I was quickly approaching the barrier. There were still a few cars in-between me and it, but no zombies. I realized that the only way through would be to get off my bike, and climb over it, into the city.
I turned back to check on the horde that continued to pursue me. There must’ve been a couple dozen of them. They’d occasionally trip over obstacles in the road, or each other, but they always got back up, and kept going. They were still at least ten yards away. I thought if I stopped just in front of the barrier, I could quickly toss or carry my bike over, and just keep going.
Then I hit something, and stopped hard.
I flipped over the handlebars of my bike, tumbling over the hood of the car I’d crashed into. I rolled off the hood, and ended up face planting onto the concrete. The left side of my face stung. My left eye got dust in it, and I tried to wipe it out with my hand.
I looked up. The barrier was still about fifteen yards in front of me. I pushed myself off the ground. I’d gotten the wind knocked out of me. My ribs felt sore, and I think I might have twisted an ankle. One undead moan was all it took to get me to stop bitching.
My bike lay on its side on the other side of the car. Standing just behind the bike was one of the zombies. He wore a blue polo shirt stained with blood. His blank eyes made contact with mine, and I immediately took off the other way.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever run as fast or as hard as I did on that final stretch of road to the barrier. Behind me I could hear their shambling footsteps, getting closer with each passing moment. I was much slower than before, but I was able to navigate through the highway debris much easier, running around flaming cars, and hopping over broken doors and tires.
When I finally got to the barricade, I glanced back at my pursuers. The closest two were less than ten feet way. I turned back to the barricade, and tried to find a way over. My frantic eyes searched the wall for any kind of opening or spot where the wall was low enough to climb over. The shortest part of the wall was a van that towered over me by a good foot-and-a-half. I jumped up, but there was nothing on its roof to grab onto, and I just fell back down.
“Hello!” I shouted. No answer from the wall. I heard a sound like breaking glass, and turned to see a zombie bump his head into the glass window of a truck that was mere feet behind me.
I jumped up again, and still couldn’t get a grip to pull myself up. To the right of the van, I spotted two shopping carts, crammed into the wall. They sat on top of an old brown office desk. I grabbed one of the carts, and as hard as I could, tried to yank it from its spot. It wouldn’t budge.
The zombie’s moans were now uncomfortably close. I didn’t dare turn back and instead quickly grabbed the cart again, but with both hands this time. It moved an inch or two the second time, but not much. I was about to give another tug, when a spinning office chair fell on my head.
I rubbed at my head, and looked up. On top of the two shopping carts was a pile of small gray office chairs. They stood precariously on top of the wall.
A hard, cold hand fell on my shoulder. The face I saw when I turned around, snarled at me. He was still snarling when he got hit with a falling office chair.
He let go, and I stepped to the left, and watched as he, and the two zombies with him, were knocked to the ground in an avalanche of office chairs.
I quickly ran over to the shopping cart, and began to pull. Behind me I could hear the downed zombies growling as they tried to push the chairs of their bodies.
The cart was stuck in good and tight, and I had to really strain to get it out. When it finally did, I fell backward onto one of the zombies.
The cart fell on top on me, and one of its wheels dug into stomach. I pushed it off, and felt chipped teeth touch my scalp, along with something warm and wet. I snapped my head up, and felt one of those teeth cut my scalp.
I looked back and saw a zombie with no lower jaw; just a tongue that hung from its mouth like a hand from a limp wrist. Standing over me were two other zombies, both with fully functioning jaws that were eager to chomp down on me.
With the shopping cart still gripped in my hand, I stood up, turned around, and threw the cart at the two standing zombies. I was able to see the cart crash into them, before turning around and making for the wall.
I climbed over the desk, and found myself on the other side of the wall. I’d made it.
I peeked over my shoulder and saw the dozen or so zombies that had been chasing me all this time. They bumped into the desk and stopped, their rotting brains slowly trying to figure out how they could climb over it. I looked around, trying to find something that I could use to close up the gap I’d created in the wall.
The only thing that looked like it might work was the driver’s seat of a car. It sat a few feet away from me, and appeared to have been removed from its original car. When, why, and how this had happened I couldn’t imagine.
I lifted it; it was heavy, but not as heavy as I would’ve liked. It was better that nothing.
I carried the mass of fabric and metal over to the gap in the wall. The zombie in the lead was already beginning to pull himself on top of the desk, his rotting hands already pressed flat against the wooden surface. I laid the chair on its side, and pushed it across the desk, until it pushed the zombie’s hands off. I waited a moment to see if the zombies could push it away. One of them swiped at it, and it barely moved an inch.
Satisfied, I turned around, and made a run for the city.
VIII
I’d been living at Fort Russo for about six months.
The base was made up of a helipad, a garage, a supply depot that doubled as a cafeteria, two buildings of barracks, a watchtower, and a lab. A twenty-foot tall chain link fence surrounded the perimeter of the base. I slept in one of the barracks with the soldiers.
Life on the base was pretty boring. When I wasn’t getting my blood drawn for the tests, I’d play cards with myself, hang out with the off-duty soldiers, or just walk around the base wishing I’d brought a book. Sometimes I’d see Dave when he had to come up to the base. He always did his best to make me feel at home.
The scientists who conducted blood tests toiled away endlessly in the lab, rarely leaving except to inform the base CO that they’d need more blood from me. I’d sometimes ask how long they thought it would be before they’d find a cure.
“Any day now.” They’d say if they were in a good mood that day.
“It’s not as easy as we thought it’d be.” They’d say after a hard day.
“We’re doing our best.” They’d say if they were feeling frustrated.
“I don’t know son. I just don’t know.” They’d say when they were feeling honest. I stopped asking after a while.
I was usually able to talk with my family at least once a week. The cell reception at the base was garbage, just as Dave had said it would be. I was lucky to send or receive so much as a text from them. They had a few computers around the base for communicating with other bases and soldiers, and they’d let me use them when they weren’t busy.
I’d send emails and Skype with them every chance I was given. When he could, Dave would try to sneak me into one of the empty computer rooms so I could get some extra time with my family.
One night I awoke to a loud siren. It whined in the cold, late night air, ripping me, and every other sleeping person on base from sleep. It reminded me of the air raid sirens I’d hear in old war movies. I’d been told about the siren on my first day there. David, and the corporal who’d driven me there, explained that it was an emergency siren.
“All soldiers on the base must report to the helipad, where they’ll get their orders and find out what they need to do.” The corporal said.
“The civilians just need to stay indoors, until they’re told otherwise.” Dave clarified.
I stayed and watched as the soldiers in the bunks around me quickly got dressed and ran out the door. A few were quick to remind me to “Stay inside!” until I was given the all-clear.
The men
cleared out of the barracks, leaving me alone. My heart raced, and my breathing grew heavy. Through the windows, I watched as soldiers from all over the base made their way to the helipad. Rain poured onto the concrete, as the soldiers raced from their barracks. The commanding officer, a balding colonel that I’d seen a few times, held a megaphone. Once a sizable number of soldiers had converged upon the helipad, the colonel lifted the megaphone to his lips, and spoke.
“A swarm of undead hostiles is moving toward the town.” He said. A chill colder than the night air came down on me. “We’ve tried firing at them from the air, but the weather is making it difficult to pilot the choppers. We’re going to be sending you to the town, to help keep them back.”
The colonel then started to go over some basics of strategy, and ordered for particular squads to perform particular duties for the defense. I just sat there frozen. Outside the storm was getting heavier, the raindrops so thick it was getting hard to see.
Inside I could feel my stomach churning. The worst, most unimaginable thoughts paraded themselves through my mind. I could see undead legs walking down the streets of my neighborhood, undead arms breaking through the windows of my house, my dad shouting-
I stood up. The thought of my family in distress was enough to unfreeze me.
As fast as I could, I put on a jacket, a pair of pants, and slid on my shoes without socks and without tying them, and left the barracks. My plan was to run to the supply depot where they kept the computers. I didn’t know what I was going to say to my family. I don’t think they needed to be warned; the soldiers already in the town would’ve probably done that already. I just needed to hear their voices and see their faces.
I’d only taken two steps outside when a guard stopped me, and said that civilians needed to stay inside. I tried to argue, but it didn’t work. He eventually shoved me back into the barracks, and told me to stay there. I was emotional, but I wasn’t stupid enough to fight a man with a gun.
“Just try to get some rest.” He said. “We’ll come get you when it’s safe.” I wanted to say something, but he left. I didn’t try to leave for the rest of the night, and just stayed by the window, horrible thoughts keeping me from sleep.
The next day, the base got an update; the town perimeter had been breached at about noon. No one would tell me how many zombies had gotten in, or if anyone had been hurt. I didn’t care. I was going to go home.
By this point, most of the soldiers on base had been sent to help out in the town. Security was low and that night, I made a break for the gates.
As far as I knew, there was still one guard left who patrolled the base. Through the barrack windows, I watched as he left the main gate, and went on with his patrol. I left my barracks, and made my way to the gate. I was trying to figure out a way to undo the lock, when I got caught.
“Ben? What the fuck are you doing?” I heard the guard say. It was David. He stood with his flashlight pointing at me. By the light of his flashlight, I could see his face turn hard and angry. It was the first time I’d ever seen him look even remotely military.
“I need to get back to my parents.” I told him. No use in lying.
“There is nothing you can do.” He said.
“I need to be with them. You know better than me what’s going on right now.”
“It’s not safe out there.”
“I can’t just sit on my ass!”
“Do you think you’re parents would want you running out there?!” It was the first time I’d ever heard David raise his voice. “Risking your life for no good fucking reason?!”
I stopped talking. When he spoke again, his voice was softer. “Listen, I know how you feel. When I was at college, and I first heard about what was happening back home…” his eyes became watery, but he still maintained his rigid military composure. “I would’ve given anything to…”
“Then you know how I feel right now.”
“But I knew my mother. She…she wouldn’t have wanted me there. If she’d had it her way, my sister wouldn’t have been there either. She wanted me to stay alive above all else, and to do otherwise would have been stupid.”
I stood by the gate, shaking in the cold air.
“Let me take you back to the barracks.” Dave said. I nodded and walked with him. I didn’t speak again until we got to the barracks.
“I just want to know if they’re all right.” I said.
“I know.” He nodded. “I’ll make sure to ask around, see if I can get any info. I’ll tell you if I find anything.” He saw my eyes getting watery, and put his arms around me. “It’s okay man.”
He left a few minutes later. I didn’t sleep. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed as long or as hard as I did that night.
IX
I didn’t stop running until the sounds of undead moans stopped behind me.
Out of breath, and seemingly out of danger, I collapsed on the ground and tried to catch my breath. The highway around me was nowhere near as littered as the one on the other side of the wall, but it was just as quiet. There was no sign of human activity, recent or otherwise. Night had fallen, and I didn’t want to be outside when it got cold.
After resting for a few minutes, I got up, and again started for the buildings in the distance. Eventually, I got to a part of the highway that cut through downtown Brooks. I walked down an exit ramp, and found myself at street level.
The cloudy sky above was dark, and I took out my flashlight. The streetlights didn’t come on, and neither did any of the lights in the buildings.
The streets were deserted. There was no sign of struggle, at least none that I could see. Just cars parallel parked on the side of the roads. I resisted the urge to call out. I didn’t know what was in this city. The wall that’d I’d passed seemed pretty secure when I found it, but it wouldn’t have been the only wall.
I walked down several blocks. The streetlights still hadn’t come on, and the moonlight only faintly shone down through the clouds above. The small white light I held in my hands provided my only source of illumination. I could only see about ten feet in front of me, as I walked down the streets, the hope of finding other people slowly leaving with each step I took.
After a while, when my fingers and face began to go numb and I still hadn’t seen a soul, I started to get desperate. I called out.
“Hello!” I said. Nothing. Just pitch black darkness staring back at me.
“Hello! Anyone!” I said. Again, nothing. I ran down the street, almost tripping over myself in the process.
“Please, somebody!” I shut up, when my lights fell on the figure in the road.
He stood staring at me, with blank eyes that didn’t blink. His jaw lay open, revealing rows of old, rotting teeth. Stiff arms hung at his sides. His blue police uniform was dirty, with rips in the fabric. The biggest rip was on his right shoulder, where the red bite mark could be seen sitting on his bare skin. The first growl was barely out of his mouth, when I turned the other way and began to run.
The light bounced up and down as I ran, making it hard to see where I was running to. Not that it would’ve mattered; I didn’t know this city, or what was nearby. I didn’t know where to even begin to find shelter.
I turned a corner. My flashlight caught more pairs of blank eyes in its illuminating gaze; they were just like the first, standing in the road, listlessly waiting for a new meal to come their way. I quickly turned back, and ran down the first safe path I could find.
The sound of shambling feet grew, echoing off the walls in the tight street corners. It was difficult to keep track of where my pursuers were coming from with all the noise around me.
I made my way to the sidewalk, where tried the handle of every door I passed. It took me at least four tries, before I finally found one that wasn’t locked. I flung the door open, and immediately slammed and locked it behind me.
For several tense moments, I stood in the darkness of a mysterious room, waiting for the zombies to assault the door. I jumped when the first faint
groan came through the door. There was a slight thumping sound, as a few dead hands tried to hit the door. But they quickly gave up. I stayed completely silent for the next few minutes, as the shuffling zombies walked away from the door, presumably to go back to their spots on the road, quietly waiting for a new human to cross their path.
I was safe. For now anyway.
I moved away from the door, and began to explore the building I’d take refuge in. The room I stood in was a small office space. Four small cubicles lined one wall, while a scanner, printer, and fax machine lined the other wall.
The desks and floor were covered in discarded papers; the place looked like it was left in a hurry. Then I noticed the smell. It was a very strong rotten smell, and it reminded me of salt water. The smell was strongest next to the door on the other side of the room. I took my rifle from my shoulder, and exited through the new door.
I found myself in a very large room. The carpet was navy blue, as were the walls. The ceiling stretched at least thirty feet above me. And one of the walls was made of glass.
I slowly approached the glass wall, and saw the dirty water that lay on the other side. It was green, cloudy, and almost impossible to see through. But in a few spots, I could see something moving through that foggy water.
It’d poke out from the fog, drift against the glass, and then float back into the fog. I stood in front of the glass trying to spot the thing in the water, but it was usually too small, or would return to the fog before I could shine my flashlight on it.
Then, from the depths of the green fog, came a shape that was easily twice the size of a man. I swallowed, as it approached the glass. I could only make out its dark silhouette, and had no idea what it could be. Then, by the lone light of my flashlight, I glimpsed a flash of white sharp teeth, and fell backward to the ground.
I dropped my flashlight and watched it roll across the ground. Its beam of light sputtered as it bounced, and I feared it might have broken. I got up, ran after it, and scooped it up in my hands. The light continued to work, and I breathed a sigh of relief, before turning back to the glass wall.
Our Last Bow Page 6
