Living Dead 2.0

by Radovick, Ronda

  “Grandpa...” said a small voice from behind the group. “Are the monsters coming?” The little boy, who couldn't have been any more than five, stood there wide eyed. Jack said,“Don't worry, Corey. It is going to be okay.” Gail said, “Honey, we are going to a safe place...” she looked at her father, “Right, Dad?” Jack said nothing. Just shook his head up and down. The other children were Corey's size. Except one. A baby, named Ally, sat on the floor playing with one of the toys. There was a girl, who was identical to Corey, named Cassie. It was no secret that the two were twins. The other boy, Ally's brother, named Jamie, also stood there, wide eyed. Jamie and Ally's parents had been the neighbors of Gail, and her husband. When the dead started rising and attacking people, they tried to escape the city together. Ally and Jamie's mother didn't make it. Their father walked outside the door. He asked, “Uh. What is going on?”

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  Gail said, “Sam, these people say that there is a large herd of the dead coming here. They say that, we are right in their path. They are offering to let us come with them to a safer place.” Sam looked around. “How did you know anyone was here? There are fences around this place. The dead cannot get in.” Hazel said, “ I think that we should go. It will be better for the children.” Will said, “Sir, we were here getting materials to reinforce our gates. We came, because we are trying to hurry and prepare to fend off the herd. We didn't know you all were here. The herd that is coming, is the size of a small city. If they come through here, these fences won't hold. None of you will survive. They will come right through the fences. I know that we are strangers, but we could not just leave, and not try to help.” Sam looked at Jack, “What do you think?” Gail cut in, “He knows it's better for the kids, Sam.” Sam looked at the group, “It looks like you guys are pretty well armed. There won't be a problem if we decide to leave later, will there?” Will said, “No. Everyone comes and goes as they please. But, we are asking everyone to help out on watches. And, for now, re-fortifying the gates.” Scott cut in, “Everyone is just doing what they can, that's all.” Jack said, “I already told them, we don't give up our guns.” Sam turned and looked at his baby. Then, his five year old boy. He sighed. Then said, “Alright. I am Sam Bello. Nice to meet you all.” Jimmy said, “Okay then. Why don't you all get the children ready. Pack up what you need and we'll all leave together.” Just then, Aidan, and the others pulled up. When Renee approached them, she said, “Hello, I am Renee. Pleased to meet you.” She extended her hand to Jack, first. He slowly shook her hand. He said, “Yes...uh...I am... Um, thank you.” He looked around at the group. He felt a little ashamed. Because, he didn't trust them. And, Renee acted so civilized. Gail cut in, “ This is Jack. He is my Dad. Hazel Kratz, Sam and the children, Olive, Lucas, Ally, Jamie, Corey, and Cassie.” Scott said, “There is not much time.” Jack cut in, “Let's get everything ready.” Gail hugged her Dad. They packed the children, and their clothes into the bus. Will, and the others got the truck ready, and the convoy started to leave with more survivors. Now, they had to finish strengthening a few places in the walls, and gates to keep their new community safe. They traveled down the highway, one vehicle at a time, moving around the winding road, until they came to a road block. Nina spoke into the radio, “Those cars weren't there before.” Aidan spoke into the radio, “Everyone, fall back!” Will blurted out, “That's what Keith and I ran into a while back. I don”t like this.” Major Scott cut in, “Everyone, back up. Will. Is there another route that we can take? Nina, can you back the rig up?” She came on, “ Yep. I just need some room.” Charlie said, “It's a trap. This is how we lost one of our vehicles. It is how Jennifer's husband died. This is bad. The people that killed Reese, they came out shooting, from all directions.” Will got on the radio, “Everyone, pull back. There is a place we can stop for a minute. Follow me. Charlie says that his family was ambushed in a road block, like this one. Says a group of people came out shooting at them. They killed his brother-n-law. We can't take a chance on it. There are children in that bus.” Jimmy said, “Major, we need to make a choice. There is not much time. We have a lot of work to do, in case that herd is coming in this direction.” Scott said, “Will is right. There are children in the bus. We need to take another route.” He continued speaking into the radio. “Okay, People. Will is right. We have children with us, now. We turn back, and find another route. Has anyone heard from home?” After a minute, Stella's voice came over the radio, “What is happening?” Will cut in, “Stella, we''ll get back soon. Just a couple of cars on the highway.” She was worried, “Where? On Forty-one?” Will said, “Stella. We are on our way back. We'll be home soon. Stay there. Do not come outside the walls. Just keep watch. It will be alright.” Window down, Renee yelled, “We need to back up! Everyone follow Will!”

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  As they all backed up and turned around, They heard gun shots. They had already started up the highway, they saw people running from the trees, along side the shoulder of the road. “Jimmy yelled into the radio, “We are taking fire! Everyone, follow Will.” The vehicles all moved behind Will. Nina and Aidan were last in line, in the rig. They could see Aidan shooting back at the men. Will held the radio to his mouth. He blurted out, “Everyone get to the turn off about a mile up the road. Don't stop until we get there. Nina, Aidan! Are you two alright?” They all raced towards the turn off that Will spoke of. As they turned off onto the back road, Will jumped from the truck. He waited for everyone to get out of their vehicles. “Is everyone okay?” Major Scott said, “First. Will, is there another route? We don't have much time.” Will said, “ Down this road. It winds and turns. But, we keep to the left and it will bring us right to our place.” Major Scott asked Jimmy, “ Sergeant. Do you have your compass?” Jimmy said, “Yes Sir.” Kyle cut in, “I'll stay here and block the road. I'll hold them off. This will give you time to get back.”

  “We get the new people, and the supplies back to the group, and I'll come back with reinforcements. We cannot let them find the Orchard.” Scott said, “ Who here, knows how to shoot?” Will said, “I do. Keith does. We probably are not as good as you military boys. But, we can shoot.” Renee said, “I have been practicing. I don't know if I am good enough for a shoot out. But, I sure will try, if I have to.” Scott asked, “Did anyone get a count of the people that ambushed us?” Jimmy said, “I counted three to the right, and it looked like at least ten more coming from behind.” Kyle said, “Yes. There were at least that many.” Aidan said, “ Yes.” Another voice came over the radio. It was Rose, “Is someone there? Keith? Mr Neely?” Keith spoke, “Rose. Everything is okay. I'll be back soon.” Rose said, “Were you guys ambushed? Was it on the highway?” Keith said, “Yes. We turned around. We are on a back road, now.” She said, “Peach Tree Road?” Keith said, “We'll be home, soon. I love you.” She said, “I love you, too.” Will cut in, “We need to get back, now.” Everyone started for their vehicles. Will, Scott and the others, started to pull off. Jimmy and Kyle were in the last two trucks. From the distance, they saw a couple of cars speeding up the road behind them. Some men started shooting from the vehicles. Keith was in the third truck. He was directly in front of Kyle and Jimmy, who were in the last truck. They fired along side of the last three vehicles. The bullets entered through the back window of Keith's truck. He was hit. Jimmy, and Kyle both, fired out through their windows. They had to stop, because Keith's truck was not moving. Jimmy lay in the seat. He put the radio to his mouth,“Keith! Talk to me! Keith!” Kyle said, “He's hit. Can you slide over and get out of the truck?” Jimmy said, “I think so.” Jimmy grabbed his duffel. He always carried extra ammo. Since the dead started rising, he knew that he had to be ready for the worst. He opened the door and peeked out the back. They had parked their vehicles across the road. Before crawling out, he said, “ They are waiting for us to get out. We need to keep our heads down.” Kyle shook his head, in response. Jimmy crouched down, as he slid outside. He cawled to the front of the truck, Kyle behind him. They could hear
more gun fire. The bullets were hitting the back of the truck. Kyle turned to Jimmy, and put his finger to his lips. He whispered, “Two are coming up the side.” He pointed under the truck. When the two men came around the corner of the truck, Kyle grabbed one, jabbed his fist into his throat and slammed his head into the headlight of the truck. The man was down. Kyle stabbed him in the throat. Then, the temple. Jimmy was struggling with the second guy. He had him in a sleeper hold, til he passed out. While the two men lay on their sides, Kyle grabbed him by the hair, and Jimmy cut his throat, then stabbed him in the temple.

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  They could hear the crunch of gravel, and sticks breaking as more men walked along the other side of the vehicle. Kyle and Jimmy lay down on the ground and watched their feet move. They were coming along the same path that the other two had. Kyle jumped up and waited for the first one to walk around the truck. He slammed the butt of his gun into the mans head, then throat punched him. Jimmy was right behind him. The other two jumped backwards when they saw what Kyle had done. Now, the men were one one side of the truck. Kyle and Jimmy were on the other side. Jimmy squatted down, then leaned over, until he was resting on his hands and knees. He saw their feet moving. They were moving towards the back of the truck. The next thing that they all knew, they saw several of the dead coming out from behind the trees. The men were attacked. They could hear them fighting them off. But, could not see who was winning. Jimmy grabbed a zombie, and stabbed it in the eye. Another zombie lunged at Kyle from the side. He pushed it down and stabbed it upwards in the throat. Kyle yelled, “Watch it!” One of the two men, started to shoot at them from the rear of the truck. Jimmy and Kyle dove back to the ground, again. Kyle shot back. Now, both men were shooting at them. They both made a running leap behind the corner of Keith's truck, to avoid another barrage of bullets. Kyle shot back. He hit one of them. There was one man left. Jimmy said, “We have to get rid of this guy, and see about Keith. More dead will come.” Just then, three more zombies stumbled up behind the man. They all surrounded him. He yelled, and shot into the air, as the dead took him down. Kyle and Jimmy heard more shots. They heard the man yelling. The dead had him. Jimmy looked around the side of the truck, he saw all three on the man. There were four more coming. He blurted out, “There are four coming, and three eating the guy.” They could still hear the mans screams. Kyle said, “I'll take the four. Can you get the others, and shut him up? Otherwise, we'll have another herd on us.” Jimmy said, “Okay...On three...One, two, three...” They ran towards the zombies. Kyle knocked the closest down, then stabbed the next one in the eye. Jimmy grabbed one of the three feeding zombies by the hair, and stabbed him through his temple. The monster fell. Kyle stabbed the third up, into the throat, and through the brain. Jimmy kicked the second eater down, and stabbed it's temple. While, Kyle stabbed his third, and then, fourth in the temple. He turned around to see Jimmy grabbing the last zombie, while stabbing it in the eye. The man lay on the ground, covered in his own blood. He was crying, and gurgling on his own blood. He tried to get up, but could not. He was bleeding out through his torn vain on his wrist. He had bites all over him. It looked like his leg was broken, maybe from the fall. Kyle walked over to him, bent down, and stabbed him in the temple. The man lay there, lifeless. Jimmy was already checking on Keith. He opened the door to the truck that Keith had been driving. Keith was slumped over. He looked unconscious. Kyle looked down. He knew that Keith probably was not alive. He had seen this many times, before. Jimmy felt for a pulse. Keith didn't move or make any sounds. He was bleeding from the head. Kyle asked, “Is he alive?” There was barely any pulse. Jimmy said, “We have to get him back...And, fast. He took a head shot. His pulse is weak. ” Just then, Will and the others came back in one of the other vehicles. They all jumped from the vehicle. Scott ran to Keith's side. “He yelled, “Get him back to the Orchard! Guys, help me pick him up. We have to carry him to the Suburban. They all worked to pick Keith up. They carried him to the back of the Suburban. Renee drove, while Scott worked on trying to keep Keith alive. They were up the road, now. Kyle asked Will, “Can you drive Keith's truck back? We need to hide these vehicles and bodies. Before, more of them come. We don't know how many of them that there are.

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  Or, how far away they are. We could blink, then see a hundred more coming up on us.” He pointed to one of the men that had chased them. Will said, “Alright. Stay on your radio. Where are you taking them? Where are you going to hide the vehicles?” Kyle said, “There.” He pointed to a drop off, up a ways, and across the highway, from where turn off was. Will said, “Okay. Let's get moving. We can come back, later and close this road off.” They placed the bodies inside the vehicles. Then, drove the two vehicles onto the highway, towards the steep embankment. They put them in gear, gave each one some gas, jumped from each moving vehicle, while both vehicles veered downwards, then rolled all the way to the bottom of the steep drop off, until each one disappeared under the trees. They rushed back to the supplies, and went back to the orchard. As soon as they made it back to the orchard, they saw the expressions on everyone's faces. Keith was dead. Kyle called an emergency meeting. Everyone, except Rose and Granny came. Kyle said, “We need to act fast. The gates need to be fortified. We need to start at Roses place. Her place is the forefront of our sight. And, now, her and her Grandmother are there alone, with two children. I say, we put together small teams and get going on each gate. If we act now, We can get the gates done in a day, or two. And, we need look outs all around the property. I have been talking to some here. They, like myself, left a military unit or assignment that placed us somewhere to kill Americans. We saw the criminal actions of Superiors that took advantage of everyday people. We all have to work together to protect this place. Those people, who ever they are, came within five miles of this place. They will find us, eventually. And, we need to be ready for them.” Renee spoke, “He is right. We need to get on the gates. I'll help. We need to sit down and plan, now.” She looked at the men. Then, she asked Will, “Should we close off all entrances coming into the properties? I saw the guys turning those trailers over when they first started. They zipped right through half of the place the first few days. What can I do to help?” Will answered, “We have enough materials. We only have a couple of spots where we placed fencing. And, the gates. It's one days work. There is something else I want to do.” Rachel asked, “How will we get out of here? We have to have a way in and out.” Will said, “We can use the old entrance to school. It runs along all three properties. It will give us a way out. We drop the tractor-trailers in front of each property gate. Fix the back with rebar and concrete. Frank knows how to disguise some of it. After we know that it's safe again, we just move them. But, Kyle is right. We need lookouts. We need around the clock check-ins, too.” Frank said, “ I already know how I can disguise the entrances. People will drive right past this place, if I do it right.” Jimmy asked, “How?” Naomi cut in, “My Dad knows how to make stuff look... different. You'll see.” They all looked at Frank. Scott asked, “What did you do, before all of this?” Frank answered, “ I ran the creative design department for a production company. I was taking some time off when everything went to hell. They had problems with too many of the crew members getting sick. They had to shut production down on their last project. They told me to wait for further notice, as to when they'd resume production. So, I thought, I'll fly home for the week. One day, myself and my family are cooking out in the back yard, and the next thing that I know, the neighbors are getting attacked by zombies.” Jimmy asked, “Just you and your girl?” A sullen look came over the man's face. “My wife, and other daughter, too. They didn't make it.” He looked down at his feet. They noticed a look of sadness come over Naomi, too. Scott patted Frank on the back. Then tried to change the subject, “We need to make plans for how to disguise what we can. Because of what ahs just happened, can you figure something out now?”

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  Frank nodded. They got to work on the reinfo
rcements right away. They worked through the night. The next day, they put the finishing touches in the back, behind the orchard. Where there had been patches of fencing, there was now, concrete walls. They needed to reinforce some of the locking mechanisms on the gates, and they would be set. That night, Kyle and Jimmy were at the gate leading to the old school. The radios that they were using gave them a way to interact from a distance. Jimmy had rigged a main transmitter, so that, they all had a way to call each other for help, if need be. Will welded slats of steel together for his gates. He placed one in his pasture, and one for the main gate. All of their wall in front were sixteen feet high. He parked a truck in front of each gate, so that, no one could bust through with a larger vehicle from the outside. The next day, Pastor Dom announced over the radio that they would bury Keith, and have a service for him. Everyone gathered at Roses' home. The Pastor prayed for Keith's soul. And for God to give comfort to Rose for her loss. They buried Keith. Then, had a meeting at Will's place. Everyone was there. Will spoke first. “Now, I want to start by saying that, we need to start a schedule for us to lookout. Some of us have been talking, planning. We are figuring out a set up for all of us to help in running the group. We need things. We need food, clothes, supplies. And, we need to protect this place, for all of us. I'll let Scott talk, a little. Then, I wold like to tell you about a plan that I have.” Scott said, “ Will is right. We need a schedule. An itinerary, of sorts. Everyone will have a duty. You can pick yours. But, if we fall short, we'll be asking for more help.” Jennifer said, “That s a good idea. Maybe we could get an emergency plan in place, as well. Like fire drills, etc. We will need a way to get the children and older people to safety, if there is an emergency.” Renee agreed, “I like that idea. Why don't you start taking names? Would that be something that you are interested in helping with, Jennifer?” Jennifer said, “Yes. Ma'am. I sure would. I can also put together lessons for the children. If everyone is okay with it?” Rachel said, “That is a good idea. It will give the kids something to do.” Renee said, “Jennifer, you can go look through the east wing at the school, see what materials are there to help you. We put loads full of bools there. Scott, Will. Why don't you and all of the men get together, and plan a security log? I think we should keep everything written down. I'll try to list what we need help with inside the walls. Then, we all get together and share plans.” Stella said, “Yes. If we have it all outlined, everyone will know who is doing what. And, what they need to do to help. I'll help on the security detail. Us women can keep watch, too. The men are going to need to take a break, at times.” Jimmy spoke up, “ Aidan, I, and Charlie were talking about cameras. He knows how to connect it all. We just picked up a truck load of stuff.” Now, Sam spoke up. “I know that, I am new here. And, I can't thank all of you enough for helping us. I am asking, if I can make a suggestion?” Will said, “Sure, Sam. Go ahead.” He said, “Well, we could utilize all of the extra space for gardening. I can help you all grow food. I mean, I can help you all in planting and taking care of the crops. That's what I do. Or, did.... Or, working with metals. You know? Black-smithing.” Aidan repeated, “Black-smithing? You are a blacksmith?” The Pastor and Mrs. S. smiled a big smile. Pastor Dom said, “We were right, Mrs. S.” Mrs. S. said, “Praise Jesus. He is meeting our needs. I told you, Renee.” Renee said, “ For the first time, I have to say that, I think that yo may right, Rosa. It sure does look like God is bringing us together.” She looked at Sam and continued, And, Sam, we would appreciate any help that you can give us. There is plenty of room here for individual gardens, also. If you want to utilize the land, make yourself at home.” Scott added, “Sam, we may need you to make us weapons and tools. Will be alright with you?”