The Dead Lands Diary (Book 1)

by Staggs, S. David

  It's a fail proof plan. If we do it exactly like that...no alterations....we'll be fine. You'll see.

  What happens if the jars ain't at the front?

  ...Well, I'll look a little further. I can't see the whole front of the store from the inside of the door....and if they're in the back somewhere. I donno....might say fuck it then. It depends on how safe it is.

  Ain't safe period.

  We'll be fine. It's for our benefit.

  Not if we dead it won't be.

  We'll be fine. We'll go over it with the others tomorrow.

  Mhmmm.

  End of Recording.

  Distant lightning was still flashing through the dark clouds that had loomed over us since earlier. The fog only became thicker, dense, you couldn't see anything within feet. If a pack or horde were to have passed by through the yard, we'd have never seen them. Heard their foot falls perhaps, but that was it.

  The dawn felt so far away.

  ***

  When the dawn finally began to show in the eastern horizon, Reggie and I were fatigued and lethargic...then quickly sprung awake when the window behind us opened.

  Kelly apologized, having seen us startle. She couldn't sleep. Wasn't day shift for her for another few hours or so. Jim was still asleep but she said she was ready to begin watch. Reggie was quick to volunteer taking off the end of shift. Which was fine....I had his nerves rattled enough right now from my mason jar quest. He went inside without a sound and Kelly crawled out, flopping down beside me. I recall her eyes had been red...she was tired but so restless. Who could blame her?

  As Recorded:

  Bad dreams?

  Yeah....you dream of this shitty new world, then wake up to the reality that it's real. Sometimes though, the good dreams are much worse.

  How so?

  Because when you dream of normal life....in the normal world that's long gone, then wake up and it all crashes down on you...it's just horrible.

  Yeah, I'd imagine so. I can't relate....I've had no normal dreams since the fall of it all. What do you dream about? The good ones, I mean.

  A lot of them are the same dreams I used to have while awake....my day dreams...before all this. I'd dream about one day getting out of the Akron burbs. Jim finding a better job....me finding better work. Saving up for some nice house....I don't mean something luxurious or nothing, that's not me. Something....well, like this house here. A simple, nice house with a view. With the second floor and extra bedrooms, too. I dreamed of Jim and I having children someday. I wanted three. Gender I didn't care.....well, actually I'd have loved one girl, one boy...and the other either or.

  Maybe one day you could still have that dream.

  How? In this world? Who would bring a child into this place? Can you imagine the life they'd have? Especially as a child....always scared. Always afraid the monsters would eventually reach him...or her..them. They'd have no childhood. All it'd be is them learning to be on watch...learning how the infected operate. How to survive....remembering rules for when they're old enough to venture out for stuff we need. What kind of life....

  Somewhere there has to be settlements beginning. Somewhere there are more survivors....larger groups than what we currently are. Places will rise that have walls, protection. It's not impossible to envision it all. Hell, maybe we'll be ones to start a little safe community somewhere someday. We found Ben....how many other survivors...good folks, might we find? If not, we may find a settlement full of good people...taking people in.

  Or find a settlement of fuckin' lunatics.

  There's that, yeah.

  Roll up to a place and be massacred by some raging loons. That'd be wonderful....dandy. Make us slaves or something...maybe just kill us, take our shit.

  Well, first of all....we sure as hell wouldn't just "roll up" on some random place we found. That'd be asking for it.

  So...we'd what then?

  Scope them out. Any place we happened to find...if we ever do...we'd just watch awhile from a distance. It wouldn't take long before we knew if they were good people or fuckin' maniacs.

  Sometimes maniacs act pretty fuckin' normal, ya know.

  So we'd take our time watching....if they were crazy fucks, it'd show eventually.

  Still....even if such a place existed...the world....it's gone, Jack. So what if someone has walls. It's still not a place for kids. Walls can be torn down from a number of different threats. Eh...enough about that...Reggie seemed more than just tired when he went in...seemed kinda irked. Everything alright?

  He's a little upset with me cause of a plan I have that I think will benefit us in the long run....it's just risky...and he hasn't reached the "risky mentality" of things yet.

  Dare I even ask?

  I was just trying to convince him that....okay, there's farms all around here...fields are growing. If we had mason jars...speaking of which, do you know how to can food?

  Actually, yes, I do. Used to can food with my Grandmother every year.

  Okay, that's great!

  Depending....

  We need mason jars....we could store a lot of food for the winter in case we can't find a lot of other things. I haven't looked in any grocery places around here...but it's probably a certainty that they're all but empty. The discount store in the plaza I know has them...they've always carried them. Cases of them.

  The plaza you were at today...yesterday, I mean?

  Yeah....if we parked close and checked to see if it was clear, it's not a bad plan. Anything sketchy or doesn't feel right, we leave.

  I agree in the point it's beneficial....but I also agree with Reggie....it could be a big risk.

  I wanted to show Jim the area, he should know it...

  He's not-

  He won't go in the store...I already told Reggie that was all me...as he said, my idea so I check if it's clear....Reggie might just stay here....I'll take Jim and Tim. Reggie could use a day to ease his tension. You guys can keep watch...by the way...oh, and Ben knows how to use a gun, he told me he used to shoot with his father...so go ahead and arm him for watch.

  Thirteen year old carrying a gun? I don't thi--

  It's a new world, remember? A dangerous one. He's thirteen....but capable. Younger kids than him know how to shoot. Kids can't be pampered anymore if they want to survive. It's just how it is now.

  I rest my case, you just made it for me. No place to have kids anymore.

  End of Recording

  Jim appeared in the window soon after and relieved me of my watch. I was thankful....the conversation felt extremely tense...more than it had been with Reggie. Kelly would go over it all with Jim now. We'd decide on it together, later in the day.

  ***

  When I woke, Jim was not...excited about the plan, yet he was the one most open to it. He believed, as I did, it made sense to take the risk for our interests. Interests in making sure we stayed fed in a worse case scenario of everything else running dry. Kelly already knew how to can...it was as if everything fell into place.

  It was time. Tim armed Ben with a 9mm pistol before hand. Tim had said zilch about the plan. He seemed not to have an opinion one way or the other. If he did, he kept it to himself. I knew he was still thinking of his father. I knew he felt it was his responsibility to find him, do what had to be done, and bring him home.

  Tim put the spare key to his Dad's truck in his pocket; the ones Ken carried were missing from the truck. The truck is what we'd use to pull up to the store.

  Kelly, more so pleading than stating, told us to be careful. Reggie's face was full of anxiety and unease. He reiterated Kelly's sentiment. Ben gave an uneasy smile and nodded. Earlier he had asked to come along, but I wouldn't allow it. Much to his dismay. He was out there alone for two weeks....probably still hadn't processed whatever it was that happened to his family. He needed to adjust a little bit more before I felt comfortable letting him come along. We needed to establish some rules while out...something we had yet to discuss properly at that point. Even then, I knew
Kelly would protest his involvement all the way.

  ***

  The drive back into G-Ville was a slow one. A still and dreadful anticipation. Tim and I already knew what to expect from our first exploration of the ruins of our youth. Jim on the other hand had no inclination. Not only had he not been present for the previous events, he didn't know where he was...didn't know his surroundings. He was without a doubt completely out of his element. So also had Reggie been...I was kinda curious how Jim would handle himself compared to Reggie. How much more, or less, had Jim adapted. Personally, I thought Jim would be a little further along. After all, Jim was the one to put down Rebecca back in Akron. I had put down her poor sister, Anne. Not to mention the Stagnant in the doctors office. Reggie hasn't had to face that yet. He'd have to eventually. Tim also hadn't....but his demeanor had completely changed....I could tell he wasn't going to have a problem. He was bitter right now and wanted some form of justice. I knew I had to keep an eye on him...he could get reckless from his emotions right now. I should have left him back at the house...but he wouldn't have listened to any reason. I had already told him we'd be back today anyhow.

  ***

  Sky Plaza looked clear. It was silent. The day was silent. Everyday was pretty much silent now. It's funny the little things...like the sounds of planes being absent. I thought of that as I looked up into the sky and got momentarily lost in the patches of clouds. It was a humid day that day. The air was hot and thick...our clothes sticking to us. I always hated humidity. Even more so now without the luxury of a damn air conditioner. Made sleeping a real bitch. Come winter we'd be missing the luxury of heating vents.

  We parked next to my Uncle's truck. We watched, listened and waited. Always had to play it safe. Anything, or anyone, could have seen us pull in.

  Then I noticed on the sidewalk over near the doctors office was a dead orange cat. It was ripped completely in half at the waste, both sections of body beside themselves. It's intestines were strewn about over the walkway.

  A leg was missing from it's upper half and many parts were missing large, mouth sized pieces of flesh. The skull was devoid of all it's fur and skin. Roamers could never have caught a cat. Only a pack of Bolters were fast enough to corner such a quick animal. Which means a pack of Bolters, likely the ones we encountered, were very recently right here where we sat. Suddenly my idea was sounding rather fuckin' ignorant.

  I'm sure that was mentally agreed upon when I pointed the cat out to them. Tim said nothing, but I heard the gulp in his throat. Jim simply whispered "damn." Personally, I felt a little queazy. I had said if it didn't feel safe we'd just leave...it felt ominous and yet I still wanted to at least have a quick gander at the discount store. It would take two minutes. If they weren't at the very front of the store within feet of reach, then fuck it. We'll make due without.

  After twenty minutes time we deemed it safe....although at the back of my mind I was thinking about the way the Bolters had appeared to act before. That made me nauseous. What if we step out and Bolters sprung up from all around? Would they watch and wait....were they fuckin' capable of such a thing? Guess it was time to potentially find out. Jim was staying in the SUV to drive....least he'd survive such an attack! Tim and I were taking the truck, myself as passenger to hop out at the discount mart. It was time to get this the hell over with.

  I opened the door and got out, followed by Tim. Jim climbed over into the drivers seat and quietly closed the door. It's an understatement to say I was in a major rush to get around the truck and into the passenger seat. Tim was already up and in the drivers side.

  Okay...paranoia down for a moment. At least until we pulled onto the road and into the bottom part of the plaza over to the store.

  We pulled up next to it. I was facing directly in front of the door from the view of my passenger window. Jim pulled up behind us but not too close.

  The glass door was totally shattered and gone. Glass lay about inside and out. Once again, every nerve screamed get away....it didn't feel right and like a tool I was still determined to look. To take a risk for the good of us all.

  At this point Tim finally spoke, expressing he didn't like this. I agreed...and then I opened my door.

  I moved with stride to the broken glass door and peered inside. It was extremely dark and I removed the little light from my pocket. I shined it inside to see the front of the rows and displays. No jars. Of course this year, of all years, they weren't displayed in the front near the fucking door. There were other displays set before aisles but I couldn't see far down the lines of them. I saw a display of toilet paper and paper towels. Those would be worth coming back for at a later date when it felt safer.

  Directly in front of the door was an aisle, I carefully guided the beam of light along it's shelves. The left where snacks used to be were emptied...to the right had been soap, shampoo, deodorant...those remained. Another thing worth returning for....hell, I could have walked five feet inside and grabbed a few items. I contemplated it and moved my light much further down the aisle, toward the back of the store. That's when my heart sank and it felt as if my stomach had curled in on itself. A Bolter stood at the end of the aisle. It's eyes were locked on me. I recognized him....same one that had stood at the gas station.

  My mind quickly went into wondering if the other three were emerging out from around the building. My arm hairs stood...and I wasn't waiting for the charge; for this monstrous wretched creature to get a head start.

  I turned heel and ran the few feet back into the truck and slammed the door. I screamed "Bolter!"

  ***

  Jim punched it, sending us shooting forward...I turned around staring out the back window...

  Behind us Jim sped the SUV forward without an inkling of what was happening. The Bolter ran out in pursuit of me, and right in front of Jim who knocked the raging creature to the ground and ran directly over it. I could see Jim's face; he was petrified and scared shitless. We went forward across the large parking lot in front of a large grocery store and sharply turned around.

  We made the turns just in time to see the other three emerge from the discount store. I looked at Tim who was clearly thinking the same as I was...to the right I looked at Jim and motioned my fist to him in a ramming motion. He nodded.

  They came at us in a line, each standing next to one another. Jim was clearly going to hit the far right one....the other two were in our target range.

  Jim sped faster passed us and slammed into his target, a female one, sending it tumbling over the pavement. He preceded to run it over.

  The one on the far left of us actually made a side step out of the way. I was astounded. Although they were fearless....they showed no sign of self preservation....but this one definitely proved that the Bolters had some amount of intellect. Not a lot and it would fade fast as they degenerated, but it was an uneasy thing to process.

  The other one however, just sprinted headlong at us until we slammed into it. Its head snapped forward, bashing it's face on the hood and leaving a bloody smear before sprawling forward....as the others, it was ran over.

  As we came to a slow after crushing the creature, the dodger leapt and climbed into the bed of the truck and rushed the glass, pounding the glass with it's pallid fists, sending cracks throughout the glass.

  Tim again punched it, making the creature stumble backwards and trip over the tailgate and into the hard ground. While it was stunned, Tim put it in reverse and flew backwards, going right over it, like a macabre speed bump. It was a sickening sound.

  We backed up far enough to see it. Its head was crushed, its limbs mangled like a discarded rag doll. Broken bones sticking out of torn flesh.

  Ahead of us I looked at the one that we'd hit before...it was twitching before us, a serious wound to the side of its skull.

  Jim's was clawing at the ground trying to turns itself around in our direction.

  The one that had existed the store first; the one I saw with my light, was laying in front of the store. Its legs wer
e broken. Midsection mostly crushed in. It was pulling itself toward us very slowly. It seemed to take great effort for the creature to move a few inches at a time. We had turned these Bolters into Stagnants....skipping them abruptly past the Roamer and Shambler stages of their cycle.

  These were the same Bolters from the gas station. I recognized the second one Jim had hit. It occurred to me they were possibly the only Bolters in this immediate area. I assumed that perhaps they were territorial in this stage. Made sense.

  I stepped out of the truck to see the creature a little closer. It looked at me again....the same look it had inside the store; a kind of rage...hungry and fearless. It was beaten, yet it didn't seem to believe so. It was absolutely without fear. That's one thing that made them more terrifying....the lack of self preservation. They'd just keep coming. No retreat. Not ever.