Our Undead

by Theo Vigo

  Margaret: What?! What are you talking about? What were you gonna say?

  Billy: Well, you played that one night, and… I kinda had to wait for you to stop sucking up the place.

  Margaret: (mouth full) What?! Excuse me?!

  Billy: You were just kinda.. really bad at that game.

  Margaret: (mouth still full) Ha, ha! Hey, shut up! You should've seen me last night, before we had to leave! I was kicking mutated zombie ass!… No, seriously, I was!

  Billy: Oh, I'm sure you were. I'm sure… but now we'll never know because… you'll never be able to prove it.

  Margaret: Not for a while maybe. I swear I was getting better though… I was. Heh,.. jerk.

  He half thinks she's telling the truth, but Billy doesn't respond to her call to belief. He just watches her as she continues to eat, content to hear her laughing again. The mood had been lightened, but there is one thing that still bothers him.

  Billy: You know, there was something weird though…

  Margaret: What?

  Billy: That one female.

  Margaret: In the game? Which one?

  Billy: No. I'm talking about in the horde of zombies that attacked us last night. There was this one particular female that was more aggressive than the others. That scream. That piercing scream. It was her. You didn't notice?

  Margaret: Oh, I know the scream. How could I not? But no, I didn't see her.

  Billy: It was the oddest thing. It was like she was leading them.

  Margaret: Leading them? To who? Us? Why would they...?

  Billy: I don't know. I don't even know if that's the case, but it definitely looks like she was on the top of their hierarchy… if they have one.

  Margaret: Scary. She's like that witch from Right 4 Death 2.

  Billy: Heh, I guess, but without the hiding and crying… just… completely and outright vicious.

  Margaret: …and with skills in leadership, apparently. She's like, 'The Zombie Witch'… No, no… she's… 'The Queen of the Zombies'. It's a little longer, but it has a better ring to it, don't you think?

  Billy: Yea… It does...

  Margaret's words put Billy into a state of shock. She smiles and continues eating, happy to have blown Billy's mind with the witty name she had come up with for their possible stalker. However, it wasn't the silly but catchy name that put Billy into his own mind, it was her consenting of the fact that "The Queen of the Zombies" might possibly have leadership skills. If Abe was able to learn, then why not any other, or all of the undead? Who's to say they couldn't communicate within their… circle? If they could, the trio might be in trouble.

  But Billy keeps his thoughts to himself. Even though it might be best for them to keep moving, assuming they are actually being hunted, he chooses to not hurry Margaret's meal to let her rest. Instead of continuing, the two of them stay seated across from each other and talk about the future. Billy tells Margaret of all of the places he wants to see in California, the rises and dips of San Francisco, the magnificent wilderness of Yosemite National Park, to walk along and see the stunning sites of Newport Beach and the Balboa Peninsula, and last but not least explore the mysteries of Universal Studios Hollywood. To see all the magnificent props, characters and scenes from his favorite movies, this is what he wants to do most of all.

  Margaret tells him that she has been to Universal Studios, and she expects it might still be a mysterious place, just not in the way that Billy is hoping, less magical. As a matter of fact, none of those places are probably going to be like anything he is expecting, especially if California is as overrun as Oregon. The only one that might still be worth visiting would be the national park.

  All of these things, Billy has already thought of. He knows he won't get to see things as they once were, with crowds of other people that would be feeling the same excitement and joyful satisfaction to be there as he would. He knows that Universal will most likely be vacant with no lights on, no long lines, and no working attractions, but none of that matters. He's been a loner for most of his life, but in turn he was given a powerful imagination to offset the solitude. Not only that, but he had been very privileged after he left the orphanage. His parents would give him any material thing he desired, and he soon came to find that most of the toys and gadgets got tiresome, and fast. It taught him not to want as much and be content with the little things that he personally enjoys, like zombies and movies. Even if California ends up wiped of all of it's life, Billy assures Margaret that he'll appreciate just being there. That's all he wants.

  Margaret: Wow, man. You're so Zen. I wish more kids were like you when I was your age…… Actually, I wish more guys my age were like you. Most of them still act like they're your age.. or.. how someone your age is "supposed" to act. Fifteen year olds… Fifteen year olds with cars, that's all they are.

  Billy: That's a shame… I guess.

  Margaret: It really is. Not that it matters anymore cause you know, them being dead and all. But I tell ya, I was dating this guy named Evan a couple of months before all this shit went down. He wasn't the brightest guy. Mmm, he was an idiot really, like, a serious airhead of a male. Heh, my dad hated him, but I couldn't blame him. Evan would just say the most stupid things, and I knew he was a dope, but… I used to sneak him into the house at night sometimes anyway. See the thing is, when he opened his mouth, you wanted to slap it shut, but then there were moments like those sneaky nights, where he couldn't talk because we had to be quiet, or because his mouth was busy doing something else. You know? Like, for what he lacked in intellect, he over compensated for as a lover. Ugh, those nights were some of the best nights of my life. It might've been the having to keep quiet part, or the sneaking around that made things so exciting, but I've never gone over again the way he used to bring me over. Ugh, I'm getting the shakes just thinking about it.

  As the foster child of rich parents, Billy had access to almost anything he wanted. Anything he could think to ask for, his parents would most likely get for him, but this topic of sexuality is one that he is less than experienced with. He had read up on it, sure. When he got into high school he would research things on the Internet like dating advice columns, Kama Sutra and tantric sex, listen to relationship gurus. Although educating him quite well in some aspects of psychology, all of those things never equated to him actually putting what he'd learned into practice. How could he, when to everyone else, crushes included, he was a socially inept outsider?

  Margaret: I had to ditch him eventually, of course, before I got too hooked. It was literally like a drug, the sex I mean. Maybe the adventurous, sneaky part of it too, but I don't think so. I'd snuck a couple of other guys into my room before him, and they were never able to do for me what Evan used to do. Oh gaaawd, what I would do to feel that… release again. Maybe it would take me out of this funk. Lift my spirits. Make me forget about this place for a good couple of hours.

  Billy doesn't know what to say. He most certainly doesn't want to be the one to give Margaret her.. "release", but is she trying to insinuate something? He uncomfortably clears his throat.

  Margaret: Mmm? Oh gosh! Not from you, Billy. No offence, and I mean, I know I'm only two years older than you, but I don't know. Fifteen feels a little too young. Plus, you look like you're twelve. That would just be weird. No offence. You're a cute guy. I just... think I'm past that phase.

  Billy: No offence taken.

  Margaret: (sighs) What I really need is the touch of a man…. or an "Almost Man", like my dad used to call some of the guys I dated. Ha ha. Evan was twenty-two. "You should stop wasting your time with those almost men," Dad would say, "Focus on becoming a successful young woman, and then find yourself a real man." He was right, but God, what I wouldn't do for an "Almost Man" right now… But hey, what about you?

  Billy: What about me?

  Margaret: Was there a little lady in your life?

  Billy: Hah! No way.

  Margaret: What do you mean? Why do you say it like that? I wasn't lying when I said you w
ere cute.

  Billy: Girls and I… we just never meshed well… the chemistry… the chemistry was never right.

  Margaret: How so?

  Billy: I don't know. I was never cool. You know how the whole.. student body system of social acceptance works.

  Margaret: Uhh, yea… Wait.. Oh, no… So that means… Are you a virgin?

  Billy's feigning confidence and silence is a dead give-away.

  Margaret: Aaaaaaaw. Billy, that's okay… Actually, it kinda sucks. I mean, if you're chances were low back then, imagine how low they are now with this whole… zombie apocalypse thing.

  Billy: Yea… sucks, I guess. But it's not really a concern of mine. It's really not a big deal.

  Margaret: Spoken like a true virgin. Sex can be so grea--… (sighs) You know what? It's okay. Maybe it's best that you don't know what you're missing. And you know what else? If it's supposed to happen, it'll happen. You should just be proud that you're more of a man than those "Almost Men" my dad hated so much.

  Billy: Yea, right. At least "Almost Men" get girlfriends, and they're not.. uh… You know...

  Margaret: Yeeeeeea, but… they're all hit and miss. Even Evan may have been good in bed, but he was dimwitted in every other aspect. And just the same, some guys I've been with have great personalities but are horrible under the sheets. It's crazy, like, some of these guys don't even know where to stick… Uh, you know… But you,.. You're gonna skip the "Almost Man" phase completely and become a real man straight out of your teens. Maybe sooner… cause you're such a smart-ass.

  Billy: Heh, why thank you very much Miss.. I do appreciate that.

  Margaret: Oh my, and he's so damn polite… But I must say that I do appreciate you for letting me rest my weary bones, kind sir. We've been here for almost an hour. I'm ready to go now, if you are. All this talk about the birds and the bees is killing me. The walk will help me get my mind off of it. I'd rather just be irritated, than horny and irritated. Know what I'm sayin'?!

  Billy: Heh… Not really, but yea. I'm ready.

  Margaret: Ha ha. Geez. K, let's hit it.

  A revitalized Margaret hops up to her feet, picks up her knapsack and slings it over one shoulder. Billy is about to get up, putting his palms to the ground for leverage, but instead, he watches her from his seated position as she gets herself ready. Maybe it was the topic they had just finished discussing, or perhaps it's the heat getting to his head, but for first the time, Billy notices the way the soiled skin on Margaret's face glistens in the natural light. He notices the smooth lengths of her arms and the crest of her chest, her cleavage, all glistening from the humidity and stained with the grime of their expedition. It isn't at all hard for him to think back to the night just past, when Margaret's skin was fresh and snow white, when she would clean herself at night and come back to where he was playing video games, smelling like baby powder and sweet cherries.

  They had only been walking for less than a day, but Margaret's skin had redeveloped its beautiful golden tan. It's covered in brush marks of dirt and oil, but it makes her look rugged and strong like some sort of commando or modern amazon. Not at all prissy, the pink bandana she wears to match Billy's black one gives her a nice splash of femininity. He starts not minding so much that it was clearly a horrible choice for camouflage purposes, and he only wishes that he could see through the black-white and grey cargo pants she is wearing. But all it takes is for him to think back to two nights before, when she came back out from washing up in nothing but these tight fitting, white cotton short shorts, fuzzy blue bunny slippers, and an over-sized Iron Maiden t-shirt that hung so low, one might wonder if she was wearing any shorts at all. The only reason Billy knew that she was wearing them was because he asked her why she wasn't wearing any, and she proved him ignorant. Luckily, he was playing the game. It gave him a reason to look away when she pulled up her giant band tee to show.

  But goodness, did Margaret have beautiful legs. So long, milky and smooth with the perfect shape, not too skinny and perfectly supple. So soft, Billy thinks to himself, and in letting his imagination run away with sensual thoughts of Margaret, he begins to feel flush. He would be turning beet red were he not already dark in skin tone. Margaret has no idea what he is feeling. She has no idea that his chest is beginning to feel as though it's been hallowed out and that his breaths are becoming more and more shallow. She has no idea of the tingling going on in his loins and on his palms… but why would there be a tingling on his palms? Is that a normal arousal response?

  Suddenly, Billy's thoughts change from Margaret's blonde hair, blue eyes, and pleasing physical attributes, to his hands that are still pressed flat against the ground. The tingling sensation in them feels all too palpable to be anything triggered by his emotions. He lifts the right one from the pavement and for a moment, studies his own palm. Nothing has changed visually, but the buzzing is no longer there, so he switches, putting his right palm back to the ground and looking at his left one. Again, the buzzing in his lifted palm stops, but he also no longer feels anything with his right, which is placed back on the ground. What the hell was that? Intrigued, he hops up on to his knees and places both palms on the ground again.

  Margaret: What is this?

  He's too concentrated to even hear what she says. To Margaret, it looks like he's pretending to be a dog sniffing the ground, but in actuality, he is feeling it, and soon the tingling returns.

  Billy: There it is.

  Margaret: There what is? What are you doing?

  Billy: I feel a vibration… In the ground.

  Margaret: What do you mean? Like a…

  Billy: Like a soft prickling in my hand… It feels like it's coming from this way. Behind us.

  Margaret: (chuckles) What? How can you tell that?

  Billy: The prick is stronger in the tips of my fingers than on the bottom of my hand.

  Margaret: I didn't know you could do that.

  Billy: Neither did I. Wait… It's weird now. It's… scattered… all over my hand.

  Margaret: What does that mean?

  Billy: I'm thinking… it's either a mild earthquake or… No, it couldn't possibly be heavy vehicles. These roads are too crowded for that. I'm beginning to feel like we're being... surrounded.

  Margaret: Surrounded by…?

  Billy: ……

  Margaret: But how?

  Billy gets up to his feet.

  Billy: The Zombie Queen… Jesus, I think she is tailing us. She brought a horde to the store, and now…

  Margaret: First of all, it's 'The Queen of the Zombies', and we torched the hell out of that store. Besides, how could they be surrounding us? How could they be coming from both sides?

  Billy: We never stayed to make sure that they were all dead… and.. maybe it's… her scream. Maybe she's communicating with the other zombies somehow. The sound could travel through the air for God knows what distance.

  Margaret: That sounds crazy, but… maybe it would be best if we got moving…like,.. off this highway.

  Billy: Yea, maybe, but let me just see if I can...

  Billy barely finishes his sentence as he hops up on to the hood of the car that he was leaning against, and then up on to its roof. He narrows his eyes into a squint and peers into the distance of the road ahead, the road they would be travelling. To the untrained eye the undulating visions on the horizon might look like a mirage or refractions of heat rising from the pavement, but to Billy's keen sight, it is clear that a ridiculously large mob of the undead is on the highway heading right for them. He turns and looks back down the road from which they came. Again, the lanes are crammed from guardrail to guardrail with what looks like a swarm or shadow engulfing the abandoned cars as it creeps ever closer to them.

  Billy: Aw shit… We are being surrounded. I can see them closing in on us from both sides.

  Margaret: We have to get off this highway! Billy! Let's go!

  Margaret is right, so Billy looks to the left of the highway and sees that there is an open field with lus
h green grass that stretches for miles. He looks to the right of the highway and observes that the same flat field continues on the other side, but this time the lush green grass meets up with the edge of a rich forest of tall trees and bush. It looks to be almost a mile away, quite far, but they would need the cover, and the undersides of these cars wouldn't suffice this time around, especially if they were literally being hunted. Decided, he jumps off the roof and grabs his bag.

  Billy: All right. This way. C'mon!

  All three work their way through the maze of cars, Margaret pulling Abe along, to the side of the highway that overlooks the field and forest. Billy gets there first and looks over the edge. Margaret catches up, does the same and becomes stricken with internal conflict. Below them, on the other side is a grassy incline that descends into the flat lush. The field is so very vibrant and shimmering emerald in the glow of the golden sun, it's the most beautiful sight she has seen in a long while. The only problem is the vertical drop from the road to the grass incline, a fall that looks to be about thirty feet, fifty once the vertigo kicks in.

  Billy: If we make it to those trees, we might be able to throw those things off of us.