Cowan walked up to Hobbs and whispered, “What should we do with him?” Hobbs contemplated the question. “I don’t know he is not bit and we just can’t really leave him here.” The man just stared at the two as they talked. Hobbs turned to the man. “Come on we will take you with us. Do you think you can make it about another few miles?” “Yes I should be able to. I am Jerry,” the man said as he put his hand towards Hobbs. Hobbs in return put out his hand and shook it. “I am Hobbs and this is Cowan.” Cowan lifted his hand slightly from his weapon as a gesture of saying hi. “Ok grab your gear and let’s get going. I don’t want to wait any longer. I want to get back before it gets dark and looking at your condition,” said Hobbs as he looked at Jerry, “it will take longer than normal.” Jerry just nodded. His face had beads of sweat that ran down the side of this dirt ridden hair. Jerry looked pale and tired but tried to keep up.
It seemed like every couple hundreds of feet they had to stop to give Jerry a rest. “Sorry guys I know I am being a burden.” Jerry noticed there was a fallen tree that was uprooted and that fell laying on its side. Jerry dropped his pack and sat down on the tree. Hobbs took off his camel back and took off the mouth piece that detached from the end of the tube and gave it to Jerry indicating he should drink the water. Jerry received it graciously. “Thanks this is probably better than the stream water I got.” Hobbs just nodded. Cowan stood watch straining his ears to hear anything that might be lurking in the woods. Cowan kept swatting away the gnats that buzzed around his ear. “Damn uniforms,” said Cowan. “Yeah they say these things repel insects, my ass! You know the funny thing about military grade equipment is everyone thinks they are great and awesome until they find out how shitty military grade really is.” Hobbs just gave a smile and chuckled. “Yeah I know, tell me about it..
Then there was a rustling in the small bushes and leaves. The two men brought up their rifles and looked around. Just then a zombie reached up and grabbed a hold of Jerry from behind. The zombie latched itself to his shirt. By the sheer weight of the zombie and the fatigued that set in Jerry from being sick he fell down right on top of the zombie. Jerry screamed and wailed around frantically as if this would free him from the clutches of the zombie. The zombie would not let go and proceeded to bring its head towards Jerry’s neck. Hobbs raised his rifle to fire but he could not get a clear shot. “Damn it!” Jerry continued to shout out cries of help as Cowan ran up and grabbed one of the arms of the creature. Cowan fell backwards as the arm broke off. The creature’s mouth moved as if it was trying to moan but no sound came.
Hobbs saw an opportunity and decided to take the shot. Dirt flew up past the zombies head as the bullet flew past it harmlessly. Then he noticed that it had an “I” on it the same as one the one that they had seen before. Jerry tried desperately to break free as he tried to roll over but his strength was gone.
Then jaws of the zombie latched down onto his neck. The zombie pulled its head away taking a bit of flesh and fabric with it. Jerry just kept screaming. Cowan ran towards Jerry and pulled him up but the zombie had a hold on Jerry and Cowan almost fell over. He placed his left foot forward to brace himself as he drew up his weapon and moved to beat the head of the zombie. He struck the zombie over and over again. With each striking blow the creature loosened its grip and brain matter, dark red to black blood started splattering everywhere. The butt of his rifle was covered with flesh and blood. Jerry finally managed to get up. “That bastard bit me!” He kept saying over and over in disbelief at what had transpired.
Hobbs walked over and inspected the zombie. It was strange that there was no moan that accompanied the thing. There was a deep slit in the zombie’s throat that was barely visible from the head trauma that it had received earlier. “Someone must have cut its throat cutting the vocal chords silencing the creature,” Hobbs said to no one in particular. “The poor bastard must have cut his throat before he turned,” said Cowan. “No I don’t think so. Remember that one we saw a day earlier? That one had its throat slit as well and had the “I” marked on it. No, someone has been doing this and I don’t want to stay around and find out. We will just have to let top know what is going on out here and let him deal with it.”
Cowan turned towards Jerry and raised his rifle and placed it forcefully on his head. He pushed Jerry to the ground. Cowan’s fingers inched towards the trigger but he couldn’t pull it. Cowan grunted backing away and then moving towards Jerry. “Do it! Do it! Kill me now!” as Jerry grabbed the end of the rifle trying to steady it on his forehead. Cowan’s shoulder’s just slumped down. “I can’t do it,” as his left hand let the rifle. Hobbs walked over and placed his hand on Cowan’s left shoulder. “It’s ok we could use him anyways.” “What do you mean you can use me?” Hobbs reached down towards Jerry and grabbed his arm and helped him up. “I don’t understand,” said Jerry with a frightened face. “Well we are heading towards a bunker. They have scientists down there that are trying to find a cure or even a vaccine and they could use you. So you either come with us willingly or we will drag you it is up to you. Jerry mouth opened to say something but shut it quickly. He just grabbed his gear and started moving in the direction they were going.
Chapter 7 – The World Crumbles
The zombies were pressed against the glass door causing it to break and the first few zombies got stuck on the jagged glass. The zombies behind it were pushing against it cutting the zombie at the waist. When they were free they crawled on the floor leavings blood streaks on the cheap linoleum tile. Travis got up quickly and put on his go to hell pack and put his axe into its holster. He quickly contemplated his options. One was to fight off who the hell knows how many zombies that were coming in or exit out the front door. He decided the glass door. He proceeded slowly keeping his rifle up as he rounded the corner. “Fuck me!” There were at least thirty of them not including the four that were crawling on the floor their intestines trailing behind. He ran to the front door and checked the peep whole. The streets were covered with them. Then he remembered the garage door. Hopefully it was closed. He opened the door to the garage and closed it quickly behind him. He saw an older station wagon and a motorcycle. He saw a set of keys hanging next to the garage door opener button. He heard pounding against the garage door but he figured there were probably two or three. He looked at the only key ring. One was obviously a house key from the shape and the other was a key to either the station wagon or the motorcycle. I sure hope it is to the motorcycle he thought to himself. There was a little black leather round tag on the key ring. The inscription read Butch. Immediately he knew it was to the motorcycle. God bless those midlife crisis he thought. He checked the door to the car. It was open. He looked inside and saw the garage door opener clipped to the visor and grabbed it.
He placed the key in the ignition to the bike and straddled the behemoth. He double checked to make sure the bike was in neutral. The last thing he wanted was to start the bike that was in a gear and plow straight into the water heater that was right in front of him. Seeing the bike was in neutral he moved the bike around making several attempts due to how close it was to the car. The garage was filled with crates and boxes further limiting his space. Once he was in position he pulled the lever that was on his left. Then he pressed the red button on his right which fired up the bike. He twisted the right handle forward while holding down the clutch giving the bike some gas. He pressed the garage door opener but the fucking zombies blocked it from opening. “Damn it!” He tried again and the garage door started to open but immediately closed again. “Shit!” He pressed it again hoping this time it would open. He was in luck the door started to open and a zombie reached underneath and triggered the safety switch. The garage door opener on the ceiling struggled but managed to open metal door. He slung his rifle behind him and pulled out his axe. Zombies from the street were heading his way lured in from the sound. He revved up the bike and shifted gears as he drove into the crowd. He weaved in and out avoiding the clutches of the dead.
The outside was a disaster. There were cars everywhere. It was hard to maneuver the bike around. He saw the on ramp to the highway. To his surprise there were still people honking the horn which attracted the horde of zombies. This was not the situation he wanted to be in. It was just him and the house that he wanted to get to. He shifted gears and ran up the shoulder. He zoomed past the cars and dodged the zombies but most were preoccupied with the humans who were trapped inside their own make shift tombs. He ran the bike into the grass and the hard pavement where he could. The cars stretched for miles. He eventually made it past and took the exit he needed to get off at. There were only a small handful of cars on the exit ramp.
When he reached the end there were wrecks all over the place panic had set in. One man pleaded for him to stop so he could get on. The man was waving his hands around to get his attention. “Sorry man can’t help,” shouted Travis as he zoomed past.
Then it happened something he just didn’t want to see. Fixed wings were flying towards the city and dropping their ordinance. Travis’ jaw just dropped. He saw the massive destruction unfold right in front of him in the distance. Most of houses he could barely make out were being completely demolished. He could only surmise that his own house was destroyed. Then his thoughts shifted to himself. Where was he going to find shelter from the onslaught approaching? He figured he had maybe ten seconds before he would face the same destruction. That was not enough time he thought. He closed his eyes and starting counting. One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand. He had the pucker factor as his sphincter tightened up. Four one thousand his life started to flash before his eyes.
He remembered the day that he got married it was the happiest day of his life. He remembered he had his battle buddies to stand up in the wedding. She came down the aisle in a long white train dress. It was ten feet long. She had her favorite flowers, blue tulips. It was difficult for them to find especially during that time of the year. He wanted to have the wedding around April or March time but she insisted on having a fall wedding. He complied reluctantly. He just couldn’t say no to her. He realized this was her day more than his. He was just concerned that he would get whisked away on deployment. Unlike others at the time he wanted to serve his country. He didn’t wait for the draft he joined of his own free will. Although he learned not to look down on some of those that were drafted. The ones he knew that were drafted were good men. He quickly learned when the bullets starting flying all the political bullshit went out the window. It was just you and the man beside you which was all that mattered. They were in it together drafted or not. He had his nightmares which haunted him when he got back. Over time they became less frequent. He learned how to deal with them. It was not easy especially with the survivor’s guilt. He constantly fought the feeling he should have died with the rest of them. Each time he saw his beautiful wife he was reminded of how lucky he was to survive and come back to her. He realized he could not leave her a widow.
He couldn’t imagine the burden of receiving the dreadful letter stating he was killed in action. The burial she would have to coordinate with the help of the funeral home. Seeing the honor guard performing their duties. Hearing taps played in the distance. Then hearing the rifles go off. Seeing the flag draped over the casket. A soldier on each side pulling up the flag. Folding it once then twice. Taking their steps. Then soldier on the right making each fold. Crisp, slow and moving forward with each fold forward. The thirteen folds representing the thirteen colonies. The tuck by the noncommissioned officer. The flag would have no red showing and the stars were two and four a perfect fold. The folded flag as an emblematic of the tri cornered hat worn by the Patriots of the American Revolution. Then the noncommissioned officer kneeling down where the flag was presented. The flag’s flat end towards her. Telling her those words which he knew would be hard to hear. On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army, and a grateful nation. Please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service. Then watching the soldier stand up and do a nine second salute. Turning one foot where the heel was in the center of the other. Then completing the turn bringing the other foot in line with the first and then walking away.
Second running was when he was able to get Kimberly in the back seat. He made his way under the shirt removing the clasps that held the two puppies up. He stole his mom’s bra and practiced which made the unclasping easy. Then he slowly made his way down her pants it was Niagara Falls. There was no enticing her they both wanted this. She played games with him before. She was a tease until the night she decided she was ready to lose her virginity to him. As he started feeling her breasts she started to squirm. His hands were sweaty and he did not know if she enjoyed it or was moving because he was hurting her. So he pulled away but she reached out for his hands as she pulled them back on each breast. Then she reached over and pulled off his shirt rather awkwardly. His hands hitting the roof of the car and he laughed and felt embarrassed. She just giggled like the young school girl she was. Then she pulled off her own shirt but her shirt got caught and she fought to get it off. He unbuckled his own pants trying to pull them off hitting his head on the roof. He hated himself then because he wore his tighty whities. When they were finally undressed he had a hard time maneuvering around the stick shift.
He opened his eyes. He was still intact. The remaining pilots must have decided not to drop their ordinance. He was alive once again. He revved up the bike and shifted gears. There were some zombies in several pieces but still alive and did not receive their intended second death. “Damn Fuckers!” He slowed down so he could maneuver the behemoth of a bike around the limbs, hands, feet, intestines and bone fragments. The last thing he wanted was to pop a tire or worse get into a crash. He hoped beyond all hope both Lori and Luna were still alive. He reached his street and all he saw was piles of rubble. The bombs did their job. There were some houses still standing but not fully in tact yet not completely destroyed either. This gave him hope. He saw his house it was not one of the lucky ones. It was completely demolished. He parked the bike letting out the kick stand. He stood over the remains of the house in shock and disbelief for a moment. He called out to his wife. There was no answer. He stepped through the pile and continued to call. “Lori. Lori where are you? Say something babe. Please just answer me I know you’re there. You have to be.” There was no response. Then he saw her. She was pinned under the truces. His heart fell. Why didn’t she stay in the basement? She could have survived if she would have just listened. There could have been a chance but she was stubborn. He tried to listen for any crying. He did not hear anything. “Luna. Luna dear can you hear me?” Again there was no response. She was dead and he knew it.
His whole world shattered. He didn’t know where his son was. He didn’t know how his other kids were fairing either. He felt hopeless. He wasn’t even sure how far this shit had spread. There was an airport nearby. Which some dumbass would board even though they were infected further spreading the pathogen. Then there is always the chance someone was able to get out of the city but that would not matter a fucking piece of shit decaying mother fucker could get out. The military tried to contain this area by bombing it which indicated the severity of the situation. They could have used nukes but who knows what that would have done. Now he wished those pilots would have dropped their ordinance. He cursed them. Now his only determination was to find his kids. He came to realization that he had to find Ken and Jennifer first. They were the closest and therefore the first clear choice. It had to wait until the morning as dusk was settling in which would turn to night. He would have to find somewhere to hold up in for the time being.
Then all of a sudden he felt a horrible pain in his arm. His reflexes kicked in and he jerked his arm forward. He turned to see a zombie had taken a small piece of his flesh. The zombie chewed on the flesh and swallowed the treat. Travis could have sworn he had seen the zombie smirk before it lunged forward at him hoping
for seconds. He head butted the zombie knocking it to the ground. He pulled around his rifle and ended the zombie’s second life executioner style. The shot rang out and it was like ringing the dinner bell. There were four more zombies coming out of the houses that were still standing. He decided maybe the rifle was not a smart idea. He pushed the rifle behind him. He pulled out his axe and headed towards the first one.
It was an ugly looking fucker. It was completely naked. “I guess the term swinging dick has a new meaning.” He smirked and did not wait until it came to him. He shuffled quickly towards the creature. He swung his axe in sideway motion connecting at the lower leg almost severing it from the rest of the zombie’s body. The zombie fell forward. Travis brought down the axe splitting the skull ending its poor miserable life. He noticed blood seeped out of his left arm covering his hand. He readied the axe for the next one. This one was completely naked as well. He could only assume this was the zombie’s wife. She had a bandage on her leg. They must have been fucking when she turned on the poor bastard. What a way to die he thought.
When she was close enough he kicked her in the stomach causing her to double over. He then kneed her in the face causing her to stumble backwards. This one had more mobility and agility. She quickly righted herself and dodged the first swipe. Then he kicked her knee out and swung the axe. It was a perfect blow. The axe hit right between the vertebrae severing the head from the body. He raised his foot and repeatedly stomped on her head. It looked like dark grey oatmeal mixed with blood and bone.
The next two came towards him their hands out front. He grabbed the closest by the hands and pulled it towards him and grabbed the chin and forehead and twisted. He heard a pop and the meat suit fell. The next one was his to take his revenge and anger out on. He brought down the axe twice breaking the left and right arm. The creature gave out a low moan. His next targets were the legs. He kicked against the left knee causing it to hyperextend backwards cracking it. The zombie fell to the ground ignorant of what was go happening. Travis pinned the creature down with his size 10 boot. He severed the right leg from the torso. The left leg he bent it backwards, forwards and in a circular motion until the ligaments, muscle and skin tore. Then he shoved the foot into the creature’s mouth as it proceeded to chew on its own flesh. He lifted the mindless creature and blew it a kiss before he hacked off the head. Blood sprayed all over his arms, shirt and face. He laid the head on the ground watching it move its eyes watching his every move. Then he knelt down beside it and with both hands grabbed the upper and lower jaws and pulled. The skin stretched like taffy until it snapped. He proceeded and hacked off the ears and nose. Then he started to pull away the skin cutting the fat, muscles and fiber away as he went. He opened his pack and put the face inside until he had a chance to salt it down to preserve it.
Alpha of the Omega Page 8
