Dying Days 5

by Armand Rosamilia

  Through the crack in the thin door John saw a zombie shuffle into the room, closely followed by another. They'd easily pushed the door open and the mattress fell to the floor, and the lead zombie tripped over it and fell.

  The second zombie tripped over the first, both struggling to rise.

  John had to grin. He was going to be killed by the stupidest monsters of all time. They'd take forever to right themselves and attack. He decided he'd be long dead by then.

  A third zombie, this one wearing a nice suit and covered in blood, walked into the room and smiled in John's direction.

  John put the gun to his head.

  "I wouldn't do that just yet, John," the zombie said.

  "How do you know my name?" John asked, ready to pull the trigger. Maybe fucking Heath told him before he died. Bastard. There was no way he was going to get turned into one of these monsters.

  The zombie stomped his dress shoes on the heads of the two prone zombies until they stopped moving and took another step towards the closet, putting his hands up. "I'm not here to hurt you, John Murphy. I'm here to help you."

  "Fuck off."

  The zombie grinned. "You still have the fire, just like Darlene."

  John turned the gun towards the zombie and kicked the door open. "I swear, if you've hurt Darlene..."

  "She's safe and sound back in Daytona Beach, John. I'm here to bring you to her. I've killed the zombies outside, including their supposed leader. I'm on your side. She has no idea I'm doing this, but we need to hurry. It will be light soon. I have a car waiting," the zombie said.

  "Where is Heath?"

  "He ran right into a pack of them. Idiot. If your friend had waited another two minutes, he would've also been saved."

  John stood up, keeping the guns aimed at the zombie's head. He'd bluff with the Desert Eagle and shoot with the other if it came down to it, but John wanted to hear more. "Heath wasn't my friend."

  "He was weak. I'm glad I didn't save him, to be honest. He'd just be another problem I'd need to monitor."

  John lowered both guns but didn't put them away. "What now?"

  "We get out of this wretched place before more zombies arrive, drawn to the gunfire." The zombie stared at John. "Interesting..."

  "What?"

  "I can't read your thoughts, either. It is beginning to make sense."

  "Who are you?" John asked.

  "Oh, sorry. I'm The Lich Lord."

  Chapter Nineteen

  What was he doing? Jeff paced in front of the bar, tapping the pistol against his head. Now he had three prisoners. He needed to figure out a game plan and fast, before The Lich Lord figured out so many people had gone missing.

  He was hoping there would be more of a struggle from Scotty. Jeff was still on the fence about killing him or not. The newcomer had interfered with his plans, and gotten between Jeff and Taylor, his prize.

  Jeff stared at Taylor, pretty and tied up on the floor. Maybe he could take her with him? Would she struggle at first but then give in once she had nowhere to run back to? Would Taylor finally understand Jeff and want to make it work?

  Scotty was struggling to escape his bonds. Jeff kicked him in the side. "Every time you move I'll kick you." Jeff smiled and raised his foot but then turned it slowly in Taylor's direction. "Better yet... every time you move I kick her in her pretty face. She won't look so good with a mouth full of broken teeth, will she?"

  Scotty stopped moving and stared at Jeff. If looks could kill...

  Vee looked more resigned to her fate, but she was a tricky little bitch. Jeff could see she was biding her time before she struck. Maybe Vee would be the perfect road companion? Nah. She was too much of a fighter. Jeff would never feel safe with her around. He turned back to Taylor. She would make the perfect girlfriend. She was young and could be easily manipulated. He remembered reading something a long time ago about Stockholm syndrome. He thought it was something about the captured falling in love with their captor. Once on the road Jeff would find a library and find a book on it.

  There was a knock at the door.

  "This is some cosmic fucking joke, right?" Jeff aimed the gun slowly at each of the three prisoners in turn. "One move and I kill you. As long as you remain quiet you remain alive. I'm not sure why I have to keep threatening you like you're a bunch of children."

  Jeff needed sleep. He was getting tired and had really wanted nothing more than to shoot all three in the face and call it a night. He'd figure everything out in the morning after a nice, long sleep.

  He made sure the silencer was tight on the pistol. Jeff wasn't going to play games anymore. If it was anyone other than The Lich Lord, he was going to kill them. Hell, he might even shoot that prick in the face.

  The knock came again.

  Jeff opened the door a quarter of the way, pistol held behind the door. He put his foot across the threshold so there would be no mistake for an invite inside.

  It was Claude.

  "Holy shit, dude, what? It's really fucking late and you woke me," Jeff said.

  "Sorry. I was supposed to get here much earlier but got caught up with another group of new arrivals." Claude tried to look behind Jeff into the darkened bar. "Uh, did Vee come to talk to you?"

  "Yeah. Hours ago." Jeff shifted his weight to further block Claude, keeping the gun hidden.

  "Where is she?" Claude asked.

  "Wiping her ass? How the fuck should I know. She was here, she said a bunch of stupid shit, and then she left. I haven't seen her and I'm trying to sleep," Jeff said.

  "Can I come in and look around?" Claude asked, and now Jeff noticed Claude's hand hovering behind his back, where he was sure his firearm was waiting.

  Jeff smiled. "I'm not gay. I appreciate the offer, but I like a good pussy to play with."

  "That wasn't an offer."

  "Sure, but then promise me you're going to leave."

  "I promise. Step back from the door," Claude said.

  "What, you don't trust me?"

  "Why would I?"

  Jeff opened the door all the way and moved back with it.

  Someone kicked behind the bar.

  Claude turned his head at the sound and that's all Jeff needed. He fired twice into Claude's head and killed him. Claude was dragged inside. Jeff would toss the body out back in a bit.

  "Whoever kicked is an asshole. You forced me to kill Claude. I was going to let him go," Jeff lied. "This death is on you, not me."

  Jeff was glad he'd killed him. Four prisoners would be unmanageable. At this rate you'll have half the town tied up behind the bar and the other half in a pile of bodies at your feet, Jeff thought.

  He needed a drink.

  Jeff went behind the bar and feigned a kick to keep everyone on the ground honest. He didn't have time for this shit right now. He needed to sleep but couldn't trust them not to try and get untied and get help. If he went through the trouble of making sure they were completely secured, he still wouldn't be able to sleep with both eyes closed.

  He ran his free hand through his thinning hair and went to put the pistol down on the bar but thought better of it.

  "No one is going to fuck with me, got it? We're going to enjoy our time together. If anyone so much as breathes hard, I will shove this gun up their ass and pull the trigger. And the silencer will hurt even more plugged up there," Jeff said and laughed at his own joke.

  His three prisoners looked absolutely terrified, but it didn't mean they would stay that way. Especially if he closed his eyes. They'd try to slither across the floor like damn snakes and kill him in his sleep. Jeff couldn't take the chance.

  The small fridge behind the bar had a six pack of Miller Light, usually not his first choice but it would do for now. If he started on the hard stuff he might fall out, so beer it was.

  He took a pull from the can and smacked his lips. He looked at the three on the ground and held up the can. "Anyone want a beer? I need to be a more gracious host. Besides, don't only losers and alcoholics drink alone?" Jef
f put the beer down on the counter.

  Jeff grabbed Taylor by her bound feet. When she struggled, he took the beer and dumped some of it on her. "Stop moving. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to move all three of you where I can see you. I need to sit down for a minute and I don't trust you."

  Taylor stopped fighting and was dragged to the center of the open area in front of the bar. Jeff grabbed a handful of blankets he'd hoarded and tossed them on the floor, lifting Taylor and putting her on top. He squeezed her left breast as he did it. He smiled. He couldn't help himself.

  "Next," he said but got the blankets and pillows he saw and tossed them on the ground next to Taylor. Scotty went next to her. At first, Jeff was going to keep them separated, but he thought a few more moments together would make their separation even sweeter for him.

  Vee was tossed on the other side of Scotty.

  Jeff clapped his hands. "Scotty, you are the luckiest bastard around right now. Two hot chicks, one on either side. Dude, if I were in your shoes, I'd have so much wood right now I'd bust through my fucking pants. Luckily, I'm not in your shoes. But don't worry, because sometime soon both of these fine ladies will be naked and doing the dirty... only, with me."

  Scotty lifted up off the ground but fell back down when Jeff raised his foot.

  "I thought so. No one likes a hero," Jeff said. He took another beer out of the fridge, keeping an eye on the trio, and put it on his card table next to his recliner.

  Jeff took a bag of stale pretzels from a pile of snacks and one of the shotguns and sat down on the chair. "I'd offer you one but that would mean I'd have to take the tape off your mouth and one of you would do something retarded like yell for help. No one is coming to help, and it would piss me off." He stuffed a handful of pretzels in his mouth, chewing them before washing the mush down with beer. It was better than nothing. Before he left he'd need to pack a couple of bags with enough food and beer to get him through a couple of weeks.

  "I'm going to close my eyes and fake snore for a little bit," Jeff said and smiled. "At some point I might even really fall out, but as soon as I hear a sound I'll wake up shooting. So ask yourself... do you think you can get up, get untied and subdue me before I pull the trigger on this shotgun, or the pistol? Do you really want to find out?"

  Chapter Twenty

  Darlene was going stir crazy. It felt like days since The Lich Lord had locked her in the room. He said he'd be back shortly, but she was pacing the floor and wondering how pissed he'd be if she kicked the door open and escaped.

  Something told her to relax and enjoy the food and water he'd left her. There was also a stack of books on the small table, but when she looked through them she saw they were all zombie books. She had to laugh. Even The Lich Lord had kept his humor.

  She sat down on the bed again but didn't lie down. She picked at the fruit on the plate but she wasn't really hungry. She hadn't eaten too much in the last couple of days but she still felt refreshed. There were too many things going around in her head right now to eat or sleep. She was trying to formulate a plan but she was too jumbled.

  Darlene thought of Shane and how, in the end, the experiment had failed. From what she understood, it was far from the first time. She didn't know if she could stay around while he continued to use people to find a cure. What if there wasn't one? Darlene thought nature had corrected the balance on Earth. She believed in a Higher Power and supposed it was God, and if she did she had to know this was the plan all along.

  Man had run its course, right? In the grand scheme of things the human race was a small blip of history. There was more history before we came along and they'll be a lot more after we're totally gone, Darlene thought.

  "Enough of the deep thoughts for one day," Darlene said aloud, standing up again. She wanted to do something important. Since she'd been pregnant she'd been a passenger on this ride. Everyone else had taken care of her. First John and then The Lich Lord. She'd been an observer in her own life. And because of her weakness her baby was gone.

  No more. Darlene had survived all the way from Maine to Florida because she did what she had to do, and, even when it wasn't pretty, it worked in the end.

  She was no longer the plump late twenties chick working behind a makeup counter for shit pay. Going nowhere in life. Letting her dad take care of her. If the zombie apocalypse hadn't happened, would she still be living under his roof and celebrating each lonely birthday and wishing for something big to happen to her?

  You didn't get any bigger than what had happened to the world.

  "It's time to get back into the game," she said. She began pacing faster and faster, circling the small room as her mind spun with thoughts on how to get back John and her baby and what they needed to do to be safe from there.

  She had to admit, after those two tasks were completed, coming back to this compound made the most sense. But she'd do it on her terms. Without Jeff or Doug or any other bastard getting the best of her.

  It was all becoming clear now.

  Eventually The Lich Lord would lose control of whatever mind he had left. He was holding it together now, but as the power got to him... he'd end up destroying everything he'd built up. It was inevitable. It would be his law and his way, and if you opposed him he could easily destroy you.

  People would flock to his cause, only seeing a warm meal and a structured society, but Darlene was having second thoughts. Once you were inside these supposedly safe walls, it would be harder to escape. Especially when everything on the outside was gone.

  But Darlene didn't know what to do. If she tried to go toe to toe with The Lich Lord she'd lose. He was stronger and smarter. He might not be able to read her mind but he could see intent on her face if she wasn't careful. And his other powers could be used against her.

  The world would not be safe long-term if The Lich Lord was ruling it.

  Darlene might need to bide her time. Play nice and act like she was firmly on his side. He might even let her go to find John and the baby. She'd come back and take care of him. Make sure everyone in the compound was safe. The Lich Lord had begun a great thing with housing, electricity and supplies. Darlene would make sure no one got out of line and ruined it.

  Would she need to lead these people? Did she even want to stay here and try to keep the peace? It was all so much for her right now.

  She needed John to talk to and figure it all out. So much to think about.

  There was a knock at the door.

  "Come in," Darlene said.

  It was The Lich Lord and he was smiling. He glanced at her uneaten food. "Are you feeling alright?"

  Darlene put on a fake smile. "I'm fine. Just sick of being trapped in this room."

  "Then follow me. I have something for you." He turned and walked away.

  Darlene followed, wondering what he was up to now. Maybe he'd taken this time to try another poor bastard and his magic blood serum. Darlene didn't want to go through that again.

  She was led back into the main arena area, the only light a lamp sitting on a small end table in the center of the room. The rising bleachers on three sides were open but empty.

  The Lich Lord stood behind the lamp and turned to face Darlene.

  "What's this about? This seems pretty dramatic, even for you," Darlene said.

  The Lich Lord laughed. "I wanted to set a mood, Zombie Killer. I wanted to give you something." He opened the drawer of the end table and pulled out a Desert Eagle, putting the weapon on top of the table.

  Darlene reeled. There was no way it was hers. It had been left behind during the battle, and Jeff had taken her from John and her baby.

  The Lich Lord smiled. "I'll be right back." He turned and disappeared into the darkness of the large room.

  Darlene ran to her Desert Eagle and hefted it in her hand. It was an old friend and felt right back with her. She checked and it was empty, of course. If she needed to, she could use it to bludgeon The Lich Lord and escape. Maybe out there, in the world, she could find ammo for
it. But the chance of that was ridiculous.

  "Darlene?"

  She looked up as John came running to her.

  This was not happening.

  John grabbed her shoulders and pulled Darlene in, hugging her.

  "I've missed you so much," he said into her ear. "When he told me you were alive and safe I cried, baby."

  Darlene still couldn't believe it was John. She pushed him away and kissed John, wrapping her arms around his neck. Oh, it was John.

  "Where have you been?" she asked when they finally stopped kissing.

  "Here and there. I did a little sightseeing."

  "Did you buy me a souvenir?"

  John shook his head and smiled. "The gift shop was closed. And overrun by zombies, of course."

  Darlene laughed. "Of course. They seem to ruin everything." She turned to The Lich Lord. "No offense."

  The Lich Lord put up a hand. "Oh, none taken. I'm not a zombie. I'm more vampire at this point."

  Darlene held up the Desert Eagle. "Look what I got back."

  John smiled. "I know. I'm the one who kept it safe."

  Darlene hugged him again. "I don't suppose you have a round I can use to kill this fucker?"

  John squeezed her tightly. "We need to get out of this place."

  "Agreed." The two kissed again.

  The Lich Lord sighed dramatically. "Even in this new world, public displays of affection aren't wanted. Can you two crazy kids keep your shirts on for a few more minutes?"

  "What now?" Darlene asked.

  The Lich Lord held a single cartridge in his hand and smiled. "This would come in handy right now."

  Darlene tried to remain calm. There was no way he could read her mind but The Lich Lord had obviously read John's and figured out they wanted to escape. "If you let me have it I can load it into the Desert Eagle and put it to good use."

  Surprisingly to Darlene, The Lich Lord tossed it to her.

  "If you're planning to kill me, I'd wait a few moments. I have another fun surprise for you. This night is filled with surprises, don't you think?"

  Before Darlene could load the bullet, The Lich Lord was out the door in a flash of movement.