending her young life before it really began. No one was there to listen to the girl’s final feeble screams but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Tonight neither the guilty nor innocent were safe.

  ******

  The people the young secretary saw didn't even make it another block themselves.

  “I' m sorry!” cried the hurt man. “I'm slowing you guys down!”

  “It's OK man! Save your energy!” replied his friend.

  “Just promise me you'll do me when the time comes!” he begged in pain.

  “No!” he responded. “Don't talk like that all of us are going to make it!”

  “Hurry up! Move it!” yelled the woman. “We can't waste any time!”

  To make things worse the forsaken following them were gaining ground. When they tried to escape the path to their car was blocked by a crowd of creatures gathered in the street.

  “GRRRRR!”

  They started moving faster in the other direction after hearing gun shots in the distance followed by an occasional scream. A filthy man in ripped up clothing emerged from the shadows and collapsed on top of the man carrying his friend. The attack sent him flailing backwards with his friend pinned in between him and the monster. The wounded man screamed as soon as a mouth full of teeth clamped down onto his back.

  “GNAWWW!”

  He was bitten multiple times but could only clench up his muscles and cry out in pain. Blood poured from the bite and coated his friend face. The monster came up with blood dripping down its mouth and chin. It snarled at the man before biting down on his friend again. Trapped underneath he witnessed the creature tug until a hunk of skin peeled off his neck. The helpless man on top peered into his friend’s eyes and begged for help with his last breath.

  “Don't let them take m..” he whispered.

  More of the forsaken appeared from the surrounding structures.

  “GROWWWL! GROWWWL!”

  Soon a pack of stragglers boxed all of them in. Soot, dirt and dried blood discolored their garments. The man at the bottom was quickly overpowered. Even in his last dying moments he was more concerned about the woman.

  “Get out of here!” he ordered. “Go! Aaaaahhhh!”

  His ribcage was ripped open exposing his organs. They tore into his chest cavity spilling his intestines and its contents onto the ground disemboweling him. Fresh bile and undigested stomach fluids mixed with his gushing blood as they fed. The sound of slurping and crunching could now be heard. This was not how things were supposed to end. The poor woman was so full of grief at the death of her true love that she hesitated for a second.

  “No! No! No!” she screamed. “We were supposed to be together.”

  It was too late to help him so the traumatized woman put him out his misery. She shoved the pump action shotgun she carried into his face.

  “BLAM!”

  A single shot made his skull erupt and sent a light shower of blood, bones and brain into the air. She pulled more shells from her Dooney and Bourke purse then took one last look to make sure the coast was clear. While the creatures were still busy eating she continued on all alone now. The spent cartridge spun on the ground before coming to a stop.

  CHAPTER 11:

  Blind Trust

  All of us could still hear the sounds of death and fighting outside the ER's locked doors. Even with everything locked down the survivors were nervous and scared. Soon they heard human voices echoing down the halls inside the building. The desperate calls for help came from just beyond the back door. The first voice came from a man who sounded like he was in pain. Then a woman let out a louder bloodcurdling scream.

  “Get away from the door! It is going to break!” said a nurse.

  “We can’t let them get in here.” a doctor begged.

  “They’re breaking through anyway!” a lab worker yelled.

  “Find something to brace it!” cried the panicked nurse.

  “Everything is either too light or too heavy to move!” explained the worker.

  “Help me hold them back! Don't leave me!” the nurse begged.

  “It is too late run!” screamed the doctor.

  I was talking to pastor Harrell when we heard the yelling too. I knew I had to find out what was going on but I had to take care of another issue first. When you are at war the enemy of your enemy can become your friend. Now was not the time to debate right or wrong. People were dying. I was going to let Sandoval out of his holding cell and give him an offer he couldn’t refuse. It was understandable that I was weary about him trying to get revenge for earlier but so far he didn't seem anxious or angry.

  “Come on out of there and turn around.” I told him.

  “It's about time you let my ass out of here.” He shot back. “Shut up and let me get these cuffs and leg irons off.”

  “So am I free man now officer?”

  “Yes but I have a favor to ask you.”

  “Why do you need my brown ass?”

  “You're the only one that I can trust to take care of something if it happens.” I stated. “What do you mean?”

  “I'm going outside and I need someone to take care of these people while I'm gone. I saw you in action and you did not run or hesitate when it was time fight!” I revealed.

  “And how do you expect me to protect them?” he asked.

  I patted him on his back and gave him the deputy’s loaded 45mm.

  “Here!” I told him. “You are going to need this!” He was surprised that I trusted him with a loaded gun. I was cautious as he handled the weapon and ready to draw my own if necessary.

  “How do you know I won't take this gun and use it to save my own ass?” he asked. “I know that you're smart enough to see that some crazy shit is going on around here.”

  “True that but if I do this then I'm out for good.” “I can live with that.” I declared.

  “That's what up.” he responded.

  As I turned to walk away he sucker punched me in the jaw. I pulled my gun and pointed it at him as he did the same.

  “I guess I deserved that!” I said.

  “You damn right!” he responded with a smile.

  “So are we even now?” I asked. “Because I really ain’t got time for this shit!”

  “Yeah man!” he answered. "We’re even! As long as long as you quit acting like cop!”

  “Look we both know that shit happens in the heat of a fight and that stuff earlier was just business!” I answered. “I need you to get past it so we can get out of here alive! You feel me?”

  I lowered my gun and put it back into the holster and walked up to him. He dropped his gun to his side but didn't put it away. We stood there for a second mean mugging each other until we both cracked a smile. “What the fuck we waiting for then?” he asked. We bumped fists with each other and walked down the hall. Joe the tech and the pastor helped us move all the debris blocking the outer doors. Dr. Okonkwo was not excited about Sandoval being armed. He was the same doctor that examined him when he first came in and still saw him as a prisoner. He knew that men could have one face in public and another in private. He had no sympathy for Carlos situation. Many of the others felt the same way.

  “I think its worth remembering that this guy is a fucking criminal!” said Dr. Green.

  “
I don’t like this man having a gun!” added Dr. Okonkwo with a thick Nigerian accent. “What if he tries something? I left my homeland to avoid being taken advantage of by criminals.”

  “Regardless of what you think I am not a criminal!” responded Sandoval with a serious look on his face. “Sometimes things aren’t what you think!”

  “You cannot manipulate or intermediate me!” said Dr. Okonkwo. “I know what type of man you are and you will never change!”

  “I know this unusual but trust me he is the right man for this job.” I explained. “All of you got into healthcare to save lives not take them. Guys like Sandoval and me are different. We are survivors! That is why he has the gun!” They didn't see what I saw in him but every man needs a chance for redemption.

  “I still don’t like it!” Dr. Okonkwo declared. “I guess I will have to trust your judgment!”

  “That’s great! We pay you to protect us and you give a Goddam gun to a convict! Great! That’s just great! For your next trick why don’t you give a bottle of barbecue or hot sauce to the dead bastards trying to kill us!” Dr. Green said sarcastically.

  He was an OR surgeon that Dr. Black called to the ER to do a surgical consult on a stabbing victim. He and the rest of the surgeons loved to be in charge. They spent their time talking about themselves and debating which one of them was more like God.

  “Sir I know that this is unusual request.” I told him. “You can trust me to do my job or you can shut the fuck up and get out the way!” He got mad and walked away. Dr. Black told me to be careful and the pastor said a prayer. The door connected the ER and the main hospital. I pressed my ear to the door and listened. Maria came up to me and touched my shoulder.

  “Don't go out that door!” she begged. “We don't know what's out there.”

  “Those people are still alive!” I told her. “They need my help.”

  “That's true but we need you here too.” She pleaded.