by Cerys du Lys
"I'll do it," I said. "I'll leave you and go back home and Desiree and I will have a girl's night to ourselves."
Evan laughed. "Wow. Harsh."
The gas station attendant stumbled out of the backroom to greet us.
Evan saw him before I did and his head jolted around, eying the man. Confused, I looked, too, and then I realized the problem. Pale, shambling, staring at Evan with an intense, cool gaze, the man saw something he liked in my date. The gas station attendant was one of them, like me, but he didn't look willing to reason with either of us.
The man sprang into action. Disregarding the easy way out from behind the counter, he threw himself over the counter itself. Sliding across dust and debris, he fell straight over the clerk's counter and crashed to the ground. His body hit the tiled floor with a slapping smack, but this wasn't enough to stop him. Barely pausing, he pushed himself off the ground with his hands and stood back up.
The other man dove for us, for Evan, disregarding the aisle rack between him and us. The rack teetered on edge with the full weight of our attacker pushing into it and then slowly started toppling towards us. Evan grabbed my arm and pulled me, flinging the both of us out of harm's way.
The attendant slammed into the ground, a mess of flailing limbs and candy strewn across the floor. When he fell, he'd cut his hand open on the top of the rack. Thick blood pooled with the unopened, scattered candy wrappers. The man tried to push himself up again like he'd done when he leapt over the counter, but his hand slipped in the puddle of blood and he fell back to the ground.
I stood there, shaking. I'd never had to deal with this, with being attacked like this. True, he didn't want me, but I was with Evan and it was somewhat the both of us involved. We'd escaped from the others in the university courtyard yesterday, but it seemed like something else entirely. Not as dangerous, not as close. More impersonal, like I was watching it happen on the news.
I'd been scared then, too. Scared for Evan, worried he'd become stuck on the ground and unable to climb that tree, but he hadn't. He survived and he was here with me now on our date. Our date, and...
"Sadie," he said. "Come on."
Evan and I hastily walked towards the entrance to the gas station, keeping a wide distance between ourselves and the man on the floor. Stuck, his clothes clinging to the rack, hand unable to find purchase on the blood-slick floor, he flopped around. He stared at us as we left, though. His mouth moved slowly, trying to form words, and his eyes followed Evan's every step.
"Get..." he said, his voice like crunching charcoal. "Get him. Hold him."
I did, I held Evan. I squeezed his hand tight and shivered and we ran outside to safety. Before we left, Evan grabbed a package of sour gummy worms from a small display case sitting by the windowed walls.
"Evan..." I said once we were outside. "I think this was a bad idea. I don't think we should do this."
Evan picked up his duffel bag and hefted it across his shoulder as if nothing had happened. "If you want to go back, we can, but..."
I did and I didn't. I wanted to go anywhere but here, be anywhere else, safe and comfortable. Warm, laying my head on Evan's chest, listening to the constant beat of his heart and feeling the air go in and out of his lungs every time he breathed. Here, or home, or the movie theatre, or anywhere. I didn't care as long as the others weren't there.
I was one, but I wasn't, and they scared me. I scared myself. Why was this happening?
"Sadie," he said, tone sharp. "We've got to leave. Now."
"What?" I asked.
I didn't need to ask, though. As soon as I did, as soon as I looked up at him, I saw them. More of the others were surrounding us. Just a few now, lured by the commotion in the gas station most likely, but if we stayed much longer there'd be more.
The hill, though. I could go, I could run, but to make it to the movie theatre we needed to trek up a steep, hilly road. At the top, surrounded by trees and overlooking the outskirts of the city, was the quiet, discount movie theatre. They'd stayed open despite the rising costs and the growing popularity of the inner-city theatre, but they stopped offering newer movies and only showed ones that had stopped playing at most major cinemas. That was before, at least.
It was quiet, out of the way, and would've been a perfect getaway, except neither Evan nor I realized we'd encounter the others here. Like myself, they must have roamed around and decided this was a good place to stay.
Was the theatre full of them, too? I couldn't think of any reason any of us would want to hole up there, but I had my borrowed home and maybe they had their theatre. Maybe Evan and I had done exactly the worst thing possible.
"Can you make it on your own?" he asked.
"Evan, what? You can't leave me." I clutched at his arm, squeezing tight, pulling at the cloth of his shirt.
He leaned down and kissed me on the nose. Light and gentle, nothing more, but the sensation of it made me freeze in place and gaze up at him.
"I won't leave you," he said. "I'm going to distract them and lure them away. They won't go after you. I'll come as soon as I can, alright? You get to the theatre and I'll be right there."
He kissed me again, this time on the lips, and I nodded, unthinking. "Evan," I said. "Please..."
"Nothing bad will happen," he said.
The others approached us faster now. The man in the gas station had almost entirely removed himself from the rack and was crawling towards the door, still hoping to grab onto Evan. We needed to move now, to do something, and if I stayed and objected any longer, we wouldn't be able to do anything.
"Alright," I said. "I'll wait for you."
"Here." Evan grinned and handed me the plastic package filled with sour gummy worms. "Hold onto this for me. I promise I'll come back for it."
Some kind of love deal, like in the books and the movies. Unfortunately every movie I'd seen where they had something like that, it usually ended in tragedy. Evan would promise me he'd return, give me this packet of candy as assurance, and then he'd never come back and I'd be stuck with only a bag of gummy worms as remembrance of him.
I laughed, but I didn't feel very happy. "I don't like this," I said.
"I like you," he said, "and that's all that matters to me right now."
...
It's such a simple thing to climb a hill. I'd driven up this hill before, too. Before all of this happened, when I went out with friends, we came to the discount theatre and gorged on popcorn and cheap soda. It wasn't the best place ever, but I liked it here. We could watch a movie or two, one right after the other, while still supplying ourselves with plenty of snacks and drinks. It cost less for all of that here than it did just to get tickets at some of the higher tech places.
I'd driven up this hill, but I'd never walked up it. It wasn't too bad by regular means, but in my current state I struggled. Keeping a firm grip on the package of gummy worms, holding them tight and practically mashing them in my fist, I marched up the hill.
It was, perhaps, the length of an average city block. A row of trees lay on either side of the road, keeping things confined and in perspective. The theatre and the city had gone through a lot of effort to keep the road nice, too. No potholes or huge cracks, and very nicely paved for the most part. A pretty good road on an otherwise fairly steep hill.
I stumbled up it, feeling like I was losing ground with every step I took. Once, twice, another. Up, but not far. Minutes passed. Maybe hours. Days? No. Evan's heat lingered with me and I remembered myself because of that. His kiss on my nose, then on my lips. The feel of his hand on my arm, leading me out of the gas station, keeping me safe.
Yes, of course I was safe. I had nothing to fear right now. Evan was the one fleeing for his life, leading the others on some chase. What was he thinking?
What was I thinking leaving him? What could I do, though? Something, nothing, anything?
This, I decided, was a problem. Yes, my life kind of sucked right now, but what of it? Life was never the greatest for anyone ever. E
veryone had their issues, right? I had mine, and, I mean, I felt like it was pretty bad right now, but it could be worse? I didn't really know how, and I hoped I never learned how, but it could be.
I could be dead? I am dead, I thought. Sort of. Not the most uplifting of thoughts.
I heard a scream and spun around. Staring down the hill, I looked for the source of the noise. Nothing.
More screams, loud, out of pitch, singing voices yelling into the late afternoon air. Words, sounds, desperate pleas.
It wasn't Evan; I doubted Evan would scream. The others chasing after him did, though. They formed some semblance of words, vague insinuations of thoughts, and they chased after him. I didn't know where and I couldn't see them. I only heard them.
My heart felt tight and cold; colder. I kept walking. I had Evan's package of sour gummy worms, and no matter what the books or the movies dictated, I knew he'd come back for them. I didn't even know if he liked them, didn't know why he'd grabbed them except because I said I liked them. Evan would come back, I knew it.
I reached the top of the hill and entered the theatre parking lot. Where was I and why was I here? I don't know, didn't know. Was I meeting friends? I forget. Do I go inside, wait? Where's my car? Did I walk here? What for?
I had something in my hands and I looked down to see what it was. My keys, probably, except, no, it was a package of sour gummy worms.
Evan gave me these, I remembered. I felt cold now, lost, a little confused, but I knew why. Evan gave me these and he was going to meet me at the theatre. The theatre was right in front of me, just a short walk through the large parking lot.
I went to the entrance, hoping to sit down and wait quietly, but someone else was already here.
Wearing a red movie employee outfit and holding a broom in his hands, sweeping side to side right outside the front door, stood one of them. Me, us, the same, everything. His soft blue-ish grey skin glistened in the light of the afternoon sun and he worked tirelessly, slowly, sweeping the front of the movie theatre.
He saw me coming, saw me standing there, gaping, and then he smiled.
"Hello," he said. "Welcome to the Cineplex."
"What?" I asked.
"The movies are unfortunately running late right now. I couldn't say when our next showing will be. You're welcome to come inside if you want?"
I stumbled forward, confused, holding my sour candy tight. "Excuse me," I said. "What's going on?"
He sighed, sounding upset. "Come inside and I'll explain." With a huff, he added, "I guess."
...
I went in with him, though I wasn't sure why. I was positive he was the same as me, but then not, too. Or, he was exactly like me and not too much like them. Confused, yes, and he walked with a slight awkward gait, but he managed fine. He held the glass door to the theatre open for me and waited for me to step inside, then he followed along after me.
Bright and glowing, lighting up the movie theatre lobby, an old-fashioned popcorn machine sat behind the ticket counter happily popping and puffing up dried kernels of popcorn. The fluffy, soft, buttery snack jumped around inside the machine.
It looked so strange and regular. I stared at it, dumbfounded. How did it work? We had no electricity, nothing. Everything was gone, except this theatre looked nothing like that. It looked fine, actually. Complete and not destroyed and maybe a bit isolated save for me and the movie man, but honestly it wasn't bad.
He walked behind the counter and reached for a popcorn bucket. Opening the door to the machine, he scooped popcorn into the bucket, then placed it on the counter.
"Have some," he said. "On the house."
"I can't," I said. "I can't eat a lot. I don't get hungry much now."
"I know," he said. "Just a piece? It's good."
He moved the bucket closer to me and I reached my hand in and took a piece. Just one, one tiny piece, and I put it in my mouth. Butter and popcorn melted in my mouth almost immediately, warm and delicious. I let it linger on my tongue, enjoying the taste and the feel of it, then I swallowed. A light trail of buttered heat slipped down my throat and smoldered in my stomach.
"You see?" he asked. He ate a piece, too. Just one. Afterwards he opened the popcorn machine again and tossed the rest of the popcorn back in. "I don't want to waste it."
"It's warm," I said.
He nodded and grinned. "Yup. I'm Jonathan, by the way. Or Jonny. Whatever you prefer."
"You eat popcorn?" I asked.
He looked at me funny, wrinkling his nose. "What do you mean?"
"You..." I paused, unsure. "You don't eat people?"
"Oh!" He smiled; he had a nice, friendly smile. "Nope. I know what you mean, though. How about you?"
"I don't usually eat popcorn but I don't eat anyone, either. I wouldn't, I mean. I know some do... some of us."
"Zombies," he said, nodding and agreeing. "Yup."
"We're not!"
He blinked. "Huh?"
"We're not dead," I said. Excited; I was excited. "Here, hold out your hand. I'll show you."
He held out his hand, both hands, and I placed his fingers on his wrist, helping him feel his pulse. We waited, or I waited while he did. Nothing for awhile, not much. Cold skin touching cold skin. And then his eyes flickered up, curious, glancing at me.
"Huh!"
"See?" I said. "We're not dead because we have a pulse."
"Weird. I kind of liked the zombie idea. Not that I want to be one, but it sounds interesting, right? They could make a movie like this, maybe. Jonny the Zombie Movie Usher and..." He held his hand out as if introducing me to an audience. "Sorry, I don't know your name?"
"Sadie," I said. "I'm Sadie."
"Nice to meet you. So what brings you here? To be honest, no one comes up here. I'm kind of by myself. I keep the place clean, though, you know? Just in case. I guess it worked out."
"I'm waiting for someone," I said. "How does the popcorn machine still work?"
"The old manager used to freak out about what would happen if we lost power. He said no one cared about the movies so much, but everyone would still want popcorn. He set up some thing where we could use a car battery to keep this thing running just in case. Or... not a car battery exactly. I forget what he called it. Deep cycle something or other. I don't know. I just know it runs and there's spare stuff in the back if it runs out of power. Pretty handy, really."
"And you just eat popcorn?" I asked.
"Yup. Just popcorn. Probably not the healthiest, but we're not doing so great health-wise right now, are we?"
I shook my head and laughed. "I guess not."
"So... you're waiting for someone? How's that work?"
I was waiting for someone? Oh!
"I need to go," I said. Scrambling for the door, practically running to it, I tried to rush outside. I couldn't rush, though, couldn't go fast. I almost tripped and fell on the lobby rug, but I paused and stopped myself. Regaining my balance, I moved slower this time, careful, deliberate steps towards the front door.
"Where are you going?" Jonathan asked.
"I told you I'm waiting for someone."
Outside, the screaming grew louder. I could hear it from inside the lobby as I stood near the glass door. My hands pressed against the door handle and I lay my cheek against the cool glass, watching and waiting. Louder, closer, just a few screams now, but they were adamant and intent.
On the horizon, hovering in front of me and looking like it was dipping into the cityscape below, the sun began to set. Late afternoon turning into early evening and the sky grew darker and mottled, a mix of purples, oranges, reds, blues, and yellows. A faint hint of stars and moonlight peeked out from high above, but not too much, nothing showing too soon.
A man, Evan, sprinted up the hill and towards the theatre. He glanced around. Looking for me, I thought. I was inside, though. Would he come inside or should I go out? Behind him, hobbling quickly, faster than most, two of the others followed him. They chased after Evan, pained expressions on their
faces, but fighting through the agony with absolute determination.
"Jonny!" I yelled, my throat dry, voice harsh. "Jonathan! Do you have a key for this door? Is it sturdy?"
"Yup," he said, leisurely. "Sturdy enough, I guess. I don't know. I've never seen it break at any rate."
I hoped that meant something and wasn't just some wry joke, but I didn't really understand this man so well. Maybe he was just a boy, too. I wasn't sure, but he looked a bit younger than me. Not too young, but young enough. Before we became like this, I thought he might have looked athletic and fit, but right now he was thin and waifish.
Jonathan meandered over, joining me. Looking out the other door of the double door entrance, he spotted Evan, too. The chasers behind him pumped their arms and ran, almost looking regular. Almost catching up to Evan, almost close enough to grab him.
Too close.
I pounded on the glass doors, catching Evan's attention. Sharp reflexes spun him my way and he dashed for the entrance.
"Jonny," I said. "The keys."
He handed the key to me as easy as that.
I held it in my hand, staring at it. I expected him to understand, thought he would lock the door for me. Not right now, no, but once Evan bolted inside. Except he didn't. He gave the key to me and smiled, then stepped away to the side.
Evan looked slower than I remembered. Not too slow, but the bag dangling over his shoulder was definitely slowing him down. He needed to drop it, I thought. He should throw it at them, trip up the others, and then escape to freedom. Why did he seem so attached to that bag? What was in it? Was it worth it? No, nothing could be. Nothing, and yet he clung to it fiercely, looking like the thought of dropping it never crossed his mind.
Evan shoved open the outer doors and ran inside. There was still another set of doors and a slight foyer between us, and he dashed through those, too. The others jammed past the slowly closing outer doors and started to make their way for the second, inner pair.
For us, towards Evan, to me. I held the key in my hands, shaking, worried and feeling so intense and strong. I had the means to save us, the one way to guarantee they didn't make it inside this door, but I didn't know if I could lock it fast enough.
