by Poe, S. B.
“Ok. All clear.” He said.
He started walking towards the front of the store. Josh pulled from behind the trailer and towards the store. The SUV turned towards Bridger and stopped. He opened the door and climbed inside. They met the truck at the main entrance. They all got out.
“We’re probably good now. From the looks of them two they don’t get out here much.” Bridger said.
“Yeah, well neither do we.” Lori said.
“Fair enough.” He said.
“Do you really think there is anything in here? Don’t you think it’s like the co-op, all been picked over?” Josh asked.
“I do.” Bridger said.
“Then why are we going in?” Jahda asked.
“Well I’m really hoping that there are one or two cans of coffee left but also it seems like a good place to kill time.” Bridger said.
“Kill time? Waiting on what?” Devin asked.
“Midnight.” Bridger said.
“Why?” Ed asked.
“That’s when we head towards town.” He said.
“Hold up. You’re not seriously wanting to try that are you?” Jahda asked.
“Just to the barricade. If that.” He said.
“Why?” Ed asked.
“Because I’m a damn cat Ed.” Bridger said.
“That’s funny but no really why?” Jahda asked.
“We get started early and check every business, house, garage, barn and outhouse on the road between here and there. Get what we can get. If all goes well we can be sorting seeds back at the compound by supper tomorrow night. And finished with this place for good.” Bridger said.
8
A Road of Bones
Cameron leaned against the doorframe of the barn. The horse snickered quietly.
“I know buddy. Weird huh? They’ve been here all this time.” He said.
He had accepted the offer of the shack. He sat down on the cot and took off his boots. As he lay back he looked at the hand hewn wood timbers of the roof. He could see pinpricks of light coming through at some of the seams. The moon was bright in the sky and the light filtered through. Finally, he couldn’t lay there any more. He had encountered Tilly as he wandered down the muddy track.
“Everything ok?” She asked.
“Sure. Just a lot to take in today. I guess I am still a little wound up.” He said smiling.
“Of course.” She said.
“I’m just going to head over and check on Cheval.” He said.
“Who?”
“The horse. It’s French for horse. Cheval.” He smiled.
“Ok then.” She started to walk off. He headed the other way.
“Oh by the way.” She said over her shoulder. He stopped and turned back towards her.
“I put your weapons somewhere safe. Goodnight.” She kept walking.
“Thanks?” He said. He smiled and turned back down the road.
He sat in the barn entrance watching the moon slowly drift in and out of the clouds. The night air was cool but bearable. He became aware of someone standing just in the shadow of the shack next door. He turned his head towards the figure. The moon came from behind the cloud. A woman stepped out from under the darkness and approached him. He stood and wiped his hands together.
“It’s Kate isn’t it?” He held his hand out. She shook it.
“Yes. Kate Toles.”
“I’m sorry about earlier.” He said.
“No. Don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong. It was me. It was just… hearing his name…being reminded of that day.” Her lip quivered slightly and she took a deep breath. She straightened her shoulders and her back. “Like I said. It was me.”
“Nevertheless.” He paused for a moment. “What brings you out at this hour?”
“You. I was thinking, after I had gathered myself together, that you had a story about my husband that I have never heard. I would very much like to hear that story, if you don’t mind telling it to me.” She said.
“Now?” He said.
“Yes please. I think it might be important.”
“Why?”
“You said that you found our campsite.” She said.
“Yes.” He said.
“You said you found it because he told you where it was.” She said.
“Yes.”
“Well, I don’t know why but I do know two things for sure. He wanted you to find us and he trusted you.” She said.
“How do you know that?”
“Because if he didn’t, John never would have told you where we were.” She said. “Now if you wouldn’t mind, the story?”
“Where should I begin?”
“At the beginning.” She said.
“Very well. That morning the world smelled of the dead and when I opened my door I saw your husband walking down the path in front of my house.” He started.
Emma Grace sat in the chair in the front room. Cody was asleep on the couch in the family room and Cotton was upstairs in his bed. She had been rocking back and forth most of the night. She had chewed the nail of her pinkie until it bled. Finally she had tucked her feet up under her and waited. She didn’t know what else to do.
She had looked everywhere but she couldn’t find it. She wanted so much to believe that the thing had found its way back out of the barricade. Maybe it followed the scent back out. But the doors were closed on the truck. Maybe it fell in the creek. It would have to walk across the town to do it but it wasn’t that far. And there weren’t that many people left. Less than two-dozen now. It could have gotten there without being seen. She wanted to believe that so bad. As the night grew longer she began to feel better. Then the bell started ringing.
The truck rolled in front of the next house. They had moved it twice, each time leapfrogging the SUV. They had been fairly efficient as they made their way through the first houses at the edge of town. They had broke up into the same teams of three but instead of one standing watch each team took a house or store and moved on. The coming sun still hadn’t intruded on the darkness but the blackness was beginning to have a tinge of indigo.
They rolled up to a gas station that sat on the corner and stopped. The truck pulled beside the SUV. Everyone got out and walked to the front of the vehicles. They all looked down the road.
“I guess that’s it.” Josh said.
They had almost reached the barricade. Bridger had his binoculars out but in the darkness he was just looking for moving shadows. He couldn’t see anything.
“Well. We still have a few more houses to go. Let’s get this done.” He said.
“This place feels so weird.” Lori said.
“You mean because we’re going through it all while the people who lived here might be right behind that barricade? That kind of weird?” Devin asked.
“Well yes but that’s not it.” She said.
“Well what’s weird then?”
“Where are the deaduns?” She asked. “We haven’t seen one. Not in a house. Not anywhere. It’s like someone has been clearing them out or something.”
“It’s a small town. The folks either left or went behind the wall. The ones that didn’t make it have probably rotted away by now. That’s all. I consider it lucky myself.” Ed said.
“I guess.” She said.
“Ok. Let’s get back to it. I think we can…” Bridger started but stopped. “What the hell is that?”
They all turned and looked towards the barricades. Even though the east was beginning to turn a shade of cobalt it was still dark. They didn’t see any lights or any movement. But they did hear the ringing of a bell.
Bill and Will Austin made it almost halfway through their sophomore year of high school before the world ended. Their mother had wanted to go to the shelter near Birmingham when it all started. She had heard they were moving people to Atlanta and from there to ships on the coast. The rumors during the early days were amplified on social media and she was addicted to that long before the outbreak. She was convinced the only way to l
ive was to leave and one night, while everyone slept, she did. She left a note that said she was sorry, but she couldn’t care about them any more. And that was that.
Their father had worked for the Smalls for ten years. He kept the books. It was more than just money though. He kept breeding charts and medical records on the cattle along with all the other things. Cotton had hired him after Virginia Smalls died. She had kept all that stuff straight before. When Cotton asked him to stay after they blocked up the crossing, he did. His boys stayed with him. They had all volunteered to help keep the town safe.
“I really miss milkshakes.” Will said as they walked along Bryant Avenue on their patrol.
“I really miss my phone.” Bill said.
“I really miss Anna Holbert’s tits.” Will said as he smiled.
“I really miss…” He was interrupted as someone ran across the road just out of the moonlight.
“Who was that?” Will said. He turned on his light as quick as he could but the shadow was gone.
“You think it was them folks Dad was talking about. The ones Cody and Vernon met.” Bill said.
“Maybe. Let’s go look.”
“Why?”
“Kinda why we’re supposed to be out here?” Will said as he touched the gun on his shoulder.
“Oh yeah.” Bill said. They crept forward.
They shined the light on the porch of the house and didn’t see anything.
“Who’s there?” Bill said a little louder than a whisper. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Who’s there?” No answer. They walked between the two houses but didn’t see anyone when they emerged from the other side. They turned and went back the way they came. They turned to the other side of the house. The garage door was closed so they walked on around to the far side. They still didn’t see anything.
“I know I saw someone.” Bill said.
“I saw it too. Someone walked across this street. I know they did. Now where the hell did they go?” Will said.
As he turned to look at Bill he saw something move. Before he could even get a sound out the thing hit Bill like a linebacker hitting a quarterback on Friday night. The thing and Bill went flying and slid along the ground together for a few feet.
Will’s eyes grew wide and he fumbled for the flashlight. He managed to flip it on and saw the goner. It was on its knees next to Bill. Its hand had Bill by the throat, holding him to the ground. It turned its head to the light and Will saw its face. It had matted hair, missing in spots and he could see the dark holes left where its nose once had been. Its teeth were black and rot dripped from the corners of its mouth. It looked at the light in Wills hand and let out a deep guttural hiss. Will felt the warm liquid in his crotch as his bladder let go.
Bill struggled under the grip but could not break free. He grabbed the things arm and could feel the spongy skin. He could also feel the strange muscle underneath. It reminded him of holding something wrapped in cord. Hard. The thought was still in his head when the thing turned from the light, released its grip and ripped through his throat with its teeth. He lay there as the blood spurted in violent gushes, covering the ground. He was still aware, briefly, as the thing bit down again on his arm. But only briefly.
Michael Austin had been watching Water Street for the last half hour from his spot by the gate. The boys were running late. The last time he had to go looking for them he caught them smoking cigarettes they found cleaning out the Monroe’s house. He thought he had given them a stern enough warning. He decided to give them five more minutes, and then he would find them and have a little sterner warning.
Will fell backwards and landed hard on the ground. He tried to raise the shotgun but the strap was wrapped awkwardly around his arm. He glanced down to untangle himself and when he looked back up the thing had turned towards him again. He could see his brother lying on the ground, eyes wide, and blood spurting from the open hole in his neck. The thing spun, shifting its weight from one knee to the other as it did, and leaned its face towards him. He saw it gathering itself and he raised the shotgun just as the thing leapt towards him. Click.
Michael stood and slung his rifle over his shoulder. It was an old lever-action hunting rifle with no scope but he could shoot pretty straight with it. The moon had been diving in and out of the clouds for most of the night but now it shone brightly as it fell towards the horizon.
He started towards Waters Street and walked past the VFW. He could hear the sound of his boots as they clacked against the asphalt. He thought how funny how easily they got used to walking down the middle of the street. He turned the corner onto Bryant. He could see something in the road. He walked up to it. It was his shotgun. The one Will was supposed to be carrying, just lying in the road. He picked it up and half racked the receiver. The chamber was empty. He racked it the rest of the way, loading a shell. He looked around and saw someone walking at the far end of the street.
“WILL. BILL.” He called.
The person stopped and turned. He started walking. He could feel his stomach twisting into a knot. He didn’t know which son it was but he knew it was one of them. And they seemed odd. He began to close the distance. His son was approaching him with his head hung down. He didn’t know what had happened but he knew that dejected posture.
“Bill, Bill. What happened? I found your brothers gun…” He started to say as it came up to him.
The thing in front of him, the thing that used to be his son, raised its head. He could see the gaping hole in its throat. He could see the blood covering his shirt and pants. He could see the curve of the face that he had so proudly watched at home plate. He could see the shoulders that he helped fit with shoulder pads last football season. He could see the hands that had grown almost as large as his. They reached out for him now.
He stood there not believing. He stepped back slightly and the thing, Bill, came towards him. He stopped. He could feel it coming up from his stomach, that sick sadness that only comes when the truth finally hit home. His son was dead. But here he was. Standing in front of him. Holding his hands out for him. He would have taken them too but at the last moment he looked in the things eyes. They were dead. He stepped back and with tears in his eyes pulled the knife from his boot. As the thing stepped towards him he sidestepped it and wrapped his arm around its throat. He brought the knife up quickly to the base of his child’s skull. He drove it in. He heard the popping sound and felt the thing go limp. He held it tenderly as they both slumped to the ground. He let the tears roll down his cheek. He stroked his son’s cheek and held him as he cried.
After a while he wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. He leaned his head back and looked at the sky. He wanted to scream but nothing came. Instead just harsh sobs tried to escape. He sat there not knowing what to do next. Finally he stood and lifted his son in his arms. He carried him down the street and turned towards his home. As he turned the last corner he saw someone cross in front of the VFW. He paused.
He knew it was Will. He didn’t have to get closer. He knew it. He watched him take a few more steps. It was the same shuffling steps he had seen Bill take. It was the same steps he had seen over and over. He couldn’t do it. Not again. Not any more. He walked over to the pole in the VFW yard. He dropped the son he was carrying and grabbed the rope. He pulled hard three times. He waited a few seconds and pulled three more times, pausing between each. He waited again and pulled three more times in rapid succession. As the sound of the last bell was still ringing in his ears, he flipped the shotgun around, stuck it under his chin and pulled the trigger.
9
Rise, Lazarus
Emma Grace’s feet hit the floor as she rose from the chair. She saw the flash against the windowpane as she turned to the ringing bell. The sound of the shotgun roared down the street. She grabbed her shoes and slipped them on. She could hear Cotton stirring upstairs and she heard Cody clearing his throat in the other room. She watched as Cotton came down the stairs wrapping his robe around him. He had his pistol in hand.
Cody came from the other room hopping on one leg trying to get his foot to slip into his other boot. He stomped his foot down as the boot slid on and grabbed his shotgun from by the door. She stood there as both of them hurried out the front door.
“Stay here. Right here.” Cotton said over his shoulder to her as he went out the door.
“Ok.” She said.
She could hear other people shouting in the road in front of the house. It was garbled and distant as her mind began to spin. She waited until she saw them head down the street towards the VFW and she grabbed her jacket. She went to the kitchen and slipped out the back door into the early morning darkness.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Cotton yelled as he came down the street.
The others who had heard the sounds began to gather at the pole. They stood around looking at what they found waiting on them. Cotton came up to the backs of the people standing in front of him and started pushing his way through. Cody followed close behind. He made eye contact with Vernon as he saw him walking up. Vernon shrugged.
“Move out of the damn way. Who in the hell rung that damned bell? Who is doing the shootin?” Cotton demanded.
He finally pushed through the last few people and found himself just in front of the pole. All the other faces he could see were looking down. He looked down too.
“I think that’s Michael Austin.” Someone said from the crowd.
“There’s one of the twins over here.” Someone else said.
“Where?” Cody called.
“Over here.” It was Willie Taylor, Vernon’s uncle. “He looks like he was attacked. Look at his throat.”
Cody pushed his way over and stood looking at the gaping hole under the boys chin. He knelt down and saw the blood on the back his collar and turned him over. The entry wound was small but still fresh. He began to understand what happened. But why? He thought to himself. Why would he do that? He still had another boy out here. Unless. He stood and looked around. Scanning the crowd.
