Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde

by Devan Sagliani

  “I can see from the disapproving look on your face that some introductions are in order,” Bryan said. “These are my wives.”

  “All of them?” I asked, unable to help myself. They were all around our age or younger.

  “I am very blessed,” he said with false modesty. He gestured around the table in a circle, naming each girl as he went. “This is Annabelle, Syriah, Leah, Tara, Beatrice, and Victoria. Say hello girls.”

  “Hello,” they replied dutifully in unison like some kind of side show attraction.

  “Isn't it against the law to have more than one wife?” I asked. “No offense.”

  “I am glad you asked,” Bryan smiled. “It is against man's law but not God's law. In the Old Testament we see many instances of polygamy. Moses had two wives, at least. Abraham had three known wives. Then there is the case of King Solomon who had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, and he was considered one of the wisest men to have ever walked the face of the Earth!”

  “How many wives does one man need?” Felicity fumed.

  “I would say the perfect number is seven,” Bryan said, winking at her. “It's a holy number.”

  “Seriously though,” I interjected. “Why do you need all these wives?”

  “It is a responsibility and a privilege,” Bryan explained. “I am blessed by God almighty who said we may take as many wives as we can comfortably maintain. Verily he tells us to go forth and be fruitful and multiply.”

  “Amen,” said Leah, leaning over and kissing him on the mouth. She couldn't be older than fifteen.

  He could be her grandfather, I thought, grossed out by the sight. I did my best to hide my feelings.

  “It's time for the toast of the feast,” Bryan said, standing up. I could see now that we were surrounded by devotees on all sides, watching our every move. Chefs stood by the fires with meats that looked like skewered rabbits and vegetables, waiting for the order. Another group of helpers moved from table to table filling glasses. Bryan already had a large, ornate bottle of his own red wine open. He poured a generous helping into the chalice in front of him and held it up.

  “Brothers and sisters,” he began in a loud, booming voice that echoed out across the valley beyond the banquet area. “Tonight we join together to celebrate our great good fortune in being gathered as one family in the final days of our Lord and Savior. Praise God! Hallelujah!”

  “Hallelujah!” A deafening chorus of hundreds joined in raising their glasses.

  “As we come together in this special time of Harvest let us not forget those blessed souls we have lost, those that have gone before us into the arms of the Lord,” Bryan said, bowing his head. “We will see them again in the promised land soon enough.”

  A wave of amens crashed over us again.

  “May the blood of the Lamb cleanse us of our sins and bring us peace,” he said. He put the chalice to his lips and tipped it back, taking a strong gulp of wine before passing it to us.

  “No thanks,” Felicity said, pushing it away.

  “It's important,” he pleaded in a soothing voice. “It's part of our customs. Harvest lasts from sun down through the rise of the full moon. It begins with a drink of the blood of the lamb, symbolizing the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us on the cross which washed away our sins. You see? You have to drink.”

  “Fine,” she relented. “I'll drink if it will shut you up already. To Jesus.” She tilted her head back and took a big swig. She set the cup back down on the table. “There. You happy?”

  “I am happy for you,” he corrected. “You don't know this since you are new but when you finish drinking you are to pass the cup to the person on your right. Then they drink. We repeat this until the offering is gone.”

  “If you say so,” she said saucily. “I just hope we eat soon because I am not good at handling my liquor. I haven't had a drink since rehab.”

  She passed the cup to me and I took a sip. It was red wine but it tasted overly sweet, as if someone had added sugar to hide something else.

  Don't be paranoid, I told myself. You saw him drink out of it. If they wanted to kill you they could have taken you out a million different ways by now. All they'd have to do is march you to the tree line and gun you down, not secretly poison you.

  I took a full swig and passed it to my right, to Syriah. She took a good sip and passed it on. I could smell the meat had been put on the fires. It smelled good. Within ten minutes the cup had gone around several times and the bottle was empty. We were all laughing and smiling. I couldn't feel my face. Although I wasn't used to drinking, I knew this wasn't from being drunk alone. I was right. There was some kind of drug in the wine. I felt happiness bursting in my chest and flowing through every part of me. Whatever it was, it felt good. I had no fear anymore—not of death or zombies or cult members holding us hostage. Feelings of love and peace and happiness washed over me again and again. Anything seemed possible. For a minute I thought I might be able to fly.

  Pretty soon everything seemed to be running together. Food was brought to the table and we ate, but I don't know what it was. Then the world began to spin and spin. People got up and danced and took off their clothing. I stood up and began searching for Benji. The last thing I recall was turning to see Felicity staring at one of the bio-luminescent lights on the trees and laughing over and over.

  The next morning I woke up in an empty bedroom with a dull headache. The white of the walls seemed to be seeping into me and making me nauseous. I climbed out of bed and the whole room seemed to spin. The first thing I noticed was that I was naked. The next thing I noticed was that my normal clothing was left in a pile next to the bed.

  Did I take off my clothes last night in front of everyone? I wondered. I sure hoped not. What if Felicity had seen me naked? That would be super embarrassing!

  I quickly put on my clothing. I searched the pocket and found that the pills I had snatched from the bathroom at Jackson's place were long gone. I had forgotten to mention them to Felicity so I couldn't say anything. For a minute I wondered if that was what they fed us the night before but then I realized they had made Felicity seem really calm. Whatever was in the wine we drank had the opposite effect. For all I knew it was ecstasy and angel dust.

  Panic came over me as I realized I didn't have my sword. The last place I recalled having it was at the dinner feast where I had set it on the table. Frantically I searched around the room. Relief washed over me as I found it propped up against the wall in the corner. I checked the blade to make sure it was still clean then slid it over my shoulder and walked outside. Out in the living room I found a glass of water and two aspirin with a note telling me to meet up with them for breakfast when I felt better. I popped the sour white pills into my mouth and gulped down the water like a thirsty dog. My stomach felt like a gurgling pit of acid.

  I threw open the door and stepped outside. The cool air felt good but the sun seemed to be burning a hole through my head. I began to hope the aspirin would kick in fast. Jonah approached me with a kind smile.

  “How are you feeling today brother?”

  “I'm all right,” I said, trying to belie the pounding headache that was setting in.

  “You sure seemed to be having fun last night,” he said with a smile.

  “Funny,” I replied, “I can't remember much of it.”

  “That's how it is when the spirit of the Lord takes over you,” he replied.

  “Or when the drugs in the wine kick in,” I said. He laughed as if I was kidding but I just stared at him.

  “All right then,” he said good naturedly. “I've been waiting for you. It's my honor to take you on a tour of the grounds, after breakfast that is.”

  “I'm gonna skip breakfast if you don't mind,” I said as the nausea returned. “Just some bottled water would be nice.”

  “Done,” he replied.

  “Where is Benji?”

  “I don't know about your friend, Benji,” Jonah said. “He spent the night with the othe
r kids. They have their own cabin across the way. Children tend to keep different hours than adults and we've found it's best for all if they are kept separate.”

  “And Felicity?”

  “She got up about an hour ago,” Jonah explained. “She went to see Bryan and I believe she is now on a tour with Darren.”

  “Great,” I said with a fake smile. “That is just perfect.”

  “I am glad you are pleased,” Jonah said with a genuine smile. It was obvious he really believed in all this religious stuff and was happy to be one of Bryan's minions. “Shall we go then?”

  “Lead the way,” I replied with a flourish of my hands.

  The tour actually turned out to be pretty cool, against all odds. They were a highly skilled, self sufficient group of people who knew how to build, how to trap and hunt and fish and live off the land. They understood science and medicine. They were creative and smart and generally kind, if only just a little creepy. Everywhere we went they sang the praises of their messiah and wished us a happy Harvest. The aspirin kicked in soon enough and my headache began to fade as my body returned to normal. I drank two large bottles of water Jonah provided for me and ate a stick of rabbit jerky he'd carefully wrapped in a strip of tan cloth for the tour. To his credit, Jonah never once gave in to my taunts or teasing or sarcastic remarks. Against my better judgment I began to like him. It was hard not to like the guy. He was just too nice!

  He showed me a water purifying station they had set up and talked about their failed attempts to create a small power plant.

  “We just don't have enough fuel to power it,” he said. “We'd need coal or gasoline or something strong and in the end it wouldn't be worth it for what we could generate and store. For now, we've found other ways around the problem.”

  “Like bioluminescence?”

  “Exactly,” he replied. “Or as we like to call it — God's electricity.”

  A group of kids across the way ran screaming into the woods. I thought I caught sight of Benji from behind, disappearing off in the high brush.

  “Too bad you can't harness the energy of all those kids,” I said. “You'd have more than enough to power the whole of California.”

  “That's the truth,” he agreed.

  I looked up and saw Felicity off in the distance with Darren, talking.

  “What's over there?” I pointed in their direction.

  “The pits,” he said. “I'm not sure you're ready to see them.”

  “Nonsense,” I said. “I've made leaps and bounds since this morning. I'm practically converted to your way of life.” I smiled. He looked pensive but relented, probably realizing that I wouldn't give in without a fight.

  “Try to keep an open mind,” he cautioned as he led the way.

  Darren looked up and saw us coming. He had a frown on his face as he talked to Felicity. She had her back to us so I couldn't tell what she was thinking. Jonah smiled and waved to them and Darren waved back. When we got close to the spot where they were standing, I began to smell a faint scent of death and decay. Then I heard the low moaning. Instantly my hand went to my sword in defense. Jonah calmly put his hand on my shoulder.

  “It's okay,” he said soothingly. “We are safe.”

  We reached them and I looked past Felicity to see what she was staring down at. There was a natural ravine set into the side of the hill that had been dug out and covered over with metal bars. Inside were upwards of a hundred zombies milling about moaning. Undead men, women, and children shuffled back and forth moaning and groaning. Occasionally one would lift its head, sniff the air, then snap with its rotten teeth at the air in our direction.

  “What the hell is that?” I was starting to lose my cool.

  “Those are people,” Jonah replied. “Just like you or me, only they are suffering.”

  “Those are zombies,” I countered. “They are dead, infected people.”

  “Yes,” he said. “Exactly.”

  “So why are you keeping them penned up like that?”

  “I knew he wouldn't understand,” Darren said to Felicity.

  “I'm not sure I do either,” Felicity replied, turning and taking me by the hand. “Why don't you explain to us both again?” Darren looked angrily at me. I tried my best to fight back the smile blossoming on my face.

  “Okay then,” he said, regaining his composure. “We believe that the living dead are people just like the rest of us who have committed terrible sins and are now paying the price for their transgressions.”

  “That's pretty cold, man,” I said, but he stopped me.

  “Let me finish,” he said. “This is going to take a really long time if you keep interrupting every time you don't understand something rather than just saving your questions for the end. Got it?”

  “I'm good,” I said, puffing up my chest and pulling Felicity slightly closer to me.

  “We have nothing but the greatest compassion for them,” he continued. “That's why we care for them.”

  “By keeping them penned up like animals?”

  “Are you going to let me tell this story or not?” I shook my head and Felicity squeezed my hand.

  “Go on,” I said through clenched teeth.

  “We don't believe in killing people unless we have to, for self-defense,” he said. “These poor souls aren't hurting anyone in there. We believe they are the dead that are referred to in the final book of the Bible, Revelations. We believe that when Christ returns to walk the earth he will be able to heal them, just as he did with the lepers of Galilee.”

  “He shall raise them up just as he did with poor Lazarus,” Jonah said, “who had been dead for four days and returned to life as Christ commanded.”

  “That's right,” Darren said. “So until then we do our best to care for them and keep them out of harm's way.” He stopped and stared at me, crossing his arms and waiting for me to say something harsh.

  “What if they get out . . .” Felicity asked.

  “It's never happened,” Darren said before she could finish her sentence, shaking his head in disapproval. “Not once in all the time we've kept them here.”

  “We are blessed with some very talented brothers and sisters,” Jonah said with a pleasant smile. “We like to believe the Lord is watching out for us.”

  “What about the children?” I asked.

  “What about them?” Darren cocked his eyebrow in surprise.

  “They seem to run free all the time,” I said. “It's like Lord of the Flies out here. You know the kinds of trouble young kids can get into unsupervised. What if they were to fall in?”

  “Like I said,” Darren repeated. “It's never happened. Our kids may be young and free spirited, but they are smart enough to know when something is dangerous and avoid it.”

  He turned and shot me a challenging stare.

  “What?” I asked defensively.

  “I'm waiting for some insensitive comment,” he said. “You seem to get such a kick out of spitting on our faith.”

  “Sorry,” I said. “I never considered keeping them penned up like this. I've spent the majority of my time since the outbreak either killing them or running from them. I never saw them in this light before. I couldn't afford to be compassionate. I was fighting for my life and the lives of the people I cared about. This is just blowing my mind.”

  “I guess I have had more time to adjust to it,” Darren said, softening at my confession. “I come up here every day.”

  “Every day?” Felicity looked at him.

  “Without fail,” he brooded.

  “Wow,” I replied. “Why are you so committed to them?”

  “You see the woman with the pony tail?” He pointed to a zombie woman in dirty, sack like clothes not unlike the ones we'd worn the night before.

  “Yeah,” I said.

  “That's my wife, Nicole.”

  Felicity leaned in and stared hard.

  “Do you mean Nicole Boschard?”

  “I do,” Darren said, fighting back tears. H
is overreaction was starting to make a lot more sense. “We were married right after I got out of high school. We were trying to start a family when the outbreak happened. I can remember how afraid she used to be watching the news reports. It wasn't until she accepted Jesus into her heart that she came to know peace. It doesn't seem fair that she ended up here.”

  “The Lord works in mysterious ways, brother,” Jonah said putting his hand on Darren's shoulder. Darren shook him off. “Let's not relive this again now in front of our guests. Come away and let them talk among themselves while you regain your composure.”

  Darren looked like he might punch a hole through Jonah's face for a minute, but in the end he relented and they walked off a distance.

  “That was . . .” My words trailed off and Felicity picked them up.

  “Awkward,” she said, finishing my sentence.

  “These people are crazy,” I said. “Keeping zombies caged up like this and all the God talk. I can't wait to get out of here.”

  “You seemed to be enjoying yourself last night,” she said, looking up at me with a smile.

  “I don't know how to say this so I am just going to come right out and ask,” I said with a shake in my voice. “I don't remember anything from last night. I am pretty sure we were drugged.”

  “Me too,” she said. “I'd say it was ecstasy or GHB from what I remember of my very short club days. So what's your question?”

  “I woke up with no clothes,” I said. “Did I get naked in front of everyone?”

  She laughed at me.

  “Don't worry,” she said. “Almost everyone was naked. I didn't see too much.” She gave me a wink.

  “Wow,” I said. “This is embarrassing.”

  “I'm pretty sure that's the least of our worries now,” she said.

  “What is it now?”

  “You mean aside from being held captive on a creepy religious compound?”

  “Right,” I said.

  She stopped laughing and got serious.

  “Bryan asked me to join his harem,” she said, looking down at her hands.

  “When? Last night after he drugged us out?”

  “No,” she replied. “He was a perfect host last night, aside from slipping us drugs. I think he was trying to be on his best behavior.”