Living Dead 2.0

by Radovick, Ronda

  She said, “Thank you. Now, can I pee?” He said, “Sure.” he gestured for her to enter the bathroom. She went inside, and closed the door. While Rose freshened up, Jimmy opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. It looked completely empty. He had been in places like this one, when it all started. Some places were safe. And some, just looked empty, because a mob of the dead were confined in one area. Then, he had a weapon. And now, neither of them had a weapon. He knew that, they needed find a way out of this place, carefully. Rose came out of the bathroom. She said, “It's open.” He turned to her, “Stay here.” He went inside the bathroom. When he came out, he said, “I need to go look around here, alone. I'll come back, when I figure out what is down on the first floor.” Rose said, “I should go with you.” Jimmy said, “If there are any of those things down there, we have no gun, no knife. Nothing. I can run back here, if I see anything that doesn't look right.” Rose said, “You think it's not safe down there?” Jimmy said, “I have to make sure. We don't know what is down there. Give me a half an hour.” Reluctantly, she agreed, “Okay.” He left, closing the door behind him. He made his way down the long hallway, looking for any way into another part of the storage facility. He needed to find a main office. They probably did not have a lot of weapons. But, they should have lock cutters. And, he had already made his mind up that, he would cut locks off of all the units that he had to, in hopes of finding items that he could use as a weapon. After walking for a few minutes, the hallway turned. As soon as he went around the corner, he saw a door. It was a steel door, with a small window. He peeked through the window. No zombies, but he saw rows of storage units. There was light coming from the ceiling. He looked up. There were large sky lights, on one side of the very large building. He went through the door. On the wall, he saw a map of the whole facility. He took it down and studied it. He found the main office. It was on the first floor. He had to get through the dark side of the building to get to the stairs. He had no knife, no gun. He would be walking, in almost total darkness. He looked around. He saw a fire hose, and a large axe sitting behind some glass. He opened the door, and pulled out the axe. He exhaled, “Keep it together, Jimmy. You can do this.” He crept towards the dark part of the walkway. He could see dim light coming from the end. There must be a window there, he thought to himself. He slowly walked towards the partial light. At the end of the corridor, there were more stairs. These were the stairs that lead down to the first floor. He inched his way down, the steps. As he came to the steel door at the bottom of the stairs, he looked through the window to try to see if the dead were inside. He could see a large corridor. At the end of the corridor, he could see a door that read; MAIN OFFICE. He opened the door enough to peek through. He didn't see any zombies. He opened the door enough to walk through. He was hoping that he could find something in the office that, would help them. He crept through the corridor, looking over his shoulder. When he came to the office door, he slowly turned the door knob. The latch released, as he pushed open the door. As soon as he stepped into the office, a large, rabid, zombie stumbled towards him. It was trying to move it's stiff, leathery-body towards him.

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  The zombie struggled around the counter, snapping his teeth at Jimmy. He made it around the counter. He rushed at Jimmy, in a violent-stagger. Jimmy swung the axe at the zombie, hitting him in the head. It still kept trying to claw at Jimmy. Jimmy wedged his foot on the thigh of the zombie man, holding him back. He pulled the axe out of it's head, and jumped back. It lunged, again. The zombie reached in front of him, using his boney hands like claws, as he fell into the wall. Jimmy swung, again. This time, wedging the axe into the zombie-man's temple. It went limp. He gripped the handle of the axe with one hand, while scanning for more danger. He saw shelves, containing pad locks. Some had flattened boxes, stacked on top of each other. Then, he saw a large pair of lock cutters. He walked around the end of the counter, and headed to the shelf, grabbing the lock cutters. He saw a tool box sitting on the floor. He opened it, and rifled through it. He decided to take it with him. He stood up, and looked around the room. He saw a door towards the back of the room. He went to the door. This time, he knocked. He waited to hear any growling coming from the other side of the door. He didn't hear anything. He slowly, entered the room. It was dark. He remembered seeing a flashlight inside the toolbox. After going back into the tool box. He took the flashlight, and turned it on. The batteries still had power. “Yes!” He went back into the room. He pointed the flashlight around the room. There were all kinds of things stored there. He saw furniture, tools, building materials. Someone from the facility must have been collecting things that were left behind by the customers. He found some boxes. He opened one, and started to look through it. There was some light coming from the back wall. He peeked around a stack of boxes. There was a window. The window was covered with closed blinds. He walked to the window and opened one of the blinds. The room partly lit up. He looked outside. he could see some of the zombie herd behind a fence. The room over looked another part of the grounds. It was divided by fencing. He opened the other blind. Now, room had enough light coming in, for him to see what he was doing. He looked through the tools that he saw. He found small hatchet. He looked through more of the boxes.He found a lot of clothes. Then, something sticking out of the top of a box caught his eye. He saw hunting materials. He rushed to the other side of the room. He laughed out loud. “Oh Yeah! Now that is what I am talking about!” He pulled out a bow gun. Under it, were arrows. He said, “There is a God! And, he is real good.” He lay the bow-gun and arrows down on a nearby box. He went through more of the boxes. He found a spyglass, and compass set. He found rain ponchos, a tent, some fishing poles and the tackle box from heaven. Then, he opened a box that, had various types of hunting knives. He looked through another box. He found a machete, and a flare gun, with six flares.”Now we're getting somewhere.” He continued to look through some more boxes. On one box, there was a label that read; J.J.'s Heating and Cooling Inc. He opened it, and peeked inside. It was a whole case of heat duct tape. He smiled. He looked around for something to hold all of his goodies. He saw a moving cart on wheels. He pushed the cart to where he was. He started to throw his finds onto the cart. He took the box of duct tape and it onto the cart. He looked for anything that he could find to use as a weapon, or to help them get out of there. He grabbed a couple of sleeping bags from the camping stuff. He sat down on an old table near the window. He studied the scene outside, looking for an out. He noticed a parking lot in the distance. It sat across the grounds. It was on a fenced in lot. It looked like the lot ran back behind the building. He could not see what was to the right of the vehicles that he could see. He didn't know if there were any dead in that area. He had not seen that lot when they drove inside the grounds. The building must have been bigger than they thought.

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  That must be a backside that they were unable to see because of the layout of the place; he thought. He knew that, he needed to get to that area. “I've got to try to hot wire one of those cars.” He looked around the room. He noticed that there were lockers attached to the wall, behind him. He didn't pay attention to that part of the room. He was so elated by his finds that, he ignored the lockers. He went to the lockers, and opened the doors, one at a time. The first three had noting inside. The fourth one had a jacket, and a motorcycle helmet, and leather gloves. He took them out, and tossed them over to the cart. The next one, had some pictures of a family taped onto the inside of the door. On the top shelf, a set of car keys on a key ring. Jimmy took the picture from the door, and stared at it. There was a couple, and a baby. They looked like happy family. He looked at the baby that, the couple jointly held in the picture. He shook his head, “Sorry.” he spoke to the picture, as if the faces could hear him. He lay the picture on the shelf, closed the door, and opened the door on the next locker. He found a box cutter. He grabbed it, and threw it in the cart. He opened the door on the next few lockers, not finding anything. He look
ed through the last of the boxes. He found a wrist bow, and sling shot. Inside, were arrows and steel balls. He grabbed the items, and tossed them onto the cart. Before leaving the room, he took the flashlight, the hammer, and the machete. He walked out into the office. He still looked over his shoulder, just in case there were any dead wandering around. He went back the way he had come. When he made it to the stairs, he pulled the cart up in front of him, turning every few seconds to watch for zombies. The wheels rolled over the step edge easier than he thought. He had a problem getting it turned at the landing. But, was able to maneuver it through the door. When he came through the door, a look of sudden relief came over Roses' face. Before he could bring in the cart full of goodies and close the door, Rose ran to him. She blurted out, “I thought something had happened to you! Did you get lost?” She grabbed him, and hugged him. He hugged her back, and whispered, “I'm okay. I'm sorry that I took so long. I found some things that we might be able to use.” He turned around, and pointed to the cart that still sat in the hallway. He pulled the cart inside the room. Rose asked, “Did you find any guns?” He shook his head back and forth, “No. This was a storage place, not a gun store. But, I found a few tools that we can use as weapons, and a bow gun. I also found a flare gun. I thought that we might be able to use it to to avert attention away from us, if we get surrounded by those things. And, some sleeping bags. And, some other small stuff that we might be able to use.” Rose said, “Jimmy, we are not going to be able to get through a herd that size. Not, with this stuff.” Jimmy said, “We may not have to. What is behind this business? Do you know?” Rose said, “It's been a long time, since I have been here. I was living in Chicago, before...well. You know? I really can't remember. I only remembered this place, because on one of my visits home a couple of years ago, Granny pointed out an article in a local newspaper about this place. There was a story on local news about it, too.” Jimmy said, “ Well, the room that I found this stuff in, has a window that over looks the back of the place. It is fenced off and there is a parking lot, there. I saw a few vehicles, but I could not see if there are an more dead out there. If I can get across that field, and hot wire a car for us, we can get out of here.” She smiled, “Okay. When do we start?” He said, “It's getting late, now. We don't have that much light left. We have sleeping bags, food and water here. I'll jam the door shut, and we'll have to stay here tonight. At first light, we head over there.” Rose said, “Alright, then. That is what we'll do.” She walked over to the cabinet, and opened the door. She turned to Jimmy, and asked, “So. What's it going to be? Crackers and canned meat? P.B. & J.? No bread. Canned fruit? Or, cold, mushy-pasta?”

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  She turned back towards the cabinet, and jokingly said, “Oh! I call the pickles!” Jimmy laughed. “Okay. Okay. You get the pickles. I'll take the crackers and canned meat.” She smiled. She took the items out of the cabinet, and picked out two bottles of water. She put everything down on the small table. They sat down and started to eat. Jimmy said, “How many bottles of water do we have?” Rose said, “I counted a case and a half. If you can get a car for us, we have enough to last us a couple of days. I found something else.” Jimmy asked, “ What is it?” She said, “That counter, over there...” She pointed across the room. “ There is a blueprint for this whole building.” Jimmy shrugged, “ Is there a map of zombie-free exits?” Rose said, “Kind of. What I read, you should read.” He raised an eyebrow, and asked, “What is it?” She responded, “Well Apparently, there was some contract with the government with the owners, here, to store “high priority” stuff. With a map of where the stuff is stored. Look at it.” Now, Rose had Jimmy's attention. Jimmy watched, as Rose went to the counter, and took a large notebook from the counter top. She brought the notebook over to Jimmy, sat down in her seat, then handed it to him. He read the cover of the notebook; Elite Private Security Services. Jimmy opened the notebook up. The first page, gave some information on security rules for protecting the classified government property. Everything was stamped; CLASSIFIED. Jimmy knew what this meant. The materials stored, could be anything from, radioactive material, to people that, the government deemed important, or dangerous. He read through the notebook. He closed it, and pushed it to that middle of the table. “It's getting dark. We need to get some sleep.” Rose protested, “That's it! You don't want to try to find what is stored here?” He pointed to the notebook. Jimmy said, “Rose. There could be radioactive materials in that unit or units. If we get close, and whatever is there, happens to be dangerous, then it is too late.” He stood up, grabbed the sleeping bags, and spread them on the floor. He lay down on his, and stretched out. He turned to his side. Bending his elbow, and putting his hand under his head. He stared at Rose, who was still sitting on her chair, in disbelief. “Okay,” she said. “I'll go.” He sat up on the sleeping bag. Now, it was getting dark, and there was very dim light coming in from the windows. But, Rose could see the stern expression on his face. He was adamant. He said, “No! You can't down there by yourself. It is dark. There are no windows in much of the place. Rose, a zombie came after me in one of the rooms. Some parts of the building might be over run with those things. If you turn a corner, and there are more than one, you will be ambushed, and bitten. No! Absolutely not! You will stay here, and I will go try to get us a car.” Rose said, “What if there are guns there?” Jimmy said, “Rose, if it's classified, it's probably chemical. Or, too large for us to move.” She argued, “We don't know that! We have to look!” Jimmy said, “Rose, we need to get back to the group. They may still be under attack. They may need our help.” She replied, “Don't you think that, I know that? I am hoping that there is something here that, we can use to protect all of us.” Jimmy didn't like it, but he understood what she meant. He thought about it, Then, he said, “Okay. If we can find it, we take a fast look. Then, I need to try to get one of those vehicles started. Now, you should try to get some sleep.” He lay back down. She said, “Alright, then.” She lay down on her sleeping bag. She turned her back to him. He stared at her silhouette in the dark. He turned onto his back, and exhaled.

  Will stood on top of the wall, while looking out into the tree line. He knew that he had seen someone walking around out there.

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  It didn't look like the dead, either. He held his radio to his mouth, “ Kyle. You busy? Everyone, I think I got some company, here. Keep your eyes open. They may be back.” Scott responded, and sounded concerned, “What do you see, Will?” Will said, “I just saw one guy. But, I suspect more.” Renee came on, “Could it be a dead one?” Will said, “Nope. He isn't a zombie.” Scott said, “Stay inside the walls, Will. Charlie. Can you see anything at Will's place, on the camera's?” Charlie spoke, “No. Is it the northwest corner, Will? That is the only place that I can't get a view.” Will said, “Yes, it is.” Scott asked, “Do I have a volunteer to help Will out with a watch? We need to be ready 24/7, until we get these guys.” Renee said, “Kyle is working on something. I'll see if I can locate him.” Scott said, “Hold tight, Will. We are going to get you some back up. ” Everyone came on at the same time. “ Stella said, “ I am coming out, Dad.” A while later, Kyle walked up to Wills' wall. He quietly climbed the stairs. He whispered, “So where did you see him?” Will said, “Out there. By the treeline. What happened with our prisoner/” Kyle said, “Can I use your field glasses?” Will said, “Sure. Take a look.” Kyle looked through the night vision binoculars. They were a pair that Will bought before the zombie apocalypse, but were alright. He scanned the treeline. “He is not there, now. Could it have been the dead?” Will said, “Nope. It was one of them.” Kyle said, “I am going to be regularly making rounds along our perimeters. The group that attacked us, is part military, part civilian. They survive by ambushing and attacking small groups and families. They take what they have, and kill those who won't go along. Although, we took out many of their guys. They are at least one hundred strong. Mostly, men.” Will asked, “ Is that what he told you?” Kyle said, �
�� Yes.” Kyle continued, “We set a trap that will distract, and divide them. They saw the old sign for the Orchard, up on one of the highways. Apparently, this was a pretty popular place, at one time.” Will said, “ Yes, it was. The original owner passed away, and the children lost it on a tax sale.” Kyle replied, “They never took the signs down.” Will made a face. “Figures.” Ruby walked around the playground outside of the old school. She was relieved to have found this group, but feared what would happen, if those men got through their gates. She sat down on a swing. She slowly moved back and forth, enjoying the cool summer breeze. She watched the lit up windows. She looked at her watch. It was 10:30 P.M. She saw the last window go dark. She looked up at the moon. It was a nice summer night. Cool, but not too cool. She wondered, how many survivors that there left out there, just trying to find a place like this one. She looked over at the many gardens that everyone had planted. She loved to garden, before all of this. Most of them were smaller individual gardens that each family or individual had planted. Much of the larger garden, the group garden, was almost ready for picking. Maybe, another two or three weeks, they would have a pretty large collection of fruits and vegetables. And, the orchard. It was already giving them an abundance of fruit. She pulled a chain that hung around her neck, up from under her blouse. Attached to the chain, was a locket. She opened the locket, and looked at picture of her Jed. She said, “Oh, Jed. I wish you had made it here with me. I miss you so much.” Just then, Nicole walked up. “Do you mind, if I join you?” Ruby said, “Sure.” Nicole sat on the swing next to Ruby. She said, “It is a nice night.” Ruby said, “Yes, it is. Is your boy asleep?” Nicole said, “Yes. He is conked out, for the night.” She looked around, “So. Do you think that group will come back?” Ruby said, “I can't say, for sure. But, they didn't care that, there was already someone living here.”