The stranger sat down next to him on the same step, an arm’s distance apart.
Nolan managed a sidelong look. “She was never real, was she?”
“No.” There was a genuine sorrow to the stranger’s voice.
“I knew that all along I think. Just refused to believe otherwise is all. I told myself the lie that if I kept on going, then I wouldn’t have to face up to the truth.” Nolan paused, listening to the wind picking up behind the rolling mist. “What was she? Do you even know?”
“Does it matter now?”
“No. No, I guess not.” Nolan nodded. “Am I trapped here, like the man from the subway platform?”
“Not yet, at least not in this place. I doubt you can leave the city again.”
Nolan snorted. “Don’t know that I’d have anywhere left to go anyhow.”
It hadn’t needed to be said. They both knew it to be true.
The stranger turned his head and looked sincerely at Nolan from under his floppy hat. “You don’t.” He agreed.
“Can I ask who you are?”
“I am one of mankind’s obolus, a token such as your people used to place into the mouths of the dead, to pay the ferryman Charon for their passage into Hades.” It was stated as a matter of fact, without pretense.
Nolan sighed, nodding. He didn’t doubt the truth of the words. “And my time is now?” There was no malice when he asked it, having long since reached the point where he had resigned himself to his fate.
The stranger took Nolan’s hand by way of reply, and led him back up to the pavilion. Moving was considerably easier with the stranger to guide him somehow, the oppressive weight falling away from his shoulders.
“Look and tell me what you see.”
“I see dirt and ash. A pile of broken lumber from the ceiling.”
“Are you sure that is all?” The stranger fixed him with a serious stare. “Look closer.”
Confused, Nolan looked again. Dirt was spread all over the floor, the ash mingled with it. He saw his footsteps in the ash where he had walked around in it, and the lumber from the ceiling. Somewhere from beneath the debris, the painted face of the saint stared up, shocked at his fall from grace. Then Nolan saw what the stranger had been alluding to. A trapdoor for the bandstand, recently disturbed.
It was partially covered by the debris, the brass handle hanging loosely by a screw. Nolan began to dig, throwing the pieces of wood irreverently aside, not caring for how much sound he made. With heavy feet, he kicked the opening clear, took a deep breath of the misty air, and hauled on the trapdoor.
The stranger stood to one side and watched quietly.
It reeked of death inside the cramped space, the smell of rot and pestilent decay. There was a single corpse, a pathetic, desiccated husk curled into the fetal position, its skin sunken and petrified grey, the outlines of the bones visible. Even so, Nolan recognised the drawn face. He had seen it every day for the whole of his life, staring back at him whenever he passed a mirror.
It was his face, his body.
In its hand, it held a scrap of a photograph. Nolan knew what it would be before he reached in to pry the skeletal fingers apart and retrieve it, cracked black and white and scratched from being kept inside of his wallet every day. It was of him and his silent companion these long years, standing on the beach during their honeymoon, arms snaked around each other without a care in the world. They smiled together at the camera, as the waves from the sea pooled around at their feet.
Nolan reverently closed the door to his own grave.
“I see.” He paused for a handful of long seconds, and then changed the subject. “Am I the last of my kind?”
“Yes. The others have all passed on now.” The stranger’s tone was businesslike, reflecting none of what he might feel about the enormity of his statement.
“And if I refuse? Can I? Choose not to let you lead me?” Nolan wasn’t hopeful really, just going through lines that he felt needed to be said, like in a play onstage.
“Perhaps. You stand on the shores now, Nolan. It has been a much longer path that you have walked to get here than your fellows.” The eyes pierced him in place, trapped him like a deer in a hunter’s crosshairs. “Do you intend to keep running?”
Nolan thought about the bartender and his soulless patrons, about the deluded coward that had denied his death and tried to hide in the subway, and the devilish carrion woman on the subway car. He did not doubt that they had all resisted their fate as best they could in their own way, and had each been consumed by the city as a result, unaware that they had trapped themselves in a tormenting panopticism. Nolan refused to allow himself that delusion.
He shook his head. “She is what kept me here, bound my soul to this place.”
Unbidden, her name came to him, so vividly, he could not strike it from his mind.
Mellissa.
He took one last look at the photograph, remembering how soft her skin was to the touch when it was taken, her gentle laugh and smile, so selfless. How proud he had been to call her his wife, and to embrace the promise of a life spent together until the end of their days.
Numb fingers let the picture fall through them, and it fluttered downwards, landing face down amongst the ash. Their time was over.
Nolan cried shamelessly then, tears running in streaks from his eyes, as he might have done in life. He buried his head in his hands, dirty and bloody from the city, stained forever.
Why did I refuse to do this when I was alive? He had stubbornly refused to confront his grief, even in the end.
The stranger watched him askance, although not without some sympathy. He waited for the worst of the shuddering sobs to subside, and then tenderly offered Nolan a hand once again.
Wiping his swollen eyes with a grubby sleeve, Nolan stared at the hand and the enormity of what it meant, for what was an eternity. The last moment that mankind would ever know, the end of his final epoch on a now barren and desolate planet. There was nothing left for Nolan but to nod soberly and take the hand with as much dignity as he could, allowing the stranger to lead him.
The last of his kind walked into the mists of time with the man at his side, slowly disappearing from sight. He was nothing but the ghost of a memory, soon faded and gone from that lonely place at last. Oblivion embraced him like a long lost friend.
Insurrection
Madison Stewart
Sirens sounded loudly, echoing in her ears as she climbed out of her sleeping bag. Dashing towards the crowd of people that gathered, she observed the chaos that stirred within the residents of the colony.
Sweat dripped down her forehead and clouded her vision as she approached the scene. “What the hell is going on here?”
Leigh squeezed her way through the crowd to see bodies lying in a straight row. “Everybody get back, it won’t be long before they rise again. Disease is spreading through our colony.”
Colonists slowly began to walk away. Pulling her side arm, Leigh shot a bullet into each of the dead colonists’ heads. Grieving families approached the bodies to take them away for their final farewells, their sorrow and fears palpable.
Leigh sighed. “The bodies need to be burned as soon as possible. The disease will hit us all if we become contaminated.”
Max approached her cautiously. He walked straight, his eyes steadily gazing at her, and had an undeniable air of authority. “How many did we lose in the attack?”
She ignored his question. “Where the fuck were you when the sirens went off? You left me here to deal with all the bodies and the families of the grieving people alone. As far as I’m concerned this is your job, too.”
Max’s eyes widened with shock of her arrogance. “I was hunting and came as soon as I heard the sirens.”
Quickly forgiving his absence, Leigh smiled. “Okay, so we know that the disease has hit home, and medical supplies are running low. We have enough to test over half the families that are here, but we need to get the women and children together before the men. A
lso, gather the council to plan for a move.”
Max nodded his head in agreement and left to collect the first colonists to be tested.
Leigh trudged along the path to the medical tent. Doctor Ray was one of the doctors who worked with the Ophio fungus. Doctor Ray specialized in biological warfare. He and his fellow associates decided to make the fungus a weapon for war. When things went wrong and it spread throughout the facility, he left with his knowledge in order to help others find the cure. When he came upon Leigh and her people, he promised to help her keep the residents as healthy as possible.
Tent flaps slapped Leigh in the face. “Hey doc!”
Doctor Ray jumped, startled. “Hey, what can I do for you?”
Leigh examined her surroundings. “How many tests do we have? We lost four people tonight, and it’s spreading among us. We need to quickly screen the residents and go on the move until we find a safe place.”
Ray nodded. “We have one hundred and fifty tests left. We need to travel west to find another hospital and get more supplies.”
Leigh shrugged in agreement. “Get the tests rolling. We need to leave here by dawn.”
Leigh left the tent in a rush to find the council. Angry thoughts seeped into her mind. If it weren’t for those stupid doctors thinking they could study Ophio fungus, we wouldn’t be here right now. All of the cities are unsafe, and no human can be trusted without testing. The doctors who were contaminated by those damn ants fucked us.
Leigh had studied ant zombification when the terror had begun. The parasitic fungus had gradually taken over the ant's brain and directed the insect to a find a cool, moist location. The fungus had then killed the ant, causing the spores to erupt from the ant's head to spread more of them.
In the controlled environment, a doctor had been stupid enough to leave the specimen jar open, allowing the insects to escape. While the scientists had gathered the fugitive ants, they had unknowingly become infected with the disease. The spores spread across the lab and the doctors took the virus home with them, rapidly spreading the infection throughout the community.
Her hands trembled from the anger brewing in her mind as she entered the tent and found that the council had already taken their seats.
Leigh raised her voice impatiently. “It’s time to get this meeting started.”
The area quieted down at the sternness in her voice. “People, get it together, we need a plan. We are leaving at dawn. We have a shortage of medical supplies, food, and weapons.”
Disorder erupted in the room and the colonists’ scared voices became louder. Leigh had to once again calm the crowd. “Enough! We have been through this before, and we will continue to go through this until there is a cure for the disease.”
Planning their escape route, Leigh gave directions to the council to relay the plan to all of the families. Each council member was assigned certain groups of residents. With the plan in place, Leigh considered all that needed done. They needed to gather food and find a hospital where they could acquire medical supplies.
Her trembling body was wearing down. “I’m taking my leave. All of you know what you need to do. We must move quickly. If anyone tests positive, quarantine them until I come take care of them myself.”
Sighing, she walked slowly from the tent. Today is going to be another long day.
Wandering about the camp and admiring everything that she had built over the past few weeks, regret overcame her. The colony finally felt at home and safe from the disease that tormented the world, and she had to uproot everyone once again.
Outside the fenced area of the colony, zombies began to gather, pounding on the barriers and trying to climb over. Leigh knew that it wouldn’t be long before they got past the barricade, and she needed to get the people to safety.
Entering her tent, she wiped the sweat from her face as she stopped to peer in the mirror. Feeling battered and worn out, she walked away from the mirror to pack her things into the rucksack.
All this moving, I can’t keep up.
Screams filled the air, prompting Leigh to hurry from the tent. Commotion had broken loose in the colony. The barricades had been destroyed, and the zombies were breaking into the camp. The residents were running and screaming, looking for an escape route.
Leigh bound down the path toward the crowd of people. Bumping into frightened mothers grabbing their children, Leigh headed straight into the destruction.
Max approached her and grabbed her by the arm in mid stride. Leigh swung backwards, nearly falling on her ass. “What the fuck is wrong with you? I have been bitten a dozen times. You know that I’m immune to the disease, and I need to help get these people to safety.”
Max sighed with grief in his eyes. “We are surrounded, there’s no escape from the undead now. There is nothing that you can do. Please listen to me, Leigh. I am not immune, and I need to go underground for safety.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “Help me gather all the children that we can get. We have to test each child and make sure they haven’t been bitten.”
Max agreed, “I will head to the north of the colony, you head to the south. We will meet in the middle.”
Leigh nodded in agreement. “Will do.” She paused for a moment. “Max, be careful. I need you.”
Leigh lowered her head for a moment before snapping back to the bleak reality of her situation. She rushed through the crowds to get the doctor’s tent. “Doctor Ray, Doctor Ray, are you in here?”
Popping out from behind his cot with fear in his eyes, he stammered. “I’m here. What are we gonna do? I have all the tests gathered and as many medical supplies as we can handle.”
Leigh sighed with relief. “We need to move quickly. Max prepared a safe haven. We need you there to test them as they enter. Can you handle this doc?”
Sweat skimmed down his cheek. “Yes, but how do we get out of here and around the attack? I’m not immune to this, and if they catch me, I will no longer be able to help you.”
Leigh grabbed his bag. “Follow me and tread carefully.”
Leigh and the doctor headed towards the sanctuary that was built underground with a door hidden under the brush. Zombies were surrounding all of the colonists and grabbing them, one by one, just to get a bite. Every time she passed a child, Leigh secured their safety by grabbing their little hands and dragging them with her. With five children in tow and many more to find, Leigh rushed them all to the center of the colony.
Max waved his arms in the air directing them to come closer. “Hurry! Right here.”
Max and Leigh removed the brush from the top of the door and sent the doctor in first.
Leigh took in a deep breath. “I will do my best to save your parents from this infection. It’s time for everyone to get tested and wait patiently until we know what we need to do.”
Max nodded and directed the children down the steps to the underground cellar. “What are you gonna do? More and more of the zombies are approaching and destroying the camp. Everyone they bite will become infected.”
Leigh jerked her head towards the rest of the colony. “I will get as many children as I can, then re-direct the zombies. Almost all of the residents are already infected. The creatures came in by the hundreds when they broke down the barricade.”
The last of the children entered the cellar with Max following behind them. Tears formed in Leigh and Max’s eyes as they hugged, fearing they would never see each other again.
Disappearing into the mass, Leigh became overwhelmed. Sadness seeped into her thoughts. If I can run far enough away, then within a few days, Max and the children should be safe. Even though I will miss them, I can go knowing that I did all I could to protect them.
With that thought fresh in her mind, she spotted more kids huddled in a ditch away from the ensuing bloodshed. She slowly approached them and crouched down. “Have any of you been bitten?”
The children all shook their heads no, and she directed them t
o follow her to safety. After she secured them in the bunker, she headed out once more.
Closing the door and covering it with brush, tears swept down Leigh’s face. I must keep going. I have to get them away from here.
Screaming into the crowd, Leigh attempted to obtain the attention of all the colonists and zombies alike. All of the residents had been bitten, and no one else could be saved. Formulating a plan to lure them out of the area, she cut her arm.
If they can smell me, they will notice that I am uninfected, and that should grab their attention. I need to get closer to them.
Slowly approaching the zombies and infected people, she let the blood flow freely down her arm as it pooled around her feet. She looked around with wild and alert eyes to see if the creatures would notice her. Silence descended over the area and all of their heads turned in her direction.
With a mad dash, Leigh took off running towards the colony gates. The zombies followed accordingly, stumbling over the bodies lying on the ground. Leigh was unsure of how long she could run, but was determined not to stop until there was an amazing distance between those chasing her and the children.
The zombies growled, grumbled, and stomped behind Leigh as she escaped the outer limits of the colony.
Relief came over her as she looked back to ensure no undead were left inside the broken down barricade. Keep going! I need to run until I can’t move any longer.
The surrounding area was like a wasteland, no trees to hide behind, and no grass to pad her fall. Dust and rubble kicked up below her feet as she ran.
Leigh ran for miles with most of the zombies still trailing behind her. She succumbed to complete exhaustion and turned towards the undead. She knelt as they marched in front of her and knew she had met her end.
I may not be able to become infected, but I know they can rip me to shreds. Blood continuously ran down her arm as the zombies grabbed at her trying to get a taste of her.
After Tomorrow: A CHBB Anthology Page 25
