The Demon Dead

by Arthur M Wyatt

  “What is?” Derek asked.

  “The bodies and what they mean,” he said looking pale.

  “What’s that?”

  “It means that there are survivors inside.”

  “You mean like at the hotel?”

  “Right, and at the church. The Rector was inside, and, you may not have been the only one alive at the hotel.”

  “So there could have been another survivor there besides me?”

  “Exactly. Can you think of anything that would have indicated there may have been other survivors inside?”

  “Actually I can. The first time I went to get food from the kitchen there was a box of apples on the counter. The second and last time I went back they were gone. But I didn’t think too much about it at the time. For all I knew the zombies took them.”

  “Zombies…eating apples?” John said raising an eyebrow.

  “Stranger things have happened,” Derek answered. Realizing what an absurd thought that was added. “You know the old saying, an apple a day keeps the demons away,” he said smiling.

  “Nice try,” John said straight-faced.

  They dragged the bodies to the other side of the trees and brush and placed them with the bodies from the day before. Amy stood guard from the top of the lighthouse.

  While they worked, movement near the street caught her eye. Raising the binoculars she could see that it was a demon. It stepped into the shade and behind a tree across the street from the lighthouse. It was watching them.

  Grabbing the hunting rifle she crept back to the window and looked through the scope. The zombie was barely visible behind the tree. Only its head and a shoulder showing.

  She wanted to warn John and Derek but decided not to because she didn’t want to let it know she saw it.

  She hesitated to fire but knew the danger of it coming back wasn’t as great as the immediate danger it posed to them now. She decided to act. If it comes back they would just have to deal with it then.

  As soon as she finished that thought she squeezed the trigger and the rifle boomed. The demon fell over backwards and lay still.

  “Got you, you bastard,” she said aloud as she lowered the rifle.

  She looked through the binoculars again. It was dead. Skull shattered.

  A pool of blood spreading out from underneath its body.

  John and Derek stood at the truck looking up at her.

  “Hey,” Amy shouted down to them, “I just killed a demon. Only saw one but he’s down.”

  John shouted back. “You could at least warn us before you do that.”

  “Where have I heard that before?” Derek said looking at John.

  “I didn’t want to let it know I saw it,” came her reply.

  They quickly finished up and headed back to the lighthouse. They entered and secured the door then went to the top to rejoin Amy and Jimmy.

  “Where was it?” Derek asked.

  “Over there,” Amy said pointing to a tree across the street.

  Derek raised the binoculars. “Are you sure that’s where it was? I don’t see anything.”

  “Yes, look closer.”

  “I don’t see anything.”

  “Give me those,” she said taking the binoculars. “Oh my God…it’s gone. The pool of blood is there but the body is gone.”

  “Great,” John said, “so now they’re dragging off their… um, dead.”

  “They’re evolving man,” Derek said, “I’m telling you they’re getting smarter.”

  “From now on we stay inside. We only go out to start the generator or get water for the toilet. And only then heavily armed,” John said turning to Amy. “I don’t want you or Jimmy outside anymore at all. It’s too dangerous. We only have two more days. We can do that standing on our head.”

  “What about the fire?” Derek said, “we still have to set that up.”

  “I know, we can do that tomorrow or even early Thursday,” John said, “all we need to do is move the pallets from beside the lighthouse out to the beach. We can use the truck for that. We still have plenty of time.”

  John trained the military binoculars on St. Philips church. The church tower was blackened. The entire block was smoking. John thought the fire might have spread to nearby buildings before dying out.

  “It’s dead.” John said still scanning the city. “The friendliest city in the country, is dead. The culture, the people, the living history… all gone. It’s a very depressing thought.”

  The rest of the morning was spent eating breakfast and watching. They knew they were out there, but where? And what was their plan? Did they even have a plan? Were they capable of that type of thinking?

  Just before one in the afternoon John and Derek went down and started the generator. The message came on right on time. The ship was off the North Carolina coast near Wilmington. Ten more survivors had been found since yesterday. They all looked at each other and smiled at the news. The rest of the transmission was word for word as the last one. The generator was turned off and they resumed their watch.

  Around three thirty in the afternoon Derek noticed the first activity. “I see them,” he said, “over by Fort Moultrie. My God, it looks like there’s a whole squad of them.”

  John raised his binoculars and counted. “I count ten, and they’re headed this way.”

  “Ten what?” Amy asked.

  “Demons,” Derek said with a frown on his face.

  “More over here,” Jimmy shouted, “one two three four five six. Six demons!”

  “What the hell’s going on here?” John said.

  “Four more at the road,” Amy said grabbing a pistol from the table. “Guys… they’re all headed for us.”

  “Jimmy get on the floor and stay down ok buddy,” John said quickly ushering Jimmy over to his sleeping area, “it’s gonna get loud in here.”

  “Derek take the 16,” John said, “and take out the ones coming from the fort.”

  Derek dropped the magazine and checked it then snapped it back in place, pulled the charging handle back then slammed it home. “Just say the word,” he said.

  “Amy you take the ones coming from the road. They’re the closest. I’ll get the ones coming from the South,” John said handing her his pistol. “Don’t stop to reload until both pistols are empty.”

  “You guys should seriously stop talking and shoot!” Derek screamed as he began to fire.

  All three opened up.

  “Damn it!” Amy said after emptying the first pistol, “I can’t hit shit.”

  “There’s that word again,” John shouted, “you should be ashamed of yourself.”

  “That’s not funny…” she answered giving him a annoyed look.

  John knew better than to turn and look at her.

  Only one zombie Amy shot at had fallen. She started firing the second gun dropping two more.

  “I dropped three but I can’t see the fourth one,” she screamed, “I think it made it to the entrance.”

  Suddenly there was a pounding at the door. The demon had made it through the gunfire and was trying to get in.

  As soon as Derek started shooting the demons broke into a sprint. Still, he managed to kill eight before they reached the lighthouse. With the scope John had no trouble dropping the other six long before they reached them.

  The guns fell silent as everyone’s attention turned to the sound coming from downstairs. The booming of three demons beating on the door filled the lighthouse and echoed through the interior.

  Hanging out of the window Derek leaned out as far as he could and tried to get a shot at them. He hit a leg and an arm but couldn’t get a clear shot at a head or torso.

  “I can’t get a good enough shot,” he said, “we’re going to have to go down and take them out before they knock the door down.”

  John handed the rifle to Amy and grabbed the shotgun. Derek dropped the empty magazine from the 16 and inserted a full one.

  “Close the door after we leave and lock it,” he said handi
ng Amy a flare, “give us time to get down there then toss this out. It probably won’t work but it’s worth a try. We only need you to get their attention for a second.”

  He started down then turned and looked Amy in the eyes for several seconds then winked.

  “Close it and latch it,” he said.

  Amy did as he said then went to the window and leaned out. She could barely see the demons as they beat on the door. After waiting a minute she struck the flare and tossed it.

  “Flare out,” she shouted.

  The zombies stopped long enough to turn and look at it and that’s all the time John and Derek needed.

  They unlatched both sides of the double doors and kicked at the same time. The doors flew open with a crash as they slammed into the demons outside sending them flailing backwards. Amy heard the boom of the shotgun and the rhythmic staccato of the assault rifle as they opened up on the three unsuspecting zombies. They had no time to react to the onslaught. It was over in a matter of seconds. John pumped four shells into the closest one as Derek emptied an entire magazine into the other two.

  The demon’s bodies danced in a macabre ballet as their limbs flailed and jerked with each impact. They inspected the outside of the doors. They were dented up pretty badly but still fit snuggly when closed and operated properly. They closed them and returned to the top.

  Derek tapped on the door. “It’s us,” he said, “your friendly neighborhood zombies slayers.”

  Amy opened the door and let them in then closed and latched it again.

  “I think I know what the bodies mean,” she said turning to them.

  “What,” John said.

  “It’s like a sign you know?”

  “No, we don’t know,” John said looking at Derek and winking, “you mean like a sign from God?”

  “No no no, smartass,” she continued, “I mean like a regular sign. Like a billboard or a for sale sign. It’s to let other demons know survivors are inside. And the odor. It’s like dogs marking their territory. They can probably smell it for miles.”

  “Sounds plausible,” John said. “We were actually talking about the same thing downstairs.”

  “That would explain why so many were here this afternoon,” Derek said. “Last night, I didn’t say anything but I thought I heard something outside when I went down to get the beer.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?” Amy asked.

  “Because I wasn’t sure. I mean, it could have been a raccoon or anything. And, I didn’t want to worry you for no reason,” he said, “but, now I’m sure it was them. They were placing the bodies.

  “Well, from now on lets make sure we keep each other informed of anything we see or hear,” John said.

  Everyone agreed then sat down on the floor. The stress of the day was taking its toll. They looked haggard and tired. Jimmy kept watch at the window with the binoculars.

  “I just want to take a nice hot shower,” Amy said, “or better yet a long bath, with a glass of wine, candles…”

  “By yourself?” John asked smiling.

  “Yes, most definitely by myself,” she said looking at him from the corner of her eye.

  John’s smile disappeared. His attempt at humor had failed again. “Well, I’m just saying…”

  “Now would be a good time to shut up John,” she said.

  “You’re a difficult woman to read,”

  “That’s right, difficult…as in not easy,” she said.

  Amy smiled leaving John speechless to try and figure out just what the hell that little exchange meant. He’s way too easy Amy thought. She knew he was joking and meant nothing by it but she still took pleasure out of making him over-think their relationship. She was more inclined to just let things happen. She felt that John on the other hand was more apt to try and force things. She would wait and see. She didn’t want him to get too confident and cocky so once again she felt the need to put him in his place.

  They spent the next hour talking and watching for more trouble. Jimmy, scanning with the binoculars, stopped on an area near the beach.

  “I see something,” he said.

  “Where,” Derek said joining him from the other side of the lighthouse.

  “There,” Jimmy said pointing to an area two hundred yards up the beach, “by the drain pipe.”

  Derek looked and confirmed Jimmy’s sighting. There was a lone demon sneaking up the beach toward them trying to hide himself behind the dunes and tall grass.

  “John, get the rifle,” he said.

  “I see two more,” Jimmy said pointing, “standing on the beach. Way back there.”

  Derek followed the beach North with the binoculars. Another hundred yards behind the demon were two more zombies. Seemingly oblivious to the demon or them.

  John stepped up to the window and sighted in. The demon was crouched behind a dune looking away from the lighthouse.

  “Do it,” Derek said, “screw that jumping to another zombie crap just kill it.”

  John looked over at Derek and shrugged. “What the hell,” he said.

  He squeezed the trigger. Derek saw the zombie’s head snap back as it fell over backwards. The sand around it slowly turned red as the blood drained.

  “Here it comes,” Jimmy said watching one of the other two zombies suddenly become alert and sprint down the beach toward them at a dead run.

  “It made the jump,” Derek said, “and right on queue.”

  John worked the bolt of the rifle and fired again. The side of the demon’s head flew off as the round shattered its skull. Without waiting John chambered another round, sighted in on the other one and dropped it where it stood.

  “Nice shooting,” Amy said. “What do you think happened to it?”

  “What do you mean?” John asked.

  “You know, the demon. I’m sure it was trying to take over the zombie just as you shot it.”

  “Oh,” Derek said, “I see what you mean. Like maybe if you killed it at exactly the second it was entering the other zombie, then…maybe, it went spiraling back to where it came from or was even destroyed altogether.”

  “You guys are losing it,” John said.

  “Well,” Amy responded, “it’s something to think about you know?”

  “Right,” John answered.

  Just then a crash came from downstairs. The hinges on the doors were more damaged than they had realized. While they were preoccupied with the zombies on the beach more had approached from the other direction and broken in. A scream emanated through the lighthouse as they headed up the steps.

  “Open the hatch,” John screamed to Derek.

  “Are you crazy, he said.

  “We have to get them before they get all the way up here.”

  Grabbing the M-16 Derek unlatched the door and opened it. There were five demons on their way up. Derek leaned over the side of the rail and fired. Slowly and methodically. Aiming at the first in line, he dropped him, then the next and the next until there was one left climbing. A shot rang out over his shoulder as the last one dropped and rolled half way back down the stairs. Derek turned to see John behind him working the bolt on the rifle.

  “That’s it,” Derek said, “we got ‘em.”

  Just as he spoke two more lunged through the door and hit the stairs at a run. They fired at the same time dropping both.

  “Damn!” Derek said.

  “Guys there’s more,” Amy said.

  Coming toward them on the beach was another group. They were just passing the grounded ship when she saw them.

  “We can’t wait any longer,” John said, “we have to go. We can’t last another night here.”

  “But what about the rescue?” Amy cried, “where will we go?”

  “We’ll go to them,” John said reloading the rifle.

  “What do you mean we’ll go to them,” Derek asked.

  “Well, let me rephrase that,” John said then paused. “We’ll fly to them.”

  “The helicopter,” Derek said nodding at
John as a slight smile came across his face.

  “John that’s suicide,” she said.

  “Staying here is suicide. You said you wanted to go down fighting right?” he argued. “Well, this gives us a fighting chance.” Then turning to Derek he said. “Load all the ammo.”

  “On it,” Derek said, “what else?”

  “The water, MRE’s, flash lights and binoculars. Nothing else,” he said. “Amy get Jimmy ready to go. When we call up to you come down and get in the truck.”

  Amy stared at him. Suddenly very afraid.

  “It’ll be ok,” he said looking intently into her eyes, “it will, I promise.”

  Amy stood there for another second looking dazed.

  “Amy don’t freeze up on me now,” he said, “we need you to keep watch until we’re finished. Shoot anything that moves.”

  Without saying a word Amy took the rifle and went to the open window.

  “Go,” she said looking back at John with a very determined look on her face.

  John picked up the rest of the ammo and headed down the steps. Jimmy stood at the window to help Amy watch. Derek emerged from the lighthouse and placed the ammunition in the truck.

  “Derek,” Amy shouted, “they’re still coming. We don’t have long.”

  Jimmy, looking toward the street saw a demon in the road and called out to Amy. She swung to the left, sighted in and fired. The demon’s shoulder jerked to the right as it spun around in the road and stumbled to the ground. John saw the zombie fall. He and Derek picked up their pace.

  Amy worked the bolt and fired again. This time the zombie, attempting to regain its feet, fell over and lay still. Suzie barked as she fought to free herself. She had remained calm through the whole ordeal but was now becoming agitated.

  John and Derek finished loading the truck then called up to Amy to join them.

  “Jimmy untie Suzie and get down to the truck as fast as you can,” Amy said.

  Jimmy jumped to action and had Suzie untied within seconds. Amy scanned the beach one more time. The zombies on the beach were still a couple of hundred yards away. There was no point in trying to shoot them at this distance. Turning the binoculars back to the street she followed it out and saw that there were three demons leading a large group in their direction. They were heading straight down the middle of the street blocking the exit from the lighthouse grounds. They would have no choice but to go through them.