Her idea, which no one would even consider before, was to have people volunteer to work on the holidays. She gave a well thought out presentation that impressed the board of directors. They realized that she was right in her estimation of how much business it was going to generate, due to the boredom that set in after the celebrating was over. As long as they kept it as a volunteer basis then the community wouldn’t think of them harshly. They were also surprised how many people wanted to work on a holiday as well.
Her fear of flying, made her choose the bus. Finding an express route, she didn’t have to worry about the many stops the others took. She regretted that decision the moment the bus started out. Standing, she looked out the window, curiously. “Why the hell are those people chasing us?”
Her reaction caused others to stand up, looking out the window in shock. Suddenly, the bus jerked and slammed into another car on the road that sent her, as well as the others flying into the person seated beside them.
With Nell, that seat belonged by another woman who didn’t appreciate being used as a cushion. “Woman, keep your ass in the seat!” She too was heavyset. Between the two of them, they barely had room to move. She roughly shoved her back in her own seat. “We got too much shit going on around here without having you getting flung all over the place!”
“Yeah, but something’s going on out there!”
“No shit, Sherlock. What’s your next fucking case? I think we figured that out, but it ain’t gonna help with you jumping all over the place!”
When the bus lurched, Nell crossed herself. “Oh please, God. Don’t let us die.” Considering she didn’t believe; that was the first time she ever prayed.
Alice looked out the window, frightened and reached for her mother’s hand. “Mommy, I’m scared.”
Sheila looked out just as terrified, but snuggled her daughter, trying to offer her some comfort that wasn’t felt. “It’s okay honey. We’re almost there.” She didn’t think they were going to be okay. She thought just the opposite. However, she didn’t want her little girl worrying. She was doing enough of that for the both of them.
“At least she’s not singing anymore,” a man said from the front.
The bus popped over the curb to a crashing stop. It was so sudden to go from fifty miles an hour to a dead stop that everyone on board took a flying lesson as they lurched forward, slamming into each other as well as the front. The jolt was so hard it threw anything not anchored down forward. Not one person stayed seated, instead tossed into the aisles. They each slammed into some object or person who didn’t move and stopped their flight.
Those located at the front of the bus were pinned under the layer of passengers that toppled over them. They were the ones who got it worse and any of them who were oddly enough still alive but injured soon released their last breath, trapped under the sea of bodies.
Out of the forty-two passengers, twenty-five had their necks snapped as they hit some immovable object. A few mangled, resembling pretzels, as the onrush of people piled on top of them, snapping limbs while crushing them. The sound was loud, metal scraping concrete, bones snapping, and melons squashing as the bus came to a complete stop.
When the dust cleared, it was deathly silent.
The few, who survived without serious injury, emerged from the pile. They looked around in shock. It was a massacre of bodies. The bus was full when they started with four people per aisle, two on each side. Now, they were littering the floor of the bus. It didn’t take long for the survivors to climb out of the pile.
Blood speckled the interior of the bus, on the seats, windows, ceilings, and floors. One by one, the people sat up, looking around, assessing the situation. The first thing they needed to do was find out who was still alive, who was injured, and what to do. They looked dazed and confused, not sure where to start. There were bodies on top of bodies and only the top row moved, but not many.
Tyler’s head bled where he slammed into an unmovable object. He quickly scrambled over the pile, frantically searching for Jessi. “Jessi! Where are you? Grunt or groan or make some kind of noise so I can find you.”
Bounced around, she was pinned beneath the heavyset woman who had been sitting next to Nell. She pushed her way up, as if fighting the undercurrent in the ocean. As she did, she noticed one of the woman. Her head rested against the heel of her foot with bones protruding from her hips, legs, and arms. Her head twisted in a manner with dead eyes staring straight at Jessi.
“I’m over here,” she cried out.
He rushed over, scaling the dead as if rock climbing. Reaching her, he pulled her into a hug. Once he hugged her, he looked her over for any injuries. “Oh baby, are you okay?”
A lump the size of a goose egg was on the side of her head. She winced as she touched it, gingerly. “We’re never taking the bus again.”
Chuckling, he hugged her again. “I agree. Are you hurt? Can you move around?”
“I’m fine, but you’re bleeding,” she said, reaching up to check his wound.
He pushed her hand away. “I’ll survive. Come on. We have to find out who needs help.”
She looked down at the dead scattered all around. “Yeah, I think we’re both a little better off than some.”
He turned, looking around at the others. “Okay, does anyone need any help?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?” One person asked from the back of the bus.
“No, I mean is anyone stuck under someone, or have a broken bone? Does anyone need any medical attention we might be able to help with?”
“Are you a doctor?”
“No, but I was a lifeguard. We were trained on how to handle emergencies.”
“In case you can’t tell this wasn’t a shark attack.”
“Are you going to sit there and argue, or are you going to help us find people who actually need help? We don’t have time for this.” Turning, he started searching the people for any sign of life.
Nell struggled to be free from the people crushing her. “Ow, someone get over here and help me out of this mess!” Placing a hand to her forehead, she felt a trickle of blood. When they stopped, she hit the back of the seat in front of her. The person there felt the impact to the back of his head, which split open like a rotten melon. The two then landed on the pile of people.
The good-looking man in the back with dark hair and sea-green eyes was Charles Landon the third. He spent a lot of time at the gym and it showed. He recently had a death in the family. His rich father was supposed to leave him a fortune. However, that wasn’t the case during the reading of the will. His father had a gambling problem. He not only spent his millions, but he attacked the trust fund as well. He was penniless. If that wasn’t bad enough, a visit from the local bookie told him that his father’s debts were now his and it was a lot.
He had big plans to raise millions more with that money just to find out his dreams were shot. If that wasn’t bad enough, he got a call from his sick sister who needed his help. The only thing he could afford was the bus fare. Gone were the big fancy limos that paraded him around town. Now, he was stuck traveling by bus. However, it only took this time to realize, he would never do it again.
He staggered over to help Nell, ignoring the blood dripping down the side of his head. He reached in, took a hold of her, and pulled; only she yanked and pulled him in instead. He staggered, bracing himself against the wall. “Wait, let me pull you.”
“So then pull me!” When he pulled her free, she checked to make sure nothing was broken. Glancing out the window, she arched a brow. “What the fuck did we hit?”
Climbing up off the floor, Tyler looked out and blinked. He could barely read the sign, but it was obvious what had happened. The bus was wedged through the doors of the local department store. “Walmart.”
“I don’t think that was one of our stops.”
“Maybe he thought it was a drive-through,” one of the people said, groaning in the aisle near the back of the bus, as he struggled to stand.
/>
If the people on the bus were surprised, imagine the surprise and horror from the people living in the Walmart. They all looked up shocked, but then again, who expected a bus to crash through the doors? In all their safety measures, no one thought of this as a possibility.
Tables were set up, coolers littered the aisles, grills and tents were scattered along the floor. People claimed what little space he or she could for their own. Clothesline hung in formation, separating partitions like property lines. There were two kids playing with toys in the aisles that also looked up at the bus.
Twenty people looked on in horror at the huge hole in their safe haven. A few rushed towards them, looking for a way to help those stuck inside. The others grabbed things to cover up the gaping hole in the one corner. It was big enough for a body to squeeze through and that was just too big for their comfort.
After a vacation on the beach, Alexander Rush, a second year attendant in the local hospital, was returning home. He had a deep tan, which worked with his light blonde hair. Hearing what they hit, he jumped up and looked out as well. “Holy shit, he’s right! We fucking crashed through the doors like Black Friday customers!”
Nell groaned. “What the fuck are we going to do?”
“I guess there’s something to be said about sitting in the back of the bus after all.”
Jessi nodded, sighing, looking at the mountain of dead in the front. “I don’t think anyone in the front made it. The bottom row of people didn’t seem to be moving when I was under there.”
Tap, tap, tap.
The tapping at the window caused her to scream, which brought Tyler rushing over. She jumped, looking out at the man standing outside.
He offered them a smile. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten ya. Is everyone okay?”
Tyler nodded. “As far as we can tell. We’ve got a lot of dead people in here.”
“Yeah, I don’t doubt that. Okay, hang on. We’re gonna see about gettin’ ya outta there just as soo--”
A man rushed in from out of nowhere. Grabbing the man, he ripped his head off in three quick snaps. Jessi took a deep breath and Tyler covered her mouth with his hand, not taking his eyes off the scene before them. The man held the head in his hands like it was a candy dish. Tipping it upside down like a cup, he drank the blood that spilled down his chin, further staining his clothes. When his drink was gone, he shoved his hand inside, pulling strings and gobs of raw meat out, sucking it into his mouth.
“Tell me I did not see what I think I just saw,” Nell said, in a hushed whisper, staring out the window at the two men. One, beheaded, lying on the ground trembling in death, while the other ate his brains.
“Oh my God,” Tyler whispered. “I’m going to move my hand. Don’t scream baby, don’t even move while he’s right outside our window.”
Jessi held onto his arm. Her eyes glued to the horror, barely moving enough to breathe. “Baby, I want to go home,” she whispered.
Within minutes, the horde that chased the bus flowed inside attacking everyone. The people standing around in shock didn’t waste any time running. Screaming as they ran for their lives, but there wasn’t anywhere to hide. They were so outnumbered. It was long before the horde ripped them to shreds, eating them. The man standing outside the window dropped the head and raced after the others.
There was one man, sitting alone in one of the aisles, in a lounge chair facing the bus. Empty beer cans sat all around him. Cigarette butts overflowed from his ashtray. He was drunk, but very happy as he watched the events happening around him as if this was a football event.
Laughing, he chugged his beer while cheering for those running for their lives. “Now this is entertainment,” he said, hiccupping. “What more could a guy ask for?” He slurred his words. “Run, they’re gettin’ closer. Ya almost got it!” He winced. “Damn, you was a good man an’ you’ll be missed. Ooh, another one. Run!”
Jessi looked at him, curiously. “What is he doing?”
Tyler shook his head. “I’m thinking he has a death wish.” He tapped on the window gently. “Get up! You’re going to be eaten!” He waved his hands to get his attention.
Jessi waved hers as well. “Run! They’re going to get you!”
Nell looked out, shaking her head. “Crazy ass white folks ain’t got a lick o’ sense.”
The man in the chair noticed all the waving and smiled waving back. “Hey there! Welcome to Walmart! I’m not too sure ‘bout your parkin’ job. Hell, I think I could’ve done a better job o’ parkin’ than y’all did an’ I’ve had a couple o’ beers to--” He stopped talking as the woman behind him ripped off his head. His body squirmed, convulsing in the chair, as if still waving to those in the bus.
A tug of war pulled him from the chair as two fought over the body. One grabbed a leg and the other an arm. Almost as if making a wish on a turkey bone. Two more showed up until they each had a limb. Blood gushed from where his head used to sit. There was a squishing sound and each of them fell backwards as they pulled him in quarters. Each ran off with their treasures as blood sprayed in all directions. The squashed can of beer held clenched in his hand slipped to the floor, spilling out to mingle with the blood.
People climbed up the aisles, trying to escape. However, none was fast enough and soon enough met the same fate as the others. One woman ran into the aisle where the headless and now limbless man sat. She ran, looking behind her, with fear registered on her face. Her foot hit the beer can and surfed across the floor. Turning her head, hands flailing out to the sides, she did her best not to fall. However, her death was imminent as she slammed into a metal prong sticking out of the aisle. The prong went right through her eye. Poking out the back of her head, while shoving pieces of her brain out the hole.
Her body hung, shivering in convulsions, as blood seeped down her back. Those chasing her pulled her body down. Each of them tugged on a limb until it broke free, running off with their goodies. The others left in the aftermath, bathed in the blood. They ate the leftovers: the organs, stripping flesh and tendons, and chewing on the bones. Others got down on their hands and knees, slurping the blood off the floor like a dog.
Tyler swallowed the hard lump of bile in his throat. “I wouldn’t have believed it, if I didn’t see it. What the hell’s going on?”
Nell shook her head. “I had a funny feeling this bus ride was going to deliver us to hell and I don’t believe in God. I think that little girl was the devil.”
Jessi gasped. “That’s horrible!”
“And it was torture with her singing that damn song.”
“You know she died, right?” She pointed to the front of the bus. “Look at the windshield.”
The little girl who sang her little heart out for the bus just a few hours ago, hung with her head smashed through the windshield. Her little body swung like some grotesque window decoration. Her pink dress covered in specks of blood, dripping off her shoe to the puddle on the floor.
Nell sighed. “Well, that’s a shame and I’m sorry for what I said. That poor little angel is now sitting on God’s lap, gracing him with her gift of song. Hopefully, for his sake, it’s not the same one over and over.”
Jessi couldn’t help but smile. “I agree.”
Alexander jumped up and rushed to the front of the bus, looking around in all the compartments overhead. He climbed over the bodies as he raced to the driver’s things and tore everything out in his search. “Where’s the first aid kit? I know there’s one on this fucking bus in case someone gets hurt!” He pointed to his head where he was bleeding. “I really don’t want them to smell this and come after us. I need a bandage.”
Tyler looked at him, motioning for him to be quiet. “Everyone get down and stop screaming. Stop moving the bus. We don’t want to bring attention to ourselves, so don’t make any noise whatsoever!”
“Oh sure, us crashing through the Walmart won’t bring any attention to us at all,” Nell muttered. “It happens all the time.”
Everyone stopped
talking and moving, and turned, staring out the windows. There was nothing else to do, but watch the devastation happening.
Jessi gasped. “Oh no.”
A little girl about three years old with long, dark hair stood in the aisle, crying for her mother. She slept through everything and just woke from her nap. She clutched a teddy bear to her side as she called for her mother. “Mama. Mommy. ‘mere.” She held her hand out, pulling her fingers back and forth.
Nell took a deep breath, holding it. “Oh sweet Jesus, what are they going to do to that poor little baby?” For someone who didn’t believe, she called to him enough.
Jessi watched, shaking her head. “They won’t hurt her. Hell, even animals know what a baby is.”
“That’s true. Like the wolves raising humans, and gorillas protecting children.”
It was silent in the store except for the sounds of her crying. The people slowly walked to where she stood and watched her. It was as if they had never seen a little girl before.
Charles looked out and gasped. “Aren’t we going to help her?”
“How do you propose we do that?” Tyler asked, watching out the window.
“I’ll rush out and get her and then we’ll just close the door on them.”
“There’s no guarantee we could get them open and if we do, no guarantee we can close them again. There’s nothing we can do.”
Charles huffed. “We just sit here until they finish the people in the store. When they’re done with them, they’ll come after us next.”
Beautiful Death (Bella Morté Trilogy Book 1) Page 20
