Soul Survivor

by Arthur M Wyatt

  “What are you waiting for?” she finally screamed.

  The zombie flinched as if startled by her outburst but made no move to attack her. It stood there for a few more seconds, grunted at her, then turned and stepped out onto the porch. Then it walked down the steps and into the yard. She walked outside and watched as it high stepped down the driveway.

  “Strange,” she said softly to herself, “he’s just like the mailman and Miss Lillian.”

  Just as she came to the bottom step, another one shuffled around the corner of the house. His arms were outstretched and the hands were opening and closing like he was trying to grab something. He was growling through clenched teeth like a rabid dog.

  For some strange reason this reminded her of a Little rascals episode she saw many times on VHS tape as a kid. The episode where a wild man from the deepest darkest jungle had escaped from the circus and was chasing the our gang kids around the house saying “yum yum eat ‘em up, yum yum eat ‘em up”. She smiled at the idea, a little amused at herself for having such a thought at a time like this, then shook the notion from her head and tightened her grip on the pistol.

  The dead man that had just walked away turned back to look then picked up its pace as it moved down the driveway a little faster.

  Amy stopped and waited for this one to stop and stare. It didn’t. It shuffled closer and was obviously intent on killing her.

  She pointed the pistol at the thing and pulled the trigger. The dead man’s bottom jaw flew apart. Its head jerked to one side but the zombie continued forward, the top row of teeth and the jagged white remnants of its jaw bone now exposed. The bloody bruised tongue darted around its shattered mouth like a wounded snake.

  Amy aimed more carefully this time then squeezed the trigger again. The shot entered between the thing’s eyes forcing the contents of its skull out a gaping smoking hole in the back of its head. It took one more step then crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap.

  Alerted by the gunshots, those that had been milling about in the street and yards nearby turned toward the sound and were heading in her direction. She couldn’t risk them seeing her go back to her house so she ran back into Bob’s.

  Amy went to the front door and peered through the peephole. There were five dead on the porch. She opened the door quickly and kicked the closest one in the chest sending it into the others. All five tumbled down the steps and onto the sidewalk.

  She fired five shots in quick succession into the group then slammed the door shut. The growls of anger started up immediately. She hoped this would draw them all to the front of the house so she could make her escape.

  Rushing to the back door she stepped out and looked around the corner. All the activity was now in the front. The dead that were heading up the driveway a few minutes ago were now at the front with the rest. All clawing and beating at the thick wooden door.

  She retraced the route back to her house and tapped lightly on the back door. It swung open and then she was safely back inside. They quickly and quietly locked and barricaded the door. She leaned against it and let out a long sigh.

  “That isn’t the shirt you had on,” Tommy commented.

  “I’ll tell you later,” Amy answered.

  They retreated to the hallway and had a lunch of Vienna Sausages, crackers and water.

  “I wish we had some pickles,” Tommy commented.

  Mentally and physically exhausted, Amy finished eating then passed out on the floor and slept. Tommy lay quietly nearby.

  She awoke with a start several hours later to the sound of clawing and barking at the back door. She rushed to the kitchen and peered out the window. She could see Abby.

  She moved the barricades and was about to open the door and let her in when two of the dead came around the corner of the house making straight for the little dog.

  She charged them and was biting at their ankles. One of them reached down, picked her up by the neck and held her there while choking her at the same time.

  The dog fought and squirmed at first but quickly went limp. The zombie then ripped the dog’s throat out and dropped it to the ground.

  In an uncontrollable rage Amy snatched the shotgun off the table and stepped out onto the patio. The two dead saw her and started toward her. She put one shell into the chest of the first one then pumped the shotgun and put another into the second. Both were knocked over backwards to the ground.

  She placed the shotgun on the ground and retrieved the bat from beside the door. Tommy watched from the doorway, eyes wide and mouth agape.

  She walked up to the two zombies, both trying to get back on their feet, and gave each one a full swing of the bat. The bat crashed against their heads sending both zombies crumpling to the ground face first.

  Still enraged she took up the shotgun once again and put a shell into the back of each one of the zombie’s heads. Their skulls exploded in a shower of blood, bone and grey matter.

  Justice had been swift and revenge was sweet, she thought.

  She heard a shuffle and then a grunt behind her. She pumped another shell into the chamber and spun around.

  Lillian, the lady from across the street was walking toward her. Still in her night gown and one slipper, she walked with that strange high stepping gate Amy had seen earlier in the mailman and the zombie at Bob’s house. The old lady looked at Amy and let out a weak groan through clenched teeth.

  Then she dropped to her knees, raised her arms, opened her mouth wide and let loose a scream of pain and anguish that made Amy’s blood run cold.

  The scream resonated through the air and sounded as if she was screaming out for help.

  After a moment the scream faded then Lillian fell silent. She remained in this position for a few more seconds then looked Amy directly in the eyes. A bloody tear ran down her cheek.

  Amy stood there, stunned at what she was seeing. Finally the old woman lowered her head as if to look at the ground.

  After a couple of minutes the sound of more dead advancing up the driveway brought her back to reality. She pulled the 9mm from her waistband and put one round in the old lady’s head putting her out of her misery. Her body flopped over on its side and she was still.

  She looks strangely peaceful, Amy thought.

  By this time every zombie on the block was alerted and a mob was heading her way.

  She rushed back into the house and barricaded the door.

  Soon the back yard was full of the dead.

  “Miss Amy, you remember what I said about you being a genius and everything?” Tommy said.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I take it back,”

  “Really?”

  “All that trouble you went through to make sure the dead would think we were next door was for nothing,” he exclaimed. “They definitely know where we are now.”

  For some reason this struck Amy as funny and she began to laugh. Tommy, a little perplexed at first, soon joined in and they laughed until their sides hurt.

  Once the laughter died down they moved most of their supplies to the attic. They would sleep there at night just in case the dead somehow found their way inside the house.

  She cut the rope form the ladder so that it couldn’t be pulled down. They raised it up behind them then wedged a broom handle between the ladder and the door frame so that it couldn’t be lowered. She made sure the pistol and shotgun were fully loaded and the bat was close by. Then exhausted they each got into their sleeping bags and tried to go to sleep.

  “Amy,” Tommy whispered, “are you awake?”

  “I’m awake, is something wrong?”

  “I just want to go home,” Tommy said weakly.

  She could tell he was on the verge of crying. “I know Tommy. I’m sorry but you can’t go home.”

  “I know but I’m still homesick,” he said then rolled over and went to sleep.

  The dead stayed out side clawing and tapping at the windows all night.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  By sunrise it
was as if the dead had forgotten why they were there and most had wandered off.

  When Amy woke she lowered the ladder, descended into the hallway and checked the house. The doors were locked and dead-bolted just as they had left them.

  She checked the front door. It seemed to be undamaged. She peered through the peephole. There was no activity on the porch or front lawn. Slowly she opened the door.

  Tommy had climbed down from the attic and stood quietly behind her.

  Looking down Amy recoiled in horror. On the small porch in front of the door were bodies stacked like firewood. All of their heads smashed in. There was an awful stench coming from them.

  “Oh my God, they stink,” Amy said looking down at the pile of flesh.

  “What is it?” Tommy asked peering around from behind her.

  “I don’t know but it smells like road-kill, vomit and zombie pee.” Amy answered. “Why would they do this?”

  Off in the distance a scream began. An evil blood curdling scream. It started low and became louder as it reverberated around them.

  A chill came over Amy’s entire body causing her to shiver.

  “It’s not human,” Amy said closing the door and locking it.

  “What is it?” Tommy asked.

  “I think it’s Brian Lee or at least one like him,” she said.

  They retreated to the kitchen and sat down to eat.

  The electricity had gone out sometime during the night. Amy tried the battery operated radio. Nothing but white noise.

  They had several cases of bottled water and after eating breakfast Amy filled every container she could find. The water pressure finally dropped to a trickle then stopped all together.

  They had enough food and water to last at last several weeks Amy guessed.

  They passed the next few days without event. Then on the night of the tenth day that all changed.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Amy laid down, blew out the candle and closed her eyes. Suddenly there was a scream from the front yard. Tommy stood up and tried to make it to where Amy lay. He tripped over a box and fell in a heap at her feet.

  She grabbed the flashlight she kept by her pillow.

  “Tommy are you alright?” she asked shining her light on him.

  “I’m ok,” he said rubbing his knee. “What was that?”

  Before Amy could answer there was another scream and a loud bang at the front door. There was another bang and then a crash as the door gave way.

  Amy jumped up and had Tommy get behind some boxes. She took hold of the shot gun and made sure a shell was in the chamber.

  “What is it Amy?” Tommy asked.

  “Shh... listen.” was the only answer he received.

  They could hear footsteps approaching. Amy handed Tommy the pistol.

  “The safety is off. Do not put your finger on the trigger unless something happens to me,” she whispered, “ok?”

  The footsteps drew nearer until it was directly beneath the attic hatch. Amy crept over to the hatch and pointed the barrel down.

  They could hear a low growl emanating from whatever it was. Then the sound of another one shuffling down the hallway met their ears.

  This sounds like one of the regular dead, she thought.

  The shuffling came to the area beneath her and stopped. She heard the first one growl angrily. Evidently not happy about the arrival of a companion.

  She stood silently listening. She could imagine the evil thing standing just below her. Looking up with hate filled eyes.

  Amy slowly removed the broom handle from the door. Another growl came from below.

  With the shotgun at the ready she kicked the door open. The ladder unfolded and fell out barely missing the thing.

  It raised its head its red hate filled eyes meeting hers. Standing behind it was one of the droopy, hazy eyed slow ones.

  Suddenly the first one leapt and started up the ladder.

  Amy pulled the trigger blowing the top of its head off. Blood, brains and pieces of bloody scalp pelted the one behind it. The zombie winced then suddenly straightened up and turned its gaze to Amy. It was no longer droopy eyed. The stare burned right through her and chilled her to the bone. A scream exited its throat as it jolted forward. Amy pumped the shotgun once and fired again. The shot grazed its shoulder but did not slow it down.

  By this time it was almost to the top of the ladder. Amy stepped back and attempted to pump another shell into the chamber but she lost her footing and fell over backwards striking her head on a rafter.

  The zombie grasped the top of the ladder and hoisted itself up. Standing upright, its arms bent and its fingers curled up like claws, it screamed down at Amy who was laying five feet away and frantically trying to work the shotgun.

  The zombie was just about to launch itself at her when a boom echoed through the attic. The dead thing lurched to the side as a bullet took off its lower jaw. Before it could recover another shot rang out. This one entered the left temple and blew a hole big enough to stick your fist through on the other side of its head.

  As Amy gasped for air it collapsed to its knees at the top of the ladder.

  Tommy, the smoking pistol gripped tightly in his hand, calmly walked from behind the boxes and gave the evil monster a shove in the chest with his foot. It fell over backwards and tumbled down the ladder.

  Amy looked at Tommy in awe. “You saved my life,” she said.

  Tommy offered her a hand up. “I guess we’re even then right?”

  “Right,” Amy said managing a smile.

  She stood on unsteady feet, examining the knot on her head with her fingers, and stepped over to the ladder. She shined the flashlight on the scene below.

  The dead lay in heap. Their bodies twisted in grotesque poses.

  “What just happened?” Amy said.

  “I don’t know,” Tommy answered leaning over to look down.

  “The first was like Brian Lee, but the second... the second was just a regular zombie.... and then it changed...” she said shaking her head.

  “Into one of those... those demon things,” Tommy finished the thought for her.

  “Demons?” Amy said looking at him puzzled.

  “Yeah they’re like demons or something. Demon dead.”

  “Demons, zombies, demon zombies, demon dead...” Amy said letting the words hang in the air for a few seconds. “I don’t know what they are but they’re definitely different from the others. More evil. If that’s even possible. I think demon dead pretty much sums it up.”

  “Maybe they’re zombies possessed by demons.” Tommy said.

  “You’ve been reading too many comic books Tommy,” Amy said. “Besides... I don’t believe in demons.”

  “What about zombies?” Tommy asked. “Do you believe in zombies? I bet you didn’t a few weeks ago... what about now?”

  “You know Tommy... that’s way too deep a thought process for a kid your age.”

  “Well?” Tommy said.

  Amy had no answer. They stood in silence for a few seconds then she lit more of the candles spread around their small living space.

  “We have to get them out of the house and fix the door,” Amy said. “Give me the pistol.”

  She took the 9mm, reloaded the clip and handed it back to Tommy.

  “Stay here and be ready to shoot,” she said.

  “When I pull these guys out of the way climb down and stand guard.”

  Amy climbed down and stood staring at the front door listening. She thought she heard something moving and stood still for a few more moments. When she was sure she had heard nothing she grabbed the first one by the feet and dragged it out of the way. She did the same with the second.

  Tommy came down from the attic and stood off to the side. The pistol in one hand and the flashlight in the other.

  Amy dragged both bodies to the back door and unlatched it.

  “Let me have the flashlight for a second,” she told Tommy.

  She directed the beam of light
out into the back yard. She saw nothing but the bodies from before. She made a point not to look at her dog. She still felt guilty about not being able to save her.

  When she was satisfied there was no danger she handed the light back to Tommy. One at a time she dragged the two bodies out into the yard then closed and locked the door.

  “We have to close up that gaping hole in front,” Amy said. “Hopefully the door isn’t so damaged it can’t be salvaged.”

  “Ok.”

  “Just stand guard. If anything happens don’t shoot me.”

  “I’m not,” Tommy said feeling a little insulted.

  Amy took the flashlight from Tommy as they walked to the front room. The door lay on the floor but was still in one piece. It was splintered where the hinges once were attached.

  Hearing a noise in front of her Amy shined the light at the open entrance way.

  She recoiled with a gasp. Standing on the porch staring at her was the mailman. Before she could act a shot rang out from behind her.

  A piece of cloth and flesh flew off the mailman’s shoulder as the bullet impacted. He winced but seemed to feel no pain.

  “No,” Amy said loudly, “don’t shoot it.”

  “But it’s a zombie,” Tommy said.

  “I know but it’s one of the normal ones,” she said realizing instantly what a ridiculous thing that was to say.

  “Normal?” Tommy asked.

  “I mean... I don’t think it knows it’s dead,” she answered.

  The mailman stepped closer to the doorway. The stack of bodies had been moved to the side. He reached into his shoulder bag and pulled out several pieces of mail and held them out to Amy.

  “Don’t,” Tommy pleaded.

  “It’s ok,” Amy said stepping slowly over to the doorway. “I don’t think it wants to hurt us.”

  She reached out and took the mail. The dead man grunted, turned, walked off the porch and disappeared into the darkness.

  Amy directed the beam of light to the envelopes.

  “Oh my God! You have got to be kidding me,” she said obviously annoyed.