Dead and Forsaken

by West, J. D.

  The tight fitting scrubs hugged every curve of her body. Her shirt had slipped up a little and I could see that she had her belly button pierced. Her hair had fallen down in her face. I brushed it behind her ear reveling diamond studs that matched her belly ring. That is when she opened up her beautiful seductive eyes and looked up. I immediately found myself staring into them.

  “Good morning beautiful!” I told her with a smile.

  “Good morning to you.” She said smiling back.

  “I was surprised to see you.” I told her. “I didn't think we would be reunited this soon! When did you come in?”

  “I could n 't get to sleep.” she responded. “So I came to find you.”

  “I guess you found me!” I said.

  “Yeah I guess I did.” she said rubbing her hand on my chest.

  I leaned in and kissed her deep and strong. She closed her eyes and kissed me back. A few seconds later she started purring like a cat and pulled me closer. I ran my hand up her thigh and stopped at her butt. I reached my arms around her and squeezed it in both hands. It was firm but not hard. You could tell she worked out. She responded by sticking her tongue into my mouth. My heart was racing and more than my temperature was rising. I took my right hand and stroked her stomach. Her creamy brown skin was smooth against my fingers. I moved my fingers along her panty line inadvertently letting my hand slide inside. Her mouth opened wide as she began thrusting her hips upward grinding them against my hand. Then I removed my hand and started making circles with my fingers tracing her bellybutton. I could feel her body quiver. She started to moan and bit down softly on my bottom lip.

  Slowly I slid my right hand under her shirt and moved upwards until I reached the edge of what felt like a lace bra. Then I pulled away from the kiss and began to suck on her neck. I could feel her warm breath on my cheek right before she started lightly flicking her tongue against my ear lobe. When I lifted my head and looked down at her she opened her eyes and licked her lips. That’s when I slipped my fingers under the lace and got a hand full of her perky breast. She moaned loudly as I softly squeezed it. By the time my finger brushed over her nipple she was biting her own lip. The nipple was plump and hard. I pressed it between my fingers and thumb twisting them slightly. Her body trembled and her breathing got heavy. She liked what I was doing to her and I liked the way she reacted. Things were rising to a fever pitch.

  She reached her petite manicured hand in between my legs and got more than handful of my manhood. She quickly pulled her hand back and starred at me. Her mouth was open wide and her eyes were glowing in excitement. From her reaction I could tell she was pleasantly surprised. It seemed like things were about to get serious when we heard voices in the hall outside the door. I pulled my hand out from under her shirt and sat up.

  “We will finish this later!” I told her while climbing out the bed.

  “Do you promise?” She asked while pulling her shirt back up to flash me.

  “Trust me I won’t forget you or them!” I told her pointing at her chest and smiling. She threw a pillow at me and laughed as I opened the door. After one last boyish grin and a wink I left the room.

  *****

  America’s sixth largest city had one and a half million people. Most of them fled the city or ended up dead. Now the streets were empty and silent. At least until the shooting and screaming starts back up. Pockets of citizens fought for the lives of their families. They tried to turn boarded up bedrooms and garages into temporary panic rooms. Whole families huddled together in barricaded buildings. They climbed out on their roofs armed with rifles and shotguns. They realized that they were alone. Their initial shock and terror had morphed into anger. Most of them were upset at the inability of elected officials and the police to protect them. All the gas stations were out of gas and the Sky Harbor Airport closed down. Small fires still burned and a large cloud of smoke rose over downtown. Trash and liter covered the streets. No cars were moving and no people are outside. The undead shambled around every neighborhood hunting for the living. Everyone that survived last night’s attack was hiding out of sight. Other desperate souls wandered the streets crying out for loved ones or any sign of help. Monsters were fictional movie creatures but last night they became real. All resemblance of civilization deteriorated. Several half-eaten bodies were scattered around the hospitals main entrance and the ER’s glass doors. Several ambulances still sat in the bay. Their paramedics were missing. Several other cars contained the mangled bodies of people that were seeking safety at the hospital. The burnt out shell of what was once a car was still lying on its side. The neighborhood around us was lost to flesh eating barbarians.

  ******

  Inside the hospital they wandered the halls picking off survivors. At the same time in the ER the rest of the survivors were waiting in a long line to get breakfast. Everyone praised the nurses and the rest of the staff. They did their best to take care of everyone. The survivors felt like they were on their last legs. Most of them were operating on little or no sleep. They appreciated the dedication of the staff. We were in a desperate situation that caused people to try and drown their worries with booze. A few of them were hungover from a nighttime snack of Captain Morgan. Including Dr. Black who had dark circles around his blood shot eyes. He had blacked out drunk after a long night of drinking. Anyone hungover was a little leery about what they had to eat. The staff found a box of fresh peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a box of cookies in the doctor’s lounge a few hours later. The doctors had to work through dinner sometimes when it was busy. It was a quick snack for them to eat in between patients. The survivors got their food and sat down on the floor in the main hall. It was not your mother’s homemade breakfast of bacon and eggs but after hours trapped in a hospital it tasted like it. The survivors said that it was better than nothing. They also found cases of water and Gator aide in the paramedics break room. The hospital provided it to them as a courtesy.

  “At least they fed us!” an older man joked.

  “That was the only good thing that happened since I got to this hospital!” replied the man next to him in line.

  Carlos was eating a sandwich walking down the main hall. He saw a cute blonde girl with a cast on her left arm trying to open the bathroom door. She got the door opened but dropped her water bottle. She tried to bend down and pick it up but looked like she was in pain. She gently touched her right side. She looked like it really hurt. He stopped in front of her to pick it up.

  “Sweetheart let me get that for you!” he said picking up the water.

  “Thank you for your help but my name is not sweetheart!” she said with an attitude.

  “I am sorry.” he responded. “I did not mean anything by that baby girl!”

  “Besides I don’t talk to strangers!” she shot back.

  ”What is your name?” he asked. “You can at least tell me that!"

  “Well you can believe that it’s not baby girl!” she said rolling her eyes.

  “Damn girl!” he shot back with a smile. “Can’t you tell when someone is trying to be nice to you?”

  He sounded sincere but she still didn’t believe anything he said.

  “That’s what all men say when they want something.” She told him. “Especially crooks!”

  “Whoa! Whoa!” he told her still smiling. “Hold on you don’t even know me like that!”

  He couldn't help notice how beautiful she was even if she was being a spoiled brat.

  “Good let’s keep it that way!” she responded with a smirk.

  “Man you’re a tough nut to crack.” he answered back. “I saw a woman in distress and just tried to help. You think a real woman would see that!”

  “You are absolutely right! It was wrong for me to be so rude!” she said changing her atti
tude. “It was a rough night for me.”

  “Dead people walking the earth will do that!” he told her.

  “True plus I found out some other bad news.” She said.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked. “You're not bit are you?”

  “No not that!” she answered while holding her stomach. “They told me I am pregnant!”

  “That is a good thing. Trust me blessings always come with babies!” he responded.

  “I can’t have a baby like this!” she said with tears in her eyes.

  “Don’t worry everything will be fine!” he said in low voice.

  “No it won’t!” she said looking scared. “It will never be fine again!”

  Overcome with emotion she could barely look at him. She told Carlos that her name was Blair. She was seventeen years old and was from Scottsdale. Her father was a big attorney in the valley. Her mother was a typical high society wife spending her days shopping and socializing. They were the king and queen of Scottsdale society life thanks to their lavish pool parties. They featured crates of crab legs lobster tails and jumbo size shrimp flown in from the coast. The only thing more expensive was the imported wine and top shelf liquor they served to their other rich friends. She was the only child. Gabby her nanny raised her. She met the child’s father at a high school dance.

  Bursting with teenage hormones it was love at first site. Evan was a laid back and fun loving boy. He was a senior and she was a freshman. That was three years ago. The ASU baseball team kicked him off for bad grades. That is when he started drinking. He stopped smiling and cracking jokes. Blair told him that she missed the old him. He threw a beer bottle at her head and then slapped her with the back of his hand. That was the first time he hit her but not the last. Tonight they were at the movies and he got jealous because a boy from school spoke to her. She tried to tell him they are just friends but he was still mad. He made her leave the theater ignoring the protest of her friend. Outside in the parking lot he continued to curse her out. Suddenly he grabbed her and twisted her arm so hard he broke her wrist. A purple and blue bruise formed all the way up to her elbow. She tried to get away and he slammed her into a metal fence. Then he told her he was going to kill her for being a cheating bitch!

  She whirled around and broke free from his grasp but he caught up to her. This time he punched Blair in the face leaving her disorientated. Now she had a large bloody cut and her lip swelled up. Another blow to the stomach made her collapse to the ground. Evan kicked her violently making her spasm and cry out in pain. He got scared after she began having trouble breathing. He brought her to our hospital instead of taking her to a closer one in Scottsdale. For some reason he thought no one would find out what happened if they said she didn’t have insurance. When Blair arrived in triage hunched over the nurses thought something funny was going on. Every time they asked her a question she would look at Evan and then she would answer. He hovered over her and never left her alone with them.

  When Maria showed up Evan told her that Blair was robbed by a short Mexican man. A couple of minutes later he changed his version of the event. Now her attacker was muscular, built and black. Maria also noticed Blair seemed scared and clearly uncomfortable with his presence. The sinking feeling in her stomach made her call the social worker. Evan started to get annoyed and overly sensitive about repeatedly being asked to tell his story.

  Growing increasingly suspicious the hospital staff called the police and reported it as a domestic assault. The dispatcher said it would take a minute for an officer to get there because they were busy with a lot of calls that night. Blair had a variety of aliments but also told her nurse that she had not had a period in seven weeks. A blood test confirmed that she was two months pregnant. Evan looked upset with her as he wrestled with the consequences of his actions. He was not ready to be a dad. He wanted to leave right away but staff said it would be awhile. Concerned that it was some sort of trap he went outside to take a smoke break and never came back. Maria put a cast on her arm and kept Blair overnight for observation because of the fractured ribs.

  “I am sorry that you had an asshole for boyfriend. My mother taught me that a man should never put his hands on a woman. You don’t deserve to be treated like this!” said Carlos reassuring her.

  “Thank you I needed that.” said Blair. “I don't even know if any of my family and friends are even still alive?”

  “Don't give up on them their probably still out there!” He said. “My name is Carlos by the way.”

  “It was nice to meet you Carlos!” she answered. “Thanks for being a good listener!”

  Carlos waited for her to use the restroom and then helped her walk back to her room.

  ******

  After breakfast several small children colored in coloring books from the nurses. Two bigger boys raced each other up and down the hall. A group of bigger girls tried on makeup that someone gave them. Their parents huddled together quietly talking with the other survivors about last night. Somehow they found a way to avoid incomprehensible destruction. They had escaped death but lost loved ones in the attack. Several prayer vigils had been held since last night. It was a multi-faith service so people of all faiths and religions were present. It gave people time to cry about the murders, laugh about the good times and pray for salvation. Relatives of the victims were looking for answers as they gathered in front of the makeshift memorial. Through tear filled eyes they spoke about their last moments with loved ones. Pastor Harrell and the other organizers wanted to not just focus on the people lost here in the hospital but remember that this was going on all over the valley. There was power in numbers so coming together would help start the healing process.

  Getting together as a community would give them some where to draw strength from.

  “I know that we live in a world with so much tragedy around us but as long as we have God then we have love too!” explained the Pastor.

  His eyes were blood shot red because he had been woke all night attending the needy.

  “We cry tears because our hearts have been left naked and exposed to sorrow. Then we pound our fists because we are angry and demand answers. I just want you to know you are not alone in your grief! We all weep together and share in the tragedy. As survivors we must help each other deal with the sadness and get over the shock. We could spend a life time searching and never be able to discern Gods heavenly plan for us. The journey ahead will be long and not all of us will make it to the finish line. All you need to know is that God will see you through!”

  Now the question became what to do next. Many of them thought it was safer to remain in the ER. Others wanted to try to escape. The group’s opinion was undecided.

  “We might have to stay here a week.” a lady shouted. “Nobody cares about us! We have to do this on our own!”

  “That is not acceptable!” she replied.

  “I just want to get my family out of here.” another man explained.

  “Hang in there we won’t be here that long.” she stated.

  “Are we safe inside these walls?” one of the parents mumbled.

  “I’m worried about the rest of my family.” a young mother said. “They lived in Mesa and the TV said Mesa was over run!”

  “There is no way they are alive.” one of the men told her. “They are all dead just like everyone else you knew!”

  “Don’t be a dick!” yelled one of the mothers.

  “Do you know that for sure?” added another parent.

  “I have given up all hope and the sooner the rest of you do the same the better it will be for you!” the man shot back.

  “Listen we don’t know what will happen to us but we can’t give up hope.” the mother told him.

  “We are all under a lot of stress already so we don’t need yo
ur negative bullshit depressing us!” said the woman next to her.

  “I hear everything that you are saying but how am I going to stay upbeat when people are getting eaten alive?” he asked.

  “The only way we can move forward is faith my son!” responded the pastor as he entered the room. “I know that all of us survivors have been beaten down by this death and violence but we have to keep our faith. Death and resurrection have fascinated Christians, Muslims, and Jews!”

  “Padre I am a practicing believer but it seems like God has forgotten us!” the young mother stated. “My mother and father were devoted believers also and it did not stop those things from killing them in that damn waiting room!”

  “It is only natural my child that you get frustrated with God.” he said. “You have been through so much. People are hungry they are scared and you don’t know when help will come.”

  “My grandfather told me stories about our ancestors the Pima Indians!” said an old man. “They buried their dead with all their belongings and burned down their house. This was so they would not be able to return from the dead. We don’t have that option!”

  “Mexican American people celebrate the day of the dead because it honors our Aztec heritage and Catholic beliefs.” a young man told him. “We believe death is not the end just a continuation of life.”

  “Those things are an abomination! Why did God let them murder all those people?” another man screamed. “He is supposed to care about us. He is supposed to protect us dammit!”

  “Do not give up on God so fast my son!” the pastor pleaded. “He never gave up on you! The Bibles book of Revelations says that the dead great and small will stand before God. Then they will all be judged. The wicked will face hell on earth. The rest will be condemned to experience a second death!”