Running down the long hallway behind the Briggs boys, Sue pulled the gun from behind her back to keep it from falling and started to run faster.
“Let's get him to the..” Sue’s words were cut short as the bed came to a stop. The red LED lights of the elevator started to blink as numbers quickly started to count up.
Then they stopped.
The air was still as the silver doors started to open. Sue’s eyes brightened up as the doors slid apart.
Then the white lights went out and were replaced by blinking red lights. An alarm started and Specks voice broke through the noise as it said.
“Self destruction in ten minutes.”
“Oh come on!” Peter screamed.
CHAPTER 15
“Why?”
It was a whisper.
One that ran over the blood and leaped past Robert’s lifeless body into Tennessee's ears. The pain that was buried inside of that hushed sound, washed over Tennessee as the corners of her mouth started to rise up like to pink peaks, creating a haunting smile. “You really don’t know do you?” Tennessee asked. She gave her boot a quick twist grinding Catherine’s fingers into the cement floor, before taking a step back and laughing.
“This is too fucking good,” Tennessee said. She leaned over to grab Catherine’s weapon. She kept her eyes locked on Catherine, that and the barrel of her riffle never lost sight of Catherine. “When we first locked eyes in that fucking tent, I thought for sure you recognized me.” Tennessee leaned on the wall looking down at Catherine as she started to sling the spare weapon onto her shoulder.
“Then when you started going on and on about saving your little girlfriend and I thought, ‘she really doesn’t remember me’.
Catherine’s hand slowly started to come back to her chest, she bit her lip to fight back against the pain that was rushing through her body. A warm stream of blood was steadily making its way from her shoulder onto the cold ground.
Catherine closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she started to get to her knees, but before she could get up she felt the wind rush out of her lungs as Tennessee's boot slammed into the middle of Catherine’s chest, sending her flying back onto Robert’s body.
Catherine's body twitched as she heard footsteps making their way toward her.
“I can't blame you I guess. I was just a passing moment in your life, while you...” The sound of the footsteps came to a stop and Catherine listened as Tennessee slowly started to lean over her “Mrs. Briggs, well you were my whole world. The only fucking light in the darkness. Do you know what-”
Catherine’s boot went flying upwards till she heard the bone-chilling sound of Tennessee's jaw locking shut under the pressure from her combat boots.
Tennessee stumbled back a few steps, her free hand went up to stop the blood that was gushing from her mouth. Her tongue moved around till she felt the sharp sting and tasted the metallic liquid rushing from the deep gash left in her cheek.
Tennessee spit out a mouthful of blood and that's when her eyes saw the big chunk of meat that was once her inner cheek. Her eyes didn't come up fast enough to see Catherine rushing for her, with her shoulder lowered, but she felt it when Catherine's body connected with Tennessee's midsection, sending both women flying towards the ground.
The metal click clack of the rifles filled the room before Tennessee's chilling scream over powered it, “You fucking bitch!”
The two rolled back and forth with Tennessee’s rifle tightly pressed between them. Catherine's hands locked onto the weapon as she rolled Tennessee onto the floor. Both women pulled and tugged trying the free the rifle from the others grasp. Yet, Tennessee was quickly getting the better of Catherine who was fighting her hardest as dark blood pushed from her shoulder and dropped onto Tennessee’s face.
Tennessee gave a quick pull and Catherine's head came flying forward into the concrete. A wave of black rushed over Catherine's eyes and then that was quickly overtaken by a sea of red as blood started falling from the wound on her head that ripped open even more. The red meat pushed out over the blood and Catherine just rested her head back on the cool floor. She stared up at the lights through her one open eye.
“Fuck!” Tennessee screamed out as she quickly wiped the blood from her lip and pointed the rifle at Catherine for the second time. “You dumb bitch,” Tennessee said. Her finger softly rested on the trigger. “You got any last words,” Tennessee asked. A whisper fell from Catherine’s lips as Tennessee stood still with her rifle aimed at Catherine's head.
“What!” Tennessee screamed.
Catherine closed her eye as she shouted out, “I’m gonna kill you!”
Tennessee smiled and she said, “You already did that Mrs. Briggs.” Catherine's eye slowly started to open back up as Tennessee asked, “Do you believe in fate?”
Tennessee waited for an answer and then she smiled. Spitting out a bit of blood before saying, “I didn't. I spent 8 years in a cell thinking bad shit just happens to people. No God. No Devil and no divine master plan.”
Tennessee kicked at Catherine’s foot causing the woman to look over at her, “8 years thinking life was just a shit show and then that sack came off my head and I saw the light for the first time in my life.” Tennessee said softly before looking over at Robert, “Fate gave me a second chance at evening the score.”
Catherine's head dropped down to the floor and she said, “If you're gonna kill me, then just kill me! You Psycho bitch!” With that last word a ringing started in Catherine's head. She closed her eyes to keep the room from spinning.
Tennessee shook her head and raised the rifle pointing the barrel into the air. “No” Tennessee said softly before stepping over Catherine and gathering up the other two rifles.
“A bullet’s too good for you. I spent 8 years in hell. I might not be able to guarantee that kind of pain for you but I can make fucking sure you don't die fast.” Tennessee started walking towards the door smiling, “You can sit there and think about how you raped me of my childhood, how you fucked up my life.” Tennessee turned around slowly with her rifle pointed and the other two hanging off her shoulder.
“Sit here losing what's left of your mind, wondering what I’m gonna do to that little bastard of yours.” Tennessee said.
Her words pulled Catherine’s head to the side, forcing the woman to push herself to her knees, “Please.” Catherine said softly as blood trickled down her face.
Tennessee stood there staring at Catherine as she extended her hand out to Tennessee. Catherine's pleading creating an even bigger smile on Tennessee’s face with each word.
“Please?” Tennessee put her finger to her chin and nodded slowly, “I think I remember that word.” Tennessee laughed and dropped her hand, pushing open the door behind her. “I remember crying and screaming ‘Please Mrs. Briggs, Please! I didn't do it!’”
Tennessee turned around and started walking through the doorway, “Please! Tennessee please!” Catherine screamed.
As the footsteps started getting further and further away Catherine’s chest began to tighten, she could feel her head starting to pound with each beat of her heart and as Tennessee stepped through the doorway, Catherine did something she hadn't done in years, something she didn't recall ever doing.
“Help! Somebody Help!” She screamed for help.
Tennessee turned around slowly, smiling as she let the words fall from her bloody lips, “My name is Tiffany Myers!” Tennessee screamed.
Catherine’s eyes locked on Tennessee’s face and for the first time she saw it, the same hazel eyes as that little girl who once cried in her office. She could see the same dark waves in Tennessee’s hair as she saw that day, when she told that little girl she couldn't help her. When she turned her away to face whatever fate the world had for her.
“Tiffany.” Catherine softly let the word fall from her lips.
Tennessee's eyes locked with Catherine as her fingers wrapped around the metal of the door and she screamed out “And no one’s ever gon
na help you!”
With those words the door slammed and Catherine was left there…
With the blood…
With the pain…
With the dead.
CHAPTER 16
“T en minutes,” Specks voice echoed through the hallway.
The lack of remorse in it sent a cold chill through Sue’s body, she put her hand on the metal of the bed and softly said to herself as she watched the blinking red lights, “We have to get out of here.”
The white light of the elevator added a glow to the blood and bruises that had taken over Tennessee’s body. She held her weapon tightly in her hands as she took in the sight of it all. The flashing red lights, the panic on their faces. It was all unfolding in slow motion for Tennessee as the voices in her head debated back and forth…
Kill them…
No! Lie to them…
No! Kill Them!
Tennessee’s hand went to her head and she screamed out, “Shut that thing up!”
Sue’s head spun back around towards the bright lights of the elevator.
The hall lights went out and a blood covered Tennessee glistened under the glow of the elevator lights. The hall lights turned red and Tennessee stood there, her head hung low and her eyes rested on her rifle.
Sue’s lips parted as to attempted to speak but her words were stolen from her and delivered in a small package as Jordan said “Where’s my mom and dad?”
Tennessee stood there staring at the black metal of her rifle as that question pushed past the ringing of the alarm and the voices that were going off in her head.
Kill them!
She closed her eyes and held the handle of the rifle tighter in her hand as she said, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? What the fuck you mean by sorry?” Peter shouted.
Tennessee took a few steps back into the elevator and leaned on the cool metal wall. Her bloody hand rested on the shiny silver and then she softly said, “It was all my fault.”
Sue’s eyes found their way to Jordan, she watched as his head started to shake.
“What happened?” Sue shouted.
“We got surrounded...” Tennessee softly said. “A shit ton of things were down there. They had them locked up, but the shit ain’t hold and we were fighting for our lives.” Tennessee’s eyes went over to Jordan and she shook her head as she said, “You’re parents didn’t make it kid”
“No,” Jordan softly said to himself. He started to back up, one foot followed the other as his whisper turned into a scream, “No!” Then a roar, “NO!” All he had, all he was fighting for was gone in an instant.
Peter rushed over to this nephew and took hold of the boy. He shook Jordan, forcing the boy to look at him. Jordan’s eyes were drowning in tears now and just the sight of them caused Peter’s eyes to do the same.
Peter put his hand on the back of Jordan's neck and said “Cry tomorrow and fight today, remember? We’ll cry tomorrow but we got to keep fighting for them.”
The little boy shook his head as his lips parted and his heart forced the words out between sobs, “I can't! I can’t fight anymore.” Jordan dropped to his knees and softly said, “I don't got anymore fight left in me.” Peter's arms wrapped around his nephew and he held him close, between the sobs and the alarm Peter heard frantic footsteps speeding towards them.
Dr. Brooks came to a stop just short of slamming into Sue. “What the hell are you all waiting for!” Brooks screamed out and swung a black bag towards the elevator as she pointed, “Get the fuck to the chopper!”
Sue spun around quickly and let her fist fly connecting with the Doctor's jaw. Dr. Brooks fell back onto her ass and the black leather bag dropped to the floor. Them something bloody and grey started rolling out of it, it bounced and tumbled till it landed at Sue’s dirty white sneakers.
“Nobody got time for this shit!” Peter shouted,
Sue leaned over slowly staring down at the bloody gray ball, she kicked it softly and watched as the bloody head fell to the side to reveal his jet black eyes, that were sunken into leather gray skin, with bloody red cracks running along his face.
Sue’s hand went out to touch Dr. Connors's head but it was snapped up quickly and shoved back into Dr. Brooks’s bag. The woman stared up at Sue, then her head snapped towards Peter who was holding Jordan. They were all staring at the doctor as she slowly got to her feet.
“That's his head.” Sue softly said.
Dr. Brooks pushed past Sue and slammed the bag onto the chest of patient zero, who was blissfully unaware of all the madness that was unfolding around him. Dr. Brooks' hands slapped onto the metal frame of the hospital bed as she started pushing it towards the elevator.
“That's his fucking head!” Sue screamed and grabbed Dr. Brooks's arm.
The doctor ripped loose and continued pushing as she shouted, “We have no time for me to give you a Virology 101 class!” The wheels of the bed jumped as they pushed over the metal track of the elevator. Tennessee jumped to the side seconds before Dr. Brooks could slam the bed into her. The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Dr. Brooks looked over her shoulder at Peter and softly said, “There's no turning back now.”
Peter looked over at Sue then down at Jordan as he started to stand pulling the boy to his feet. “We gotta go,” he said. Peter looked over to Sue again, his eyes were fighting back the tears, his mind was pushing back the thoughts and his heart, that was fighting back the pain. Pete stared at Sue as he softly said, “We all need to go.”
Sue looked over at the elevator, she shook her head slowly but then felt a small hand take hold of hers. Sue’s eyes went down to Jordan's water filled gaze as he softly said, “We need you.”
Sue’s free hand went up and she cleared away the tears from her eyes. There was no use crying about it, Catherine would have told her them that. Sue’s world changed again, but tears weren't gonna save her.
Tears wouldn't bring back Catherine and Robert.
Tears weren’t gonna help Jordan.
Sue held the boy's hand tightly and looked over at Peter who was holding Jordan's other hand. The three of them went walking toward the bright white light of the elevator.
Three souls that lost far more than they ever thought they would…
Three souls that now only had each other.
CHAPTER 17
T he tall grass towered over her body.
She couldn't move.
She just stared up at the blue sky until his black hair and soft brown skin came into view.
He stood there with roses in his hands as he stared down at her.
“I’ll miss you Mom.” Jordan's soft voice washed over her still body. She was fighting to raise her hand to him but all she felt was pain rushing through her. The blue skies turned black with bright burst of lighting as a hand came out and rested on Jordan's shoulder. Tennessee came into view, she was wearing a long black dress and a large black hat. Jordan tossed the flowers onto Catherine’s chest and it was then that she noticed the black suit he was wearing.
The ground started to shake and she felt herself falling deeper into the earth as Tennessee smiled and screamed out, “We’ll all miss you Mrs. Briggs!”
The ground shook harder and Catherine shot up screaming, “No!”
She looked around but all she saw was darkness, for a moment she questioned if she had a dream or if she truly was trapped in her own grave. The ground continued to shake and something came crashing down beside her. She heard a loud thump and then felt something warm splash onto her face.
The ground became still and the she heard them.
Ear splitting screams coming from beyond the darkness. She went to move her right arm but a sharp pain rushed over her, causing Catherine to bite down on her lip.
She closed her eyes and it all quickly came back to her.
“Tiffany,” she said softly.
A frantic pounding at the door caused her head to spin around in the darkness.
The pounding grew l
ouder and was joined by screeches that raced through the darkness.
Catherine pulled her knees to her chest as her left hand ran along her leg down to her boot.
The metal door came flying off the hinges and a pack of grey faced beings stood there, blood dripping from their lips. Flames shined light into the darkness to reveal that Robert’s head was crushed by a large metal pipe that fell from the ceiling.
Water and blood was running along the floor. The mixture rushed over Catherine's black boots. She stood there, her bloody right arm hung useless. She held the double edge blade in her left hand. The glow of the flames and Robert's blood covered her from head to toe. She was staring into a hoard of black eyes.
Catherine's lips slowly curled into a smile as she screamed, “Bring it on motherfuckers!”
THE END
Word From The Author
AFTERWORD
Well you’ve come to the end of the book. That’s pretty damn awesome if you ask me. I’ve been dreaming of this book for seven years now. It’s twisted & turned in so many different ways that it’s nothing like the story that I first sat down to write in 2010. No, this story is better!
It’s better because I was able to produce something that wasn’t just fun to write but that also showed representation of an overlook group within the horror genre. It’s no surprise to anyone that there aren’t many Final Girls of color in horror movies or books.
There are a few that might pop to mind, but very few are the main characters in the project.
So I set out to write a bad ass black hero, that everyone would turn to when the zombies came. I wanted her to be funny, smart, kind, and deadly.
I put my fingers to the keys with a lot of support from my wife and what came to life is
Catherine Briggs.
Planet Dead (Book 1): Bloodthirsty Page 18
