I Dream of Zombies

by Johnstone, Vickie

  “You need rules or what will we have – people running around with guns just taking what they want?” he asked. “That’s how it’s going to end...”

  “Not necessarily. Good people will know to be good. I always think good prevails.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it just has to.”

  “You mean karma – the rules of karma?”

  Ellen nodded. “Maybe, but I know you should treat people how you would like to be treated yourself.”

  “True, but I believe God’s watching everything we do. I don’t think it has much to do with karma. I see people doing bad things and getting away with it, but God sees everything. Like my mum used to tell me when I was a kid.”

  “But he would know you did nothing wrong.”

  “I don’t know, Ellen.”

  “If you were in Angelica’s situation, what would you do?”

  Devan hesitated. “The same. I would have asked to die.” He knew it was a sin, but he didn’t say it out loud. The girl had other ideas.

  “And what would we have done?” Ellen asked slowly.

  He paused again. “The same.”

  She was silent, waiting for him to speak. He turned on his back in the darkness and replied, “You’re wise, Ellen. Thanks for trying to help.”

  She smiled slightly. “Sometimes, but I can’t do what you do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Shoot one. I can’t.”

  He moved his hand under his head and rested on his side.

  “You will,” he replied. “There will come a time when you have to. Even if you think it goes against everything you are, you’ll do it.”

  “You seem sure.”

  “Been there,” he added. “I did what I never believed I could.” And I damned myself, he thought.

  June

  Saturday, 1

  Marla knocked gently on the window of the passenger door. She saw Bob wake up first. “Shush,” she said, pressing her face up to the glass and moving her hand up and down in the gesture she’d seen Tommy use when trying to quieten down the Labrador. It seemed to work as the dog sat up straight and just stared back at her, thumping his tail on the floor.

  Tommy stirred and Marla smiled as she watched him open his eyes lazily, almost rolling from the backseat on to the floor. He caught himself with his arm and gained a licked face from his faithful friend. “Down, boy,” he grumbled, wiping the slobber away. “You know if you were a cute bird I wouldn’t mind, but...” He stopped as he caught sight of Marla’s amused expression. “Darn it,” he added, sitting up in his boxers and Led Zeppelin T-shirt.

  Pushing open the car door, Tommy squinted in the stark sunlight. “With these dark windows I had no idea what time of day it was,” he admitted, sweeping his hair back from his face. “How did you sleep?” he asked as he tugged his jeans and boots on.

  “Great,” Marla replied, as a waggy-tailed Bob pushed past her. She patted him on the head and his tongue starting lolling. “Don’t get any ideas about licking my face, you. That’s out of bounds.”

  “Even for me?” asked Tommy.

  “Especially you! Now get up and come inside. There’s breakfast and a shower waiting.”

  Tommy thought about the latter and resisted making the obvious naughty remark. Stepping out of the car, he kicked out his stiff legs and did a couple of knee bends.

  “Shaping up for the Olympics, are we?”

  He laughed. “I think I’m past all that.”

  Marla grinned. “How was it out here?” she asked in a serious tone, watching him take his stuff out of the boot and lock up.

  “Not bad,” he replied. “The freaks came out, but luckily, Bob didn’t bother barking at them. He was out like a light, quicker than me. It was kind of surreal. There were all these freaks walking around and there was just me. They couldn’t see me, but they still kept coming up to the car. I drifted off after a while.”

  “They could smell you.”

  “Guess so, but it was bizarre yesterday how they didn’t react to the fire. You know, that’s a basic instinct – fear of fire. All animals have it, but they didn’t flinch. Walked straight into it.”

  “That proves they really can’t feel anything,” Marla reasoned. “They can see, walk and they want to kill us, but they can’t feel anything, physically, it seems. I’ve seen some with parts of their bodies missing, and this explains it. So, they really have no feelings, emotional or physical.”

  “Just raw instinct and a desire to kill,” Tommy added.

  Marla shivered. “That gives me the heebie-jeebies,” she said, knocking on the shop door.

  “So what’s for breakfast?”

  She smiled slightly. “Surprise!”

  Leonie opened the door and welcomed them in. “Hi, I’m Leonie, and who is the furry one?”

  “That’s Bob. He tends to steal the show. Don’t worry, I’ll keep him from barking. He normally only does it when he’s wound up, scared or defending someone. Most of the time he’s pretty laid back.”

  “He’s a cutie,” she replied, bending down and stroking him.

  “And I’m Tommy,” he added, realising that she had only heard half of the words he’d spoken, if that. “He has more luck with the girls than I do.”

  Leonie glanced up. “I can imagine,” she said, and Tommy was not sure if to be feel amused or downright insulted. “Come in. I’ve got porridge, eggs and some veggie stuff going. Hungry?”

  “Wow,” he replied with a grin. “Now I’m damn starving.”

  As if in agreement, Bob licked his chops.

  “I even have dog food,” Leonie added with a laugh. “This is the corner shop after all.”

  Tommy chuckled and patted the Labrador on the head as they walked inside. “Nice place,” he said.

  “Thanks, but it isn’t mine. The couple it belongs to were evacuated with their relatives. We stayed.”

  “Brave decision.”

  “I don’t think so,” Leonie answered. “It seemed the right thing to do. I care for my parents and I didn’t want to move them or uproot my son.”

  Tommy nodded, unsure whether to condone her decision, but then hadn’t he just headed back to London to get his stuff and his dog... and got someone killed in the process? He bit his tongue as he entered the lounge. “Hey,” he said as Ellen, Devan and Joanna glanced around.

  “Hi,” they replied in unison.

  “You slept here last night?” he asked.

  “Yeah, it was nice,” Ellen replied, and Marla noticed her give a sideways glance to Devan.

  “Come into the kitchen,” called Leonie, poking her head through the door. “There’s a table in here, Tommy. Come and eat. Everyone else has already. Want a coffee?”

  “I wouldn’t say no.” He walked through with Bob chasing his heels and wagging his tail.

  Joanna stared after the dog and turned around to stare at the wall blankly.

  “Fancy a walk, Joanna?” Ellen asked. “Outside?”

  The girl shook her head.

  “Marla?”

  “Sure. You want to come, Devan?” Marla added, knowing it would be uncomfortable for him to stay in the same room as Joanna.

  Nodding, he got up quietly and put his trainers on.

  Marla opened the door to the kitchen and peeked inside. “We’re just going to get some air. We won’t go far and I’m taking my gun.”

  She left the house, followed by Ellen and Devan. Outside, the sun was warm and a gentle breeze floated down the street. They passed the jeep, parked towards the end of the road, well away from the shop.

  “It’s nice to just walk and stretch your legs, no?” asked Marla.

  “Yeah,” Ellen replied, “but these last few days have been hard. It seems longer.”

  Her sister nodded. “I know. I’m sorry. It sucks.”

  “That’s the bloody understatement of the decade,” mumbled Devan, kicking a stone along the pavement.

  Ellen laughed, despite herself, and glanced
at Marla who was scowling slightly. “He’s joking.”

  Marla eased up. “I guess. What’s your story, Devan?”

  He threw his arms in the air. “There’s not much to tell. I was on that coach bound for the facility. My dad and brother went to a different one. My mother died when I was young. I always hated that, but now I’m kind of relieved she never saw what I... what the world has become. I’m glad she didn’t see it.”

  Marla frowned again. “How come you didn’t go with your relatives?”

  Devan shrugged. “I was somewhere else at the time. I travelled back, but I got there later than I meant to. I messed up.”

  “I’m sure they’re fine,” said Ellen, trying to soothe him. She glanced at Marla. “What’s your plan for today?”

  “I was thinking maybe we could stay here for one more night. Leonie has already offered and it might be good for Joanna. She’s in shock, I think, and Leonie is a nurse. I was hoping she... oh, God, sorry, Devan. I have a big mouth sometimes and I don’t think. Sorry, God knows how you must be feeling.”

  Devan swallowed hard and glanced across the road. “I’m okay. Ellen spoke to me about it last night. She thinks I did the right thing.”

  “She’s right. You did. I would’ve done the same... or tried to. What you did was brave. Tommy paused, I noticed, but you did the right thing. You ended her suffering.”

  “So why do I feel like shit?” he asked, looking at her with red, teary eyes. “I feel like... like a murderer.”

  “Because you’re human,” suggested Marla. “I was in the army for years. I killed people. I’m not proud of it, but I had to. This is different. There is no grey area. Those things are not alive, so you’re not killing a person, just a monster.”

  “I keep reminding myself,” he replied. “Mind if we talk about something else?”

  “Sure, but let’s get back to the house. The bottom of this street is as far as I trust us going.”

  Ellen smiled at Devan and the three of them wandered back to the shop. The sun was growing brighter and much as they would have liked to stay, they knew it was dangerous and even foolish. A young boy of about thirteen with a mop of blonde hair and blue eyes answered the door. He smiled awkwardly and stepped aside as they walked in.

  “Hi there,” said Marla. “What’s your name?”

  “Darren,” the boy replied, looking at a point a little way beyond her arm.

  “I’m Marla. And this is Ellen and Devan.”

  “Hi,” he said shyly as he closed the door. “My mum said to tell you she’s gone to check on my grandparents. She said sorry, but you can’t sit in the garden. She worries the monsters will hear us.”

  “That’s fine, Darren,” said Marla.

  “I have games. Do you want to play?” he asked. “My mum said you might stay.”

  Marla smiled. “If it’s okay, another night would be nice.”

  He nodded shyly. “It’s okay. I like your dog. Going to my room to get my games.”

  “Nice boy,” said Ellen once he’d gone. “God, it feels like we’re in another world here. Safe.”

  Marla nodded, hoping the kid would never know otherwise.

  ***

  “Are you awake?” Devan whispered.

  Ellen rolled over in the darkness and peered in the direction of his voice. “Yes.”

  “What’s going to happen tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Find a refugee camp, I guess.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know. I guess we just have to keep looking until we find someone. Army or police or something, or maybe there will be a new announcement on the radio.”

  “What if we don’t find somewhere?” he enquired.

  “Then we’ll keep looking, but she’s pretty determined, my sister. She won’t give up on anything.”

  “I can see that about her. Have you always been close?”

  “Pretty much,” said Ellen. “When I was young she was away a lot, but since she left the army we’re closer.”

  “And Tommy?”

  “He’s a good friend, but I think he’s more laid back than she is. I also think he has a crush on her!”

  “Really? How can you tell?”

  She giggled softly. “I just can. And I know my sister. She attracts them like bees around honey. Always, even though she never seems to notice.”

  “Is that why he’s sleeping in the car – because she knows?”

  “No way!”

  Devan moved slightly closer in the dim light. Ellen could now see the outline of him pretty clearly. “Can you always tell if someone is interested in someone else?” he asked her.

  “Not particularly, but with Tommy, I think so.”

  “What about me?”

  “You like my sister?” Ellen asked.

  “No, silly, I like… you,” he corrected her.

  “Oh.”

  “Oh? Is that your only comment?”

  “Erm, I dunno, you kind of surprised me.”

  “But I hoped...”

  “Hoped what?”

  “That you might be interested in me too,” said Devan, sliding closer so that his face was just inches from hers.

  “I like you,” she answered, moving back slightly. “It was nice to talk to you and stuff...”

  “But last night you were being nice to me and...”

  “I always try to be nice. You seemed upset. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea, but I’m not looking for anything like that. Life has gone crazy.”

  Devan sighed. “Isn’t that more of a reason to enjoy something? We could...”

  “Look, I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong idea, Devan, but I was just being friendly.”

  “Just being friendly,” he echoed.

  Ellen caught the sour edge to his tone and she hugged the blanket around herself. “I’m sorry,” she repeated before laying her head on her pillow and turning her back to him.

  In the darkness she listened to the rustle of his blankets and stared at the wall. However nice Devan appeared to be, this really was not the right time and he was also much younger than her. She snuggled down and waited for sleep, but it was a long time coming as the incessant stream of thoughts would not let her be.

  Week 5

  Sunday, 2

  “Vroof! Vroof!”

  Tommy stirred in his sleep as the sound of barking rocketed through his dream.

  “Vroof!”

  “Agh,” he groaned as he went to sit up and bashed his head on the car door. “Jesus!”

  “Vroof!”

  “Calm down, boy,” Tommy grumbled as he sat up, rubbing his head with one hand and patting Bob with the other. “What psyched you? Been seeing the uglies out there?”

  The Labrador scrambled away and put his front legs up against the opposite passenger door, wagging his tail and barking as if his life depended on it.

  “Stop barking, I hear you! You wanna go pee? Fine, but can’t you just learn a little English or mime it, eh? I don’t know dog talk.”

  Yawning, he leaned over to open the door of the jeep. Bob hurtled out into the road. Tommy slid across the backseat and stepped out. The early morning sun slapped him in the face and he experienced a head rush. As his blurry vision focused he saw two shadows near the end of the street. Before he could say anything, Bob was off, racing down the road after them.

  “Bob! Come!” yelled Tommy, but it was useless. Why was his dog chasing freaks? He leaned inside the jeep for his jeans and tugged them on in a hurry. Without putting on his boots, he grabbed his gun and shut the car door.

  “Tommy!”

  He turned sharply to see Marla walking away from the house, fully dressed and carrying two rucksacks. She tossed them into the boot. Leonie, who had been following behind, asked, “Are you going to be alright?”

  Marla nodded. “Thank you for your help and letting us stay, and everything. Sorry we have to go.”

  “Don’t be sorry. We’ll be here if you want to come back.”

  “T
hanks. What about you, Joanna?” asked Marla.

  The girl smiled. “I want to stay. Leonie already said I can.”

  “I’ll be glad of the female company,” Leonie admitted. “I’m kind of outnumbered.”

  “Sorry, but I have to get my dog,” cut in Tommy. “He ran up there!”

  “Why didn’t you say, but don’t you want to put your boots on first?” Marla asked with a quizzical look. “I was coming to ask you if you’d seen Ellen and Devan?”

  “Ellen’s not with you?”

  “No. She’s gone and so has he. I packed up her stuff, but we should get moving. I guess they went for a walk.”

  Tommy scratched his head and the penny dropped. “So that’s who Bob was chasing,” he said, adding two and two. “Phew! In that case, they went up the street and turned the corner. I didn’t suspect it was her. He’ll come back then.”

  Marla sighed. “That’s too far. Ellen should know better. I’ll drive, so you can put your boots on. We’ll catch up with them faster that way. It’s broad daylight, so they should be okay.”

  “We don’t see many wanderers at this time of the day,” Leonie remarked. “Seriously, if you need somewhere to stay, you are welcome back any time. It was nice to meet you.”

  “Thanks again,” said Marla, giving her a hug. “And thanks for all the meals. We have to run though. I need to catch up with my sister – young romance and all that.”

  “Sure. Mind how you go.”

  “You take care,” Marla told Joanna, before embracing her. The girl’s body felt rigid and she felt sorry for her.

  Tommy said his goodbyes from a distance and they got into the jeep. “I’m going to miss them,” Marla admitted as she started up the engine.

  “Yeah, it turned out alright. I was worried, if I’m honest, but they turned out to be nice people. I just wish Joanna’s sister...”

  “I know,” said Marla as they drove off down the street. “There’s nothing you could have done differently. You shouldn’t blame yourself. We’re lucky any of us got out of there.”

  He nodded and focused on his boots. “I wish Bob hadn’t taken off like that. He normally comes right back.”

  “He likes Ellen. I guess he’s looking out for her in his own doggie way,” she added with a chuckle. Marla drove the jeep around the corner and slammed on the brakes when she spotted a blonde-coloured heap on the pavement. “Bob...?”