Bernie held up her sword and smiled, pointing at the men and women crowding in the doorway. She took a step forward to make sure no more than one could enter at a time.
“Let’s do this, bitches,” Bernie said and swung like her life depended on it.
Which it definitely did.
Chapter Thirty Seven
Terry tried to keep track of everything going on but men were either running at the bridge or facing the enemy, harassing them from behind.
He’d seen a glimpse of the redhead and knew Tosha was leading a group from The Promised Land to redirect the group and hamstring them at each turn. It was partially working because about half of their numbers had gone to the west in search of her.
“It’s nearly time. Are you ready to get your own part of my kingdom?” Mister Borden asked Terry.
The pair was standing on the back of a pickup truck they’d moved closer to the action. With all of the shooting and shouting, they could walk down the road and not be heard.
“I have a bad feeling this is going to end poorly for me,” Terry said with a smile. “Not for you, of course. You’re a fucking zombie. You’ll manage to overcome. Especially with The Lich Lord defeated.” Terry narrowed his eyes. “You checked, right?”
Mister Borden nodded. “He took out quite a few of his former followers, as well as destroyed a lot of their defenses. Took out every bridge but this one. From what I can gather, Darlene Bobich defeated him.”
Terry sighed. “So my shooter just pissed him off?”
Mister Borden laughed. “So it would seem.”
“I guess it was meant to be. Might as well take advantage,” Terry said, more to himself than to Mister Borden. He’d never fully understand the way the world worked or what little he had control over. He needed to do what had to be done and survive. Wasn’t that what this was all about at this point?
“Get ready to go. We’re packed and loaded. Ready to kill everything in our path. No mercy,” Mister Borden said.
“Take no prisoners? We could use slave labor. Make them grow crops and shit. It might be worth saving a few,” Terry said.
Mister Borden smiled.
Terry was getting uneasy when Borden didn’t say anything, just stared.
“What?” Terry finally asked.
“You have an odd sense of loyalty to these people. Even though you did everything in your meager power to disrupt and ultimately share in the blame for what is happening to them, you still want to see them win. You still want some of them to survive. You’d be happy if they triumphed and pushed us all back,” Mister Borden said.
Terry shrugged. “I can’t deny it since you’re reading my thoughts… even though I told you to stop doing it. What else do you need to know? When these people find out you’re a monster, they’ll turn on you. The only move will be to kill them like The Lich Lord did. Start another war. All we do is fight.”
Mister Borden shook his head. “You forget I was once human. I still have base emotions. I can still feel things. It’s just heightened. More powerful. I don’t want to have to kill everyone. I’d rather we all lived in harmony.”
“Bullshit.”
Mister Borden snapped his fingers. “I could kill you just like that. All of these people. Wander the earth without needing sleep or food. Never growing tired. Just wiping anything out I see. It would be simple.” He snapped again. “But is that the real reason I am what I now am? I don’t think so. I was changed in order to show mankind what they’re doing is wrong.”
Terry pointed at the fighting. He could hear the echo of gunshots.
“This is how you bring about change? By letting people die?” Terry didn’t understand what the point of any of this was anymore.
“I’m bringing about change by letting people see the futility of their ways. Like what you’re doing now, Terry. You see this is all for naught. None of this really matters because you’re human. You can’t possibly imagine what it’s like being me. The world is on my shoulders,” Mister Borden said. “I wish I could tell you it will all be right at some point but, even with your limited intelligence, you could see the lie.”
Terry nodded. “Then make me into a zombie.”
Mister Borden smiled at Terry and it was so condescending Terry was pissed.
“It’s too late for that, Terry. You know it. I no longer have the power to change anyone into a zombie or an eventual equal. In truth, why would I want to? I’m a leader. I’ve always been a leader. I can’t have you as a rival, even with your shortcomings.”
“Then fuck you,” Terry said and tried to raise his pistol before Mister Borden knew what was going on.
The weapon got as far as Terry’s chest before it dropped from his hand.
Terry’s fingers crumpled but he felt no pain. He stared at the dissolving digits, dripping off of what remained of his hand before it, too, was gone.
“So simple. You’d rather die than kneel before a god,” Mister Borden said.
“I hope they burn you at the stake like a motherfucker,” Terry said.
He watched his arm turn black and drop off in ashes.
Terry didn’t feel the burning. No pain. Nothing…
“I can turn your nerves back on if you’d like. Let you really feel what’s happening to your sorry body,” Mister Borden said.
Terry smiled and stared at Mister Borden.
“Do you really challenge me?” Mister Borden shook his head.
“I wish I was going to live long enough to see Darlene Bobich destroy you. She’s out there, waiting and watching like she always does. You’ll see soon enough,” Terry said.
“I’m not scared of her.”
Terry laughed, as his arm drifted away on the wind and his shoulder began disappearing. “I may not be a mind reader like you, chief, but I know when someone is a fucking liar. I’ll see you in Hell, dickhead.”
Mister Borden snapped his fingers and Terry felt every fiber of his being on fire.
Terry raised his remaining hand and gave Mister Borden the finger, a smile still on his face, even as he burned and died, comforted in the fact he’d gone out like a man and died with his boots on.
The last thing Terry did before he finally succumbed to the pain was use his mind to call out far and wide, hoping Darlene Bobich and every fucking zombie across the world would hear his cry to avenge his and everyone else’s death.
Chapter Thirty Eight
Darlene stirred beneath the pile of blankets inside the storage room of the hotel.
Mommy? Are you awake?
Darlene groaned. She wasn’t sleeping. She couldn’t sleep. Or eat. Or drink. All she could do was think.
She had all the time in the world.
Do you really think so? Someone once said time is flat. Don’t you believe that?
“I believe I gave birth to the Anti-Christ. I believe time is of no consequence when it comes right down to it. I believe my son is an asshole,” Darlene said and pushed off the blankets slowly, making sure no stray sunlight was entering her sanctuary.
I still think time is flat.
“There’s a reason you’re bothering me. I thought you’d leave me alone if I left your zombie army for now. Are you changing the rules again?” Darlene asked.
He chuckled in her head. When you make the rules you get to change them at will.
It was dark in the room but Darlene knew it was daytime outside.
Can you sense what’s going on at The Promised Land?
Darlene knew he was gloating about something. She wasn’t going to ask but started to put out feelers to see what he was hinting at.
Surprisingly, he didn’t comment or spoil it for Darlene, which might’ve been his intent.
Main Street and The Promised Land was under siege by a very large force.
Darlene didn’t have time for games. “Who are they?”
A group that has lost their edge on humanity, it would seem. They’re losing their minds. Killing everything in their wake. They’ll never sur
render and never stop, until everyone you know is destroyed.
Darlene needed to help but she couldn’t be effective from this distance. It wouldn’t be dark for hours, which would be too late.
I can feel your frustration, mommy.
“Fuck off.” Darlene began pacing.
There’s also another factor in this. It will arrive very soon, too.
“Holy shit. Now what? You’d better not be pulling my chain,” Darlene said but she knew he wasn’t. He was enjoying this but he wasn’t lying about anything so far.
Another very strong zombie is coming with heavily armed men. They’ll try to backstab this new group once The Promised Land is weakened. Then it will be an easy walk down Main Street to conquer everyone.
“He’ll need to wait until nightfall to lead them. If Tosha and Bernie can hold out until then, I can even the odds,” Darlene thought. She calculated how long it was until the sun dropped far enough over the horizon.
Another chuckle from her son. He’s on the move right now. His men are getting into position. Main Street will fall within minutes, in my estimation.
“He wouldn’t take a chance being exposed to the sunlight,” Darlene said. “It’s too risky, even for the reward at the end.”
You still have no idea how powerful you are. Not nearly as powerful as your baby boy, but you’re up there. Too bad your intelligence has yet to catch up. You’re still being run by emotions and false ideas, mother.
“You’re lying,” Darlene said. Sunlight would kill them. She knew it. There was no getting around it. Many days she’d felt the uneasiness because of the sunlight.
The Lich Lord had hidden away inside The Ocean Center so he wasn’t exposed.
But why?
Darlene sighed. “Because we thought we were turning into vampires.”
Yet, the bloodlust was already gone from your thoughts. This weakness of being susceptible to sunlight and garlic and silver crosses isn’t real. As smart as you’ve become, you still fell for it.
“I did,” Darlene admitted but she still wasn’t about to walk outside and test the theory.
If I was born a cute little baby to a set of normal parents, you’d instill in me the myth of a Santa Claus and I’d buy into it. The Easter Bunny would be another cute and irrational creation I’d wholeheartedly believe in.
“Your point?”
Somehow the zombie population was given a few wrong facts and I’m curious why. I wasn’t held back by any of it, and yet I can clearly see as a zombie grows back into its thoughts he has the irrational fear of sunlight, as well as decapitation, as if it will stop you from regeneration. It is truly fascinating.
“Maybe you’ll be curious enough to stop trying to destroy the world,” Darlene said.
She moved to the door of the room she was in. She could feel the heat of the day on the other side like a raging fire.
It won’t hurt you.
“You could be lying. Maybe you’re done with me. You want to watch me burn.”
If I wanted you dead right now, I could find a few more creative ways than watching you become a crispy pile of bones like a bad vampire movie.
“How do you even know about bad vampire movies?” Darlene asked.
I know everything. As you already know. I’ll keep talking and you can stare at the door, too scared to open it. This is fun. It might also be the last time we get to have a heart to heart as mother and son, too. I fear the coming battle will put us at odds since you refuse to join my side in this.
“Your side is we all die,” Darlene said and put a hand on the door. “That doesn’t really seem like something I’d be interested in. Living, even as a vampire or zombie or whatever the fuck I am now, is better than nothing.”
You believe in God.
“What does God have to do with this? Is He capable of stopping you?”
I guess we’re going to find out; although, I suspect he doesn’t care what we’re doing either way. He seems to be an observer more than anything else. He set this all into motion and now he’ll sit back and watch to see what the end result is. After all, he can just start this all over again if he so desires.
“Then why go through all this trouble? If he’s going to push the reset button, you’re wasting your time,” Darlene said.
That’s the interesting part. Will God step in and stay my hand at the last minute? Will He let me go through with destroying the world to see what happens? Is God even turned in this direction anymore? After all, he has a multitude of other worlds to stare at. Alternate realities. Other universes. What if he’s more interested in the world where I’m a normal baby and you and my daddy John are lying to me about Santa and the Easter Bunny?
“It’s still not too late to stop this. You could save the remains of the human race. Show them the error of their ways. Become a god yourself by letting them do their thing and watching from a distance.”
That sounds more boring than the Santa fairytale. I’d rather blow up the planet and be done with it. Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet again in the future to do this over again. Maybe we’ve done this a million times already, for God’s own amusement. Only He knows. Make sure you ask what the deal is when you get to meet Him.
“With any luck, you’ll be the one meeting Him and I’ll wonder if you’re still a little shit in death,” Darlene said. “You’re distracting me from what you know I have to do. I fell for it.”
Darlene put pressure on the door to open it.
Before you go, there are a few things I need to tell you. No more wasting time. Just a few key points to let you understand what you’re going to deal with if you open the door, mother.
“More wasting time.”
We’ve established you can go out into the sunlight. I’m not interested in seeing you die this way. I want to kill you myself in the near future. That is my first point.
Darlene pushed open the door and closed her eyes as the warmth of the sun hit her face. She was expecting smoke and burning flesh but all she felt was happiness she could feel and see the sun again.
My second point is a fun one. I waited until it was perhaps too late to save your precious friends. Not only are animals crossing the river to kill everything in their path, but right behind them is another group. An organized group… led by a very smart zombie.
Darlene opened her eyes and stared into the sun. “How smart?”
Smart enough to know he could walk in sunlight and hide his gray eyes so he appeared to be human. He’s got quite a few people fooled and they think he’s a great leader of men. He’ll be waltzing into the fight soon, picking off the stragglers and ultimately taking over The Promised Land for his own selfish reasons.
“Is there a third fact to taunt me before I go?”
Of course. This one is the biggest. It’s why I saved it for last, in fact. If you walk outside and interfere in this battle, I will have no choice but to unleash every last zombie at my disposal.
“You fucker.”
Every last one. You know exactly what that means, too.
It meant John was now a zombie and he’d be out there, somewhere, killing those he’d protected for so long.
Darlene wanted to cry. If she physically could, she would’ve, too.
Instead she decided to get pissed. “Enough of this bullshit. Stop being a whiny baby and face me. If you kill me so be it. I don’t care anymore. This is between you and me, isn’t it? You talk about God and all this other shit but in the end it’s all a smokescreen because you’re not a real boy, Pinocchio. Am I right?”
If he was mad, he didn’t project anything other than disinterest in her words. He was better at holding his emotions in check than she was. Darlene wondered if he had any real emotions or if it was all for show. Act like you have emotions when you’re really a simpleton who does everything out of boredom.
Nice try. I will not play into your taunting.
“I can’t stand around while people are dying. You know I need to rescue them. You’ve set all of this
into motion for your own amusement. As much as you say you don’t care about the human race or me or anything else, you sure have a fucked up way of showing it, little boy,” Darlene said.
If you walk out the door, I shall unleash tens of thousands of zombies, who will kill every last breathing thing on this planet. Do you understand me, mother?
“Bring it, you little shithead. I look forward to finally getting your cowardly ass in front of me so I can kick it. Let’s fucking battle, asshole,” Darlene said and walked out into the sunlight.
Armand Rosamilia is a New Jersey boy currently living in sunny Florida, where he writes when he's not sleeping.
He's written over 100 stories that are currently available, including a few different series.
he also loves to talk in third person... because he's really that cool.
You can find him at http://armandrosamilia.com for not only his latest releases but interviews and guest posts with other authors he likes!
and e-mail him to talk about zombies, baseball and Metal:
[email protected]
Dying Days 8 Page 15
