Small Town Zombies

by The masked maniac writer

The city of Concordia is a warzone filled with thousands of zombies, and the only ones who can save the small city is a group of five kids. But will they manage to save the town by themselves? R&R. Part of chapter 3 is currently up. Please R&R.

1. Day One

Day one

Disclaimer: I own the characters, the plot, the location, (possibly the title, I'm not sure) and that's about it. Anything else mentioned is somebody else's property.

Author's Note: This story is not recommended for anybody under the age of 16. This story will contain, blood, gore, vomiting, language, graphic scenes, intense violence, minors using firearms and language, death, defacing of public servants, destruction of private and public property, more death, decapitation, dismemberment, murder, intense anger, and everything else that gives that can give a story an R rating. So a word of advice, don't take after these characters, it isn't healthy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

These are the main characters of the story. They are as follows:

Name: Jake Rashad

Nationality: United States

Age: 22

Birth date: 7-11-80

Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 165 lbs.

Eyes: Green

Education: Completed high school

Bio: Jake is an intelligent guy, he has leadership capabilities, but is somewhat on the bossy side, and doesn't take well to somebody else taking control. He loves to exercise on a regular basis, and can lift over 200 pounds. Instead of going to college, he decided to get a head start on a career and earn money.

Name: Sam Arnold

Nationality: United States

Age: 20

Birth date: 2-1-82

Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 160 lbs.

Eyes: Gray

Education: College dropout

Bio: Sam has never been the brightest bulb in the light fixture, also somewhat naive, but he knows enough on how to get around and survive. College proved to be too difficult for him, so he dropped out and got a job at working on people's yards and lawns.

Name: Salley Marshal

Nationality: United States

Age: 18

Birth date: 7-4-84

Height: 5' 8"

Weight: 145 lbs.

Eyes: bluish green

Education: High school, soon to attend college

Bio: Sally loves gymnastics, she's the head of her class when it comes to PE as well as a B average student. But underneath, she's a feisty girl who can kick major butt. She's studied martial arts, and is working to become a black belt in karate.

Name: Shinigami (real name unknown)

Nationality: United States/Japan

Age: 19

Birth date: 6-6-84

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 155 lbs.

Eyes: Purple

Education: Attending high school

Bio: Shinigami, the Japanese term for the Grim Reaper. And that's just how he likes to be referred to. He's the kind of guy that nobody in the group likes. He's good in school, but not in getting along with other people, he often curses them out and yells at them for staring. He's more than willing to get into a fight, and can hold his own during it. Most of the time, he keeps a duffle bag full of "equipment" in case of emergencies. He has no idea why the others invited him, and doesn't really care either. His use of American obscenities is that of a master. He loves wearing black, and is rarely seen without at least two pieces of black clothing on.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Concordia, one of the smaller cities in the state of Kansas. Mainly a farming community, but it's more than that. It has computer stores, Wal-Marts, grocery stores, police, banks, electronic stores, downtown businesses, an always busy four lane highway, hardware stores, plenty of hotels, and the ever annoying door to door salesmen that just don't take "no" for an answer, no matter how you phrase it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4:00 P.M. Two SUV's, one green, and one gray, packed with supplies, raced along the highway at 55 mph, the green one tailing the gray one. In the gray one, sitting in the driver seat, was Sam Arnold. In the green one, Jake Rashad manned the driving, Salley Marshal was in the passenger seat, and sitting in the far back, was the anti social "Shinigami", muttering to himself, pondering over why he was here.

"Jake, how much longer until we reach this place? I thought you said that we were close," Salley told him.

"We are, just another hour until we get there," Jake replied, signaling that he was moving into the turning lane, before pulling into it, being mimicked by the gray SUV.

"I don't get why I had to come along, I was miserable enough at home, and coming on the God damned camping trip is pointless," Shinigami complained.

"You're coming along because your mother asked that we bring you along. We don't like it either, but we did it for her," Jake told him.

"You know Shinigami, none of us even know what you're real name is. What is it anyway," Salley asked.

"Forget it, if you couldn't get it from my mother, you sure as hell aren't going to get it from me," Shinigami replied, going back to mumbling to himself.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

One mile up ahead, a large tanker truck pulled out on an intersection, signaling for a left turn. Everything went along smoothly, until suddenly, the truck stopped, blocking one and a half of the right lanes. The engine had died.

"What the hell? Aw fuck, don't quit on me," the driver screamed. He tried starting the truck again, but the engine had sounded like it was flooded. "Aw shit! I can't believe this, of all the god damned luck," the driver cursed loudly and smashed his fist on the dashboard.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"God damned shit!" Jake made a sharp turn to the left, moving into the left lane, barely missing the stalled truck, then turning to the right, narrowly avoiding a head on collision with a pickup. "That guy's insane!"

"Where the fuck did you learn how to drive," Shinigami yelled.

"My father," Jake told him.

"Figures, one dumb ass leads another," he mumbled.

"I heard that! I'd watch it if I were you. It's not too late for me to dump you out here and leave you behind," Jake told him as he tried to calm himself down.

"I'll take that offer, drop me off here," Shinigami told him.

"...On second thought, forget it. You're coming along with us and be miserable," Jake told him.

"You know I hate your fucking guts, right," Shinigami asked/told him.

"So what else is new," Jake replied.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I can't believe this, these guys are gonna kill me," the driver said to himself. He pulled out a cellphone and began dialing a number. The phone rang once, twice, three times, before being picked up.

"Hello," a voice on the other end said.

"Sir, we've got trouble. My truck engine died halfway on the highway, right in two lanes, and I can't get the damn thing to start, I'm gonna need some help," the driver told him.

"God, damn, is the thing still intact," the voice asked.

"Yeah, yeah, but I can't get it started. This delivery is gonna be delayed several hours, at least."

"I don't care, just get that tanker here ASAP! And above all, don't let anything happen to that tank, we can't have it breaking," the voice ordered and then hung up loudly.

"Lousy bastard, what the hell is so special about this cargo," the driver asked himself as he began dialing another number.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I still can't believe that guy back there, what was he thinking, stopping his truck in the middle of the highway," Salley asked to nobody in particular, wishing that the time would pass faster.

"Like I would know, probably drunk off his ass," Shinigami told her.

"Why don't you shut up back there before I have to hurt you," Jake ordered.

"Aw fuck off and keep your eyes on the road. I may be an atheist, but I don't wanna see what happens when you're killed by a fool," Shinigami told him.

Nobody spoke for the rest of the trip. The two SUV's followed the highway, until the group had reached the forest area. The green SUV pulled up next to the gray one, and the group exited.

"Allright everybody, this is the place," Jake announced.

"...Lovely, remind me again just why the hell we came to this tree infested hunk of land," Shinigami told them.

"We three decided to do some camping and have some fun. You however, were dragged along because your mother insisted that we bring you. She said that it would do you some good," Sam told him and went to work at unpacking the SUV.

"Bah, I hope there's bears or something around here, this place sucks, I haven't even been here five minutes and I already know it," Shinigami told them. Jake dug through the back of the SUV, unzipped it, and pulled out a double-headed axe with a red handle. "Since you're no team player, go chop some firewood." Shinigami grabbed the axe by the handle. He flipped the axe in his hands, before putting it over his shoulder and walking off.

"That guy gives me the creeps," Salley told them.

"I know, the guy's crazy. What kind of normal person names himself after the God of death," Sam asked.

"That crazy axe murderer did. Keep your guard up, just in case," Jake told them, "now come on, let's take stock of the equipment. Tent," Jake asked.

"Check," Sam replied.

"Thirty gallons worth of water, sodas, five lanterns, five first aid kits."

"Check, check, and check."

"Four sleeping bags, lots of extra batteries, radios, walkie talkies."

"Check, check, check, and check."

"Flashlights, glow sticks, food supplies, cooking utensils, books."

"Check, check, and more check."

"Axes, hammers, gasoline, kerosine, insect repellent, extra clothes."

"Check again. Everything's here," Salley told him.

"Good, now let's get camp set up," Jake ordered.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Stinkin' truck, just had to break down in the middle of the highway," the truck driver said to himself, still festering over the entire situation.

"Yeah I know, cheap foreign technology. That's why I always buy American," the tow truck driver replied.

The tow truck began to climb up a bridge section of the highway. It neared the top, but then, just like the tanker truck, it too, cut out.

"Aw shit, stupid American piece of shit," the driver yelled angrily and pushed the break to the floorboard, trying to stop from being pulled back down.

"This shit ain't good, this thing's gonna tip over if we hit that turn we just made," the truck driver yelled as they were being pulled back.

"Quick, before this rig is destroyed, abandon truck," the tow truck driver yelled. Both doors were flung open and the two jumped out, rolling on the asphalt as they did.

Seconds after the two had escaped, the tanker had rolled back and into the turn, half way following it, and half way plowing through it. It proved to be too much for the two trucks to handle, and they were turned over on their sides with a loud crash and sparks flying.

"Shit, that can't be good," both drivers said at the same time, earning a look from the other.

"Should we go see the extent of the damage or stay away," the tow truck drive asked.

"I don't know about you, but I've got to go check and make sure that tank isn't broken. The guy I was hauling it to said that it would be a catastrophe if that happened," the other driver told him and ran over to the tanker.

"Is the thing damaged," the driver asked.

"I don't know, I can't see any---" he was cut off. A jet of green, noxious looking gas shot from the tank, spraying the driver in the face. He pulled away several seconds later, coughing and choking.

"Jesus man what the hell is that shit," the tow truck driver asked.

"I dunno but that stuff is putrid, it smells like rotten septic tank shit," the other man replied and pulled out his cellphone, "that HAZMAT crew had better get out here fast, this can't be good."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The tent has been set up, and a ring of stones had been made, ready for firewood, and for tonight.

"Allright, now that camp is set up, where's that crazy axe murderer with the wood," Salley asked.

"Here's your God damned fire wood!" Shinigami had dumped a large pile of wood in front of the circle. "The next time you guys want some fire wood, ask some other patsy. There was a crazy rabid badger out there snarling at me," he told them.

"What'd you do about it," Jake asked. He then wished that he hasn't asked. one of the axe heads, was dripping was blood.

"What else." Shinigami swung the axe, planting the head into a tree.

"God, Shinigami you're a sick bastard," Salley told him.

"So what else is new?"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The HAZMAT group had arrived shortly after being called, and were now dealing with the tipped tanker. All of the members were wearing protective suits, making sure not to be exposed to the chemicals that were slowly leaking from the tanker.

"So, how bad is it," the truck driver asked.

"Things aren't good. The structural integrity of the tanker has been compromised from the shock of it hitting the ground. The leak is very slow right now, but if we can't get it stopped, everything is going to escape," one of the HAZMAT members told him. He then saw that the driver's complexion was different, and he didn't look too well.

"Sir, are you allright, you look kind of gray."

"Personally, I feel like shit," the driver told him. He barely had finished the last word, before falling to his knees, and spewing an approximate gallon of stomach contents all over the asphalt in a violent fashion. Everybody cringed in disgust, taking a good step back.

"Shit," he muttered as he wiped his mouth, only to bring up another round of barf.

"This isn't good. We have to get this man to a hospital he might be infected! Put out an alert; let anybody who feels ill know that they should get to the hospital immediately. Johnson, get a sample of that chemical so we know what we're dealing with," the head HAZMAT member ordered.

Another member ran over to the tanker, withdrawing a vile from a suit pocket, and attempted to get a sample of the mysterious chemical. But he stopped suddenly, hearing something strange. The sound was like, metal being stressed.

Without warning, the crack in the tanker had grown bigger. Metal bits were thrown in every direction from built up pressure, knocking the HAZMAT member back, and puncturing the suit. The jet of chemicals spilled out at an even greater rate.

Another crack formed, this time a putrid green liquid spilled out at an incredible rate. And just as it hit the hot ground, it evaporated, turning into a more gaseous state, going into the air.

"Good God, this is NOT good. Allright everybody, we've got to deal with everybody who might become infected! Get a sample of that shit, put out a city wide alert, and get these injured people to the hospital now!"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All across town, the strange green gas creeped through the streets of the city, mixing with the multiple gases and fumes that were expelled from the trucks and cars and motorcycles.

The heat that emanated from the hot asphalt and the vehicle's engines, heated the gas, sending it into the higher atmosphere, and mixed it with the clouds.

The clouds suddenly began to grow very dark, and the sound of thunder could be heard.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"What the hell? The forecast didn't call for rain, I checked it before we left," Jake stated angrily.

"Shut your pie hole and get in the Van, if we have a thunderstorm, I don't want to be stuck in that fuckin' tent," Shinigami yelled and slammed the back door of the gray SUV. Jake followed, while Sam and Salley got in the green one.

Not ten seconds later, did a bolt of lightning flash, and rain began to poor, hard. The raid beating down on the vehicles sounded like hail, or a roll of firecrackers going off.

"The weather is weird. Maybe they've got something on the radio." Jake started the SUV and turned on the radio, turning it to the news station.

"We interrupt the news with a special announcement! A city wide alert has been put into affect. Earlier today, at approximately 4:30 P.M. a tanker truck had tipped over and caused a gas leak. Shortly afterwards, the tank was ruptured, spilling out the mysterious substance that it was carrying, and sending gas fumes throughout downtown areas of Concordia. Two men have been hospitalized for supposed poisoning from this mysterious gas. If anyone feels ill, please go to the nearest hospital and seek treatment immediately. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program."

"I wonder if that's the same tanker we almost collided with earlier today," Jake said to nobody in particular.

"How should I know. At least we're safe from that gas," Shinigami told him.

"How do you know that," Jake asked.

"Simple, simpleton. They said "throughout downtown areas of Concordia" which leads me to believe the gas is heavy, like cold air. And the downtown areas are on a lowered plain, while the uptown area are on a raised plain, or hill. And as you know, we had to drive up a hill to get here, so theoretically we should be safe from the gas," Shinigami theorized.

"For a public school education, you're pretty smart. But what if you're wrong and we get poisoned as well," Jake asked him.

"What else. Drive like all of hell is on our asses and get to the closest hospital."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"God, I feel like total shit." The tanker truck drive groaned and laid back in the hospital bed, feeling bad enough to wish that he could just die. "Oh crap!" He rolled over in his bed and retched big time into a basin, nearly filling it to the top.

"Oh I don't feel good, I don't feel good at all," the HAZMAT member moaned, lying a few beds down. He too then leaned over and vomited, but missed the basin, spilling his guts onto the floor.

"Nurse," the both croaked at the same time.

Two nurses walked over to the patients, being careful to avoid the sides of the bed where they had just been sick, and began to take their vital signs.

"That's unusual," one of the nurses stated in surprise.

"What is," The HAZMAT member asked.

"I can't get any heartbeat, or a pulse, something must be wrong," she told him.

"I'll say, that only happens when you're dead," he told her, shortly before turning and vomiting again.

"Just hold on, I'll go get the doctor, and a fresh basin," the nurse told him and sprinted off to find one of the on duty doctors.

"What've I got toots? Have I got pneumonia, gangrene, salmonella, what," the driver asked/groaned.

"I really don't know for sure, these readings are like nothing I've ever seen before. Just hold on and I'll go get the doctor," the nurse told him and followed her coworker.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"How long has this rain been going," Salley asked.

"About...half an hour," Sam told her.

The two sat in silence for several seconds, before Salley's phone began to ring."

"Salley, Sam, turn the radio on to 109.2, you've gotta hear this," Jake's voice told them. Sam revved up the engine and turned on the radio, turning it to the announced station.

"In the past few hours, an estimated 3,000 patience had been admitted to local hospitals, complaining of strange symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, intense chills, and aches and pains. Doctors are baffled, never before have they seen such an outbreak of such a weird strain of disease. Experts believe that these sudden sickness is related to the tanker incident earlier this afternoon---"

Sam turned off the radio, not caring to hear anymore. "So what does this mean," he asked.

"Damned if I know. But that's crazy, 3,000 people in just a few hours. What the hell is going on here," Jake asked.

"This seems to add more possibility to my theory. But what I want to know is why the hell is it...oh no, oh hell no, it can't be," Shinigami said to himself.

"Wha' does that fool want," Sam asked.

"I dunno. Shinigami, Sam wants to know what the hell you're talking about."

"Gimme that phone, that way I won't have to explain it twice." Shinigami swiped the cellphone quickly, putting it to his head. "Have any of you seen "Return of the Living Dead"," he asked.

"I saw it once, why," Salley asked.

"Those two guys who worked at that cadaver place, they found a barrel of Trioxin 245, and accidentally broke the seal, exposing themselves to the noxious chemicals. They had similar symptoms to those that were just mentioned, and it turns out that the chemical was turning them into the living dead! Then when they had that loose cadaver cremated, the Trioxin was released into the air, seeded the clouds, and suddenly caused a downpour of Trioxin, resurrecting the corpses of the local cemetery," Shinigami explained.

"Shinigami, you've been watching WAY too much TV," Salley told him.

"Like I said, it's a theory. Circumstances just seemed really familiar, and that's the first thought that I had," Shinigami told them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

One of the few cemeteries in Concordia wasn't left out of the downpour. Large puddles of rain were collecting on the ground, soaking deep into the ground.

At one of the many graves, a strange disturbance appeared. The ground seemed to be getting pushed up from beneath. Then, out of the ground, came a hand. a deteriorated looking hand, the skin was gray and broken, cracked, and missing at the knuckles. The muscle and flesh underneath had long since dried up, and the veins and arteries had broken and cracked.

The arm began to emerge. The suit was worn, dirty, and old, torn, weathered over the years.

The other arm began to emerge, just like the other, followed by the head. Most of the hair had fallen out or disintegrated. The skin was pale and gray, worn away, showing muscle tissue and bone. The lips had deteriorated, showing the gums and teeth.

The monstrosity pulled itself from the grave. Its suit that is had been buried in, weathered and torn. The pants, just the same, the shoes, scuffed and worn, showing the toes, mud covering everything on it.

All over the graveyard, more of the dead slowly climbed out of the graves. Children, older people, teenagers, men, women, all of them arose. Groans sounded from them in unearthly tones.

Slowly, the rain began to let up, and the undead stumbled, limped, crawled, and walked out of the cemetery, moaning and groaning.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All throughout the hospital, the recently admitted patients were screaming in agony, pain going throughout the systems. Nobody was capable of remaining silent; the pain was too great.

"I've never seen anything like this. This must be some kind of new flu that has never been seen," one of the doctors theorized.

"I don't care what it is doctor, just let me die for the love of God," one of the patients begged, screaming in agony.

"GAHHHHH," the tanker truck driver screamed. His back was arched in intense pain, before his body dropped to the bed, lifelessly.

"Nurse, get me a breathing bag STAT," the doctor yelled and rushed to his side. The nurse quickly brought the device over, and the doctor slipped it over the truck driver's body. He pumped the bag, trying to force air into the man's body and get his heart started again.

"Nurse, are you getting anything," the doctor asked.

"Nothing doctor," the nurse replied. The doctor began pumping the bag harder, determined to get the man breathing again.

The man let out a groan as his eyes slowly opened, flooded green, and glassy. The doctor didn't have time to leap back, the man gripped the doctor's throat, and bit into the side of his neck, spraying blood a good five feet and over his face. The nurse screamed loudly, terrified by what she had just witnessed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The rain had finally let up, and the parched ground eagerly sucked much of it up. The four exited the SUV's and began looking around the campsite. "Boy, the first good rain in months. This place was becoming a desert," Jake said as he looked around.

"Really Einstein," Shinigami asked. He opened the back of the gray SUV and pulled out a pocket radio and turned it to 109.2, "let's see what the latest news on the epidemic back in town is."

"We repeat, be on alert! The 3,000 victims who have suffered from the mysterious disease, have taken a turn for the worse, and have become violently insane. They are now wandering the streets of Concordia and are attacking innocent bystanders who have yet to catch the mysterious disease. Theses people are described as having pale, gray complexions, and flooded green, glassy eyes. If you encounter these people, avoid them at all costs, they are considered contagious, and extremely danger---."

"Aw damn, this can't be good," Salley said in a worried tone.

"Does anybody doubt my theory now," Shinigami asked.

"Yeah, me, I still don't believe that "Night of the Living Dead" is happening here in this town," Sam announced.

"Believe whatever you want to believe. But I've gotta take care of something," Shinigami told them. He unzipped his duffle bag, and pulled out a smaller black bag, and began to walk off with it.

"Where're you going," Jake asked.

"I gotta take a fuckin' piss so leave me alone. And if somebody follows me, you'll end up missing a couple of pieces," he told them and took off at a jogging pace.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A riot squad had been called in, wearing SWAT team armor, one of them carrying a gun for launching tear gas, and each of them standing together in a neat fashion.

Half a block away, a large group of strangers, moaning and groaning, had formed, and was staggering down the street. Some of them wore nothing but hospital gowns, while other normal, but torn clothes. Their complexions were pale gray, and their eyes, flooded with green.

"Allright guys, the twenty of us, have gotta take on those...things. Launch a tear gas can in there, now." The member holding the tear gas launcher, fired a can into the group, waiting for the gas to affect them. But to his surprise, they weren't reacting to it at all.

"Oh shit," he muttered.

"Okay, plan B. Move in and beat them unconscious, but be careful," the leader ordered and pulled his gas mask over his face. The others did the same, and moved in, holding their shields out and readying their batons for a major beating.

The team moved in, encountering the mob, and began to beat them with the batons, while fending them off with the shields. But it soon turned in favor of the mob, no matter how hard they were hit, they refused to go down, and stay down. Instead, they kept getting back up.

"Why the fuck won't these guys stay down," one of the members cursed and beat another gang member, most likely breaking the shoulder and knocking him down. The man groaned, but instead of getting up, he grabbed the squad member's leg, and bit into it, tearing away a hunk of flesh. The squad member howled in pain and fell to the ground, grasping his injury.

The few that had fallen, quickly swarmed over the fallen squad member, grabbing and biting him, blood gushing everywhere and howls and screams of pain could be heard a block away.

"What in the name of God is going on here? What kind of disease turns people into insane cannibals," another squad member asked as he helplessly watched his team member get eaten alive. He didn't have time to react, he was too, overrun by the cannibals, and soon suffered the same fate as the other member.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Man, how long does it take for somebody to take a leak? It's not like you can hold ten gallons of piss," Jake told them as he paced back and forth, carrying the axe that Shinigami had used to cut the firewood.

"I hope he didn't run into one of those insane people," Salley told them and threw another piece of wood on the campfire.

"Hey guys, I'm worried. What if, what if he was right about that zombie stuff. What if he wasn't watching too much TV? What if we are going to be overrun by the living dead," Sam asked nervously.

"Sam, calm down, your paranoia is getting the best of you. It's physically impossible for the dead to walk again," Jake told him, "now just calm down, relax, and shut up, you're driving me crazy with that kind of talk," Jake told him.

"Shh, do you guys hear something? It sounds like somebody's coming," Salley told them and stood back up.

A light moaning could be heard, and the trudging sound of footsteps came closer every second. "Do you think that's Shinigami," Sam asked.

"I doubt it, he doesn't seem like the moaning type. It might be one of those people that became infected," Jake told them and readied his axe, just in case.

Slowly, a figure stepped into the lighted area. His clothes had been tattered and soiled, and his complexion was light gray and sickly. And the most notable thing were the green eyes. Completely flooded green, and glassy.

"Shit," they all muttered at once.

"Hey you fool, get out of here right now," Jake ordered and raised his axe. The figure replied with a groan, slowly trudging forward.

"Get down," a very familiar voice yelled, and a dark figure stepped behind the other one. Everybody had a feeling about what might happen, and they dove out of the way.

The figure turned around and groaned, and found himself only a foot and a half away, from a double-barreled shotgun. Two shots were fire, plowing through his chest, and sending him flying ten feet.

"Miss me?" It was Shinigami, standing there, holding a double barreled, sawed off shotgun, still smoking from being fired. The butt had been sawed off almost completely, leaving nearly nothing but the handle. And the barrels had been cut down to just three inches away from the wooden stock.

"Shinigami, what the fuck did were you thinking!? You just killed that guy," Salley yelled.

"I killed nobody," Shinigami told them and stepped forward, cautiously approaching the corpse.

"What the fuck do you mean? You just blew a hole in that guy's chest," Sam told him.

"Did you guys flunk biology? Why didn't the blood splatter everywhere when I shot him," he asked. Nobody really had a reply for that one, "that's what I thought. The reason is, because this guy here, is a zombie. A real live/dead man, fit to be buried and mourned over. Since there was no blood splatter, and little sign of decomposition, he must've been dead, for about three or four day. Enough time for the body to suffer dehydration, and for the blood to dry up," he explained, sounding like an expert on the case.

"How do you know all of this," Jake asked.

"I've seen every zombie move made, from George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" to "Resident Evil". I know a thing or two about zombies," he told them. Once again, the zombie let out a groan and slowly got back to it's feet. The gaping hole the size of a basketball in it's chest did nothing to slow it down.

Shinigami quickly loaded two shells into his gun, aimed, and fired. The top half of the zombie's head was completely blown off, splattering gore on the surrounding area, and partly on Shinigami.

"You do know what this means don't you? It means that I was right, and those infected citizens, are most likely all zombies now," Shinigami told them.

"So what do we do now," Salley asked as she clung to Sam's arm.

"The only reasonable thing. We pack up the supplies, and head back to town as fast as we fucking can. We'll deal with problems from there," he told them, shortly before loading two new fresh shells into his shotgun.

"Hold it, I've got some questions to ask. I suspect that gun was what you took with you, but how did you know to come back here when that dead guy attacked," Jake asked.

"Remember me telling you about that badger I killed? When I was out, I was actually looking around, just to back up my crazy theory, and I found it, walking around like it was drunk, so I unloaded a couple shells right into its head. then, I figured that I should come back here and see if you guys were being attacked," Shinigami told them.

"Well how come you're so calm? I can't quit shaking," Salley told him.

"When you've lived my fucking shit type of life, you learn not to let anything get to you. Now come on! Let's get back to Concordia and see if we can find anybody who might've escape those walking dead," Shinigami ordered and got into the passenger seat of the gray SUV.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The group of the undead had started to grow. Doctors, riot squad members, police, children, animals, it didn't matter, nobody was safe from the decaying forms that filled the now, deserted streets of the small town.

They groaned, hungering for living flesh, and searching for their next meal, wherever, and whatever it might be.

Windows and doors to buildings were being broken and knocked down, cars were being tipped over, nothing was safe.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Allright Grim Reaper, since you know so much about what we're dealing with, what's the plan of attack," Jake asked as he sped along the highway, easily breaking the speed limits.

"We need to head to the Super Wal-Mart, I've only got a handful of shells left, and we need some supplies. Guns, ammo, melee weapons, and lots of other stuff," he told him.

"That reminds me, where'd you get that shotgun," Jake asked.

"It was my dad's. He willed it to me after he died. I swear, if I see him up and walking around, I'm gonna splatter his brains all over the pavement to repay how he treated us when I was younger," Shinigami told him, "...now what the hell is that up there?"

Up ahead, was something that looked like a road barricade. Two yellow sawhorses with flashing lights, and two orange barrels, followed by another two sawhorses, and another two barrels. The pattern repeated in both direction what seemed like a mile.

"Weird, it looks like a barricade, right where Concordia begins, or stops, depending on how you think of it," Jake told him.

"Fuck the barricade, ram that thing we've got business to take care of!"

"Right!" Jake switched the SUV into 4x4 drive, and plowed right through two of the sawhorses, sending them flying.

"Who do you think set that thing up back there," Jake asked.

"Probably the God damned military or someone along that line, trying to contain the city. They're probably trying to seal off the entire town. They probably don't even know what they're getting themselves into," Shinigami told him.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The parking lot of Wal-Mart was empty; nothing, and nobody, not even a parked car, or a town drunk could be seen there.

The two SUV's pulled up very close to the store, right in the people crossing, and everybody got out and charged over to the doors.

"Damn it, the doors are locked," Jake yelled.

"Not for long," Sam told them, he took the axe, and swung it hard, shattering the glass into millions of tiny pieces, "come on," he told them. As soon as they were past the first set of door, Sam shattered the glass to the inside doors, allowing everybody to get in.

"Allright, grab some shopping carts, get over to the sporting goods and hardware department, grab whatever you need, and we'll meet in the gardening isle, and above all, be careful," Jake told them. All four of them took one of the shopping carts and split up into a different direction.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SMASH! The glass of the gun case was shattered, sending debris everywhere. "Take whatever weapons you want, but I want another shotgun, and all the red shells," Shinigami ordered and took a 12 gauge, pump action shotgun and began looking it over.

"Why the red shells," Jake asked as he began piling handguns into the cart.

"They're two and a half inch shells. They're the size that my gun handles. If a put a three inch shell in there, my gun will explode in my hands," Shinigami explained and began to throw in all the boxes of red shells that he could find, while stuffing a couple into his pockets, and loading up his other gun.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A small figure huddled behind a shelf, clutching a carbine rifle for dear life, breathing heavily and shaking in terror. Slowly, the figure peaked out behind the shelf; she managed to spot two strange figures at the sporting goods isle, but it proved to be a challenge with the dim lighting. Carefully, they raised the rifle, took aim, and fired right for the head of one of them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Shinigami ducked to pick up a box of ammo he had dropped, just in time to avoid being attacked from behind. "What the fuck, is somebody shooting at us," he asked.

"I'd think so but I can't see, we need some real light in here," Jake told him.

"I'm on it, try not to get yourself killed here, we don't need your running around dead," Shinigami told him and took off, trying to find a power switch of some kind.

"Now, where's that crazy shooter? A better question, WHAT is that crazy shooter. If zombies have learned how to fire guns, we could be in deep trouble," Jake said to himself. He decided that it was time for something crazy. "Hello out there! If you're alive, knock twice, if you're dead, knock once," he yelled and listened closely for the reply.

A weak, but audible, double knock could be heard. "Allright," he said to himself, "okay listen up, my partner is going to find the light switch so we can see better. Stay where you are until the lights come on, and try not to kill us anymore," he yelled.

Several minutes later, the lights flickered, and then came back on, lighting the entire store. Jake took off to where he believed that he had been shot at, a found a small girl, clutching a rifle tightly.

The girl couldn't have been much more than twelve years old. Her blue eyes were filled with terror, and her strawberry blond hair was in a mess from her sweat.

"It's allright, you don't have to be scared, I'm a friend," Jake told her, "my name's Jake Rashad, what's yours?"

"Ami Becker," she told him nervously.

"Nice to meet you Ami, what're you doing here," Jake asked her.

"I'm trying to hide from those people. They attacked my mom and dad, but I got away, I came here, and hid. I, I got in through the back doors that are used for loading stuff, and then I got this gun for protect me. My, my dad had one like it, and he showed me how to use it," Ami told him nervously.

"Hey dumb ass who'd you find," Shinigami yelled. He came charging back to the sporting goods section, and then ran over to where Jake was.

"Shinigami, this is Ami Becker. Her parents were attacked by those zombies, and she escaped to here," Jake explained.

"Well that's just fucking wonderful. Pardon the colorful language, but when something like this happens, you're allowed to curse yourself sick," Shinigami told her.

"What made those people attack," Ami asked.

"They're not people, they're zombies. We're talking the walking dead here," Shinigami told her, "tweedle dumb ass, get the girl and get back to the guns, we need more supplies," he ordered.

"Can you walk Ami," Jake asked.

"I, I think so," Ami told him and stood up.

"Then let's get moving," Shinigami ordered and marched off.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Hmmm, aluminum tent spikes, machetes, survival knifes...not very good, but they'll have to work in case we get into melee situations," Shinigami said to himself. Afterwards, he began to pack the crossbows and arrows into the carts as well.

"Yo, Death, do you think it's about time we met up with the others," Sam asked.

"Might as well, we've all but cleaned out this isle. The only things left are clothes and fishing gear, we can't use that. Allright let's move out," Shinigami told them and started shoving his cart forewords.

"Is there something wrong with him," Ami asked.

"He's very antisocial, just ignore him," Jake told her.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Allright jugheads, we've got the ammo and guns, what'd you get," Shinigami yelled.

"Plenty, look," Salley told him. Inside of her cart, were hammers, nail cases, hatchets and axes, a couple of sledgehammers, a couple of pick axes, assorted sized prybars and crowbars, one chainsaw, putty knives, drills, screws, screw drivers, several toolboxes, and lots of heavy duty chains and locks.

"Looks like you're prepared for melee situations. Now where's that other moron," Shinigami asked.

"He's getting some of his own supplies in another department, he said that he'd be back in a little while," Salley told him.

"He'd better not've gotten lost. I'm gonna see if anybody else is here. Oh, and meet a survivor, Ami Becker," Shinigami told him and began to walk off, taking one of the two foot long machetes with him, just in case of emergencies.

"Who," Salley asked.

"This little girl right here," Sam called out.

"Oh, hello, how're you," Salley asked.

"Scared, those, what're they, zombies? They're frightening," Ami told her.

"Oh you poor thing. But how did you get in here," Salley asked.

But before Ami could reply, Shinigami's voice could be heard, screaming "Oh my fucking God!" everybody dashed off in the direction he had gone, meeting with a truly gruesome sight.

In the medicinal isle was a zombie, feasting on some poor, nameless, faceless victim. The arms and legs had chunks of flesh ripped off, as well as on the chest. The zombie was currently chewing on the face. Salley's stomach threatened to over turn, she turned to look away, holding Ami close to protect her from the gruesome sight.

Jake was paralyzed in terror, never before had he seen anything so gruesome. A huge puddle of blood was on the floor, surrounding the corpse and the zombie, covering everything within the area. The zombie moaned and stood up, seeing Jake, and deciding that fresh meat would be much better.

"Everybody get out of here," Jake yelled and pushed the girls away, leaving himself to fight the horrid monster. Or so he thought. A swinging sound, followed by the sound of a chop could be heard, and the zombie fell to the ground, its head rolling on the floor.

"Can't any of you stay out of trouble without me having to save your asses," Shinigami asked, holding the black machete that he had taken with him.

"Nice timing Shinigami, but what got you screaming," Jake asked.

"Are you fucking blind or something, this mess was disgusting," Shinigami stated and waved his machete to show the current mess.

"Well next time don't scream like that, we thought you'd been eaten," Jake told him.

"No such luck. I search for that dumb ass idiot, and I interrupt an undead buffet," Shinigami told him. A groan was heard, both of them turned to see that the partially eaten corpse, was sitting up, "go back to your eternal rest." Shinigami pulled his machete back and brought it forward, cutting halfway through the creature's skull, making it drop back to the floor, dead again.

"This store's giving me the creeps. Let's find the others, and get the hell out of here," Jake told him.

"For once I'm not arguing. Who knows how many zombies are out there. They might be coming this way as we speak," Shinigami told him and kicked the decapitated head like a soccer ball.

"Hey guys, I got my supplies!" Sam came charging out of one of the isles, his shopping cart full of assorted items. "Look at what I, oh my God! What happened here," Sam yelled.

"Just a couple of zombies, nothing we couldn't handle. What's you find Sam," Jake asked.

"Look and see, gas cans, golfclubs, lighters, lots of flashlights and batteries, and sixty bottles of beer," Sam told him.

"Are you fucking crazy? We can't get soused to the gills, we'll wind up like them," Shinigami told him.

"I'm not crazy, these drinks are gonna come in handy. They're an important ingredient in a certain drink. Molotov cocktails," Sam told him.

"Hard to believe a guy like you would think of that," Shinigami told him, "now come on, get the others, and we're getting out of here," he announced.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The five charged out of the store, pushing the shopping carts out. But as soon as they had exited, they met with a frightening site. Fifty zombies had entered the parking lot, and were slowly heading toward the store, and them.

"Just perfect. You guys, load up the rides, I'll deal with this infestation," Shinigami told them.

"Hold it, you can't take all of them by yourself you're gonna need help," Salley told him.

"Just get the SUV's packed and ready to leave. What I can't deal with, run 'em over," Shinigami told them. He readied his machete and marched out, ready to fight. "Hey all you dead heads! Come and get me, fresh meat right here!"

The zombies slowly approached Shinigami, a look of hunger in their green eyes. "Time to die, again." Shinigami slammed the blade of his machete into the head of one of the zombies, killing it instantly, while delivering a kick to the chops of another one behind him.

"Is that all you've got? I've been in fights with school bullies worse then you!" Shinigami drew his trusty shotgun from a leg strapped holster, and unload a round of buckshot into the head of another zombie, taking it out. He used his shotgun as a makeshift club, bashing it against a zombie's head, taking it out, and firing the remaining shell into another's head.

Shinigami had failed to notice the zombie right behind him. It grabbed him, surprising him, and tackling him to the ground. "Get the fuck off of me!" Shinigami buried the machete into the zombie's arm, cutting it off entirely, but it didn't do any good.

He planted the barrel of his gun into the thing's chest, trying to push it back and off of him. The zombie let out a moan and struggled to get a hold of him, but instead, found two, cold, steel barrels in its mouth. "Surprise." It was Sam, holding a double-barreled shotgun. If the zombie's eyes weren't flooded green, one could've sworn that it had gone cross eyed, letting out a groan that sounded almost like "oh-oh".

Jake pulled the trigger, unloading two rounds of buckshot, blowing its brains out the back of its head. "Damn this is fun," Jake stated and helped Shinigami back to his feet.

"What the hell did I tell you! I told you to get the SUV's packed and ready to leave, let me deal with these things," Shinigami yelled at him.

"You're welcome. You can't take all of them; you just got attacked from behind. Eventually they'll overrun and kill you. Then you'll be just like one of them," Jake told him.

"I don't fucking care! Every zombie we don't kill, is just another threat we'll have to face! There are easily 3,000 zombies in Concordia alone, there's no telling how far this epidemic has spread! We have to take them out immediately! Now get in that Van and get the fucking hell out of here now," Shinigami yelled as he put two new shells into his shotgun.

"Not without you, we need everybody who's alive to help us or else we may all die," Jake told him.

"Get down!" Shinigami fired both blasts at a zombie who had gotten too close for comfort. The blast had blown the zombie's head off completely.

"I hate to do this to ya, but I have to." Jake clubbed Shinigami with the butt of his gun, knocking him senseless and almost unconscious. Jake dragged him back and put him into the gray SUV, while Sam, Salley, and Ami were in the green one.

As soon as Jake was in, they took off, trying to find a safer location, leaving a trail of the zombies that hadn't been killed, the slowly try and follow them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I wonder what could've caused this. The dead don't just get and walk around, looking for somebody living to eat. This is like a bad movie," Sam said to himself.

"What's going on, why're they doing this, what do they want," Ami asked, hoping to get an answer.

"I don't Ami, I honestly don't know. All I really know is, this, is hell on Earth," Salley told her.

"I wonder if there are other survivors in town. We can't be the only ones left, can we," Sam asked.

"We could be, but it's hard to say. God, I've never seen the streets so deserted. It's scary, no sign of life out there, anywhere," Salley told them.

"Yeah, like the town is deserted. Maybe everybody is hiding is boarded up buildings, or they escaped into Salina, or Topeka, or some other city," Sam told her.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Ohh, what in God's name hit me," Shinigami asked and held his head.

"That was me, I had to knock some sense into you or you might've been one of them," Jake told him.

"I'm going to refrain from killing you, until this crisis is over with," Shinigami told him, "we need to find some place that's safe to stay, at least for tonight anyway," he told him.

"I know, the Super 8 Motel, out by the old Wal-Mart. We can lock ourselves in there, and there might be survivors there too," Jake told him.

"Any port in a storm. Just get there, fast," Shinigami told him and rubbed his head again.

"One question though. What do we do if there's an army of dead there," Jake asked.

"We play exterminator, take out what we can, and deal with the rest any way we medial edge to," Shinigami told him and reloaded his trusty shotgun.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For some reason or another, the Super 8 Motel had no zombies in the parking lot. That, was good, and at the same time, bad.

Everybody piled out, and grabbed a weapon. Shinigami with his gun and a dozen shells in his pockets and a machete attached to his belt. Jake with his shotgun, and a small stash of ammo in his vest pocket. Ami, carrying the carbine she had picked up earlier. Salley carrying another rifle, and Sam was carrying the double headed axe.

"Allright, the parking lot is empty. Let's get inside and make sure there aren't any deadheads in there. We exterminate the infestation, if any, and then secure all entrances and exits," Shinigami told them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The five remained in a close group as they entered the motel, staying ready to anything. "First we'll check all of the first floor, then we'll move up. If you find anybody, don't shoot unless they have green eyes, and a pale gray complexion, we can't afford to kill any innocent people," Shinigami told them. He took the lead and walked ahead, looking for anybody or anything that might be moving.

Sam, Jake, and Ami and Salley split up, conducting a room to room search of the first floor. No room was left unexamined. One by one, each of them were checked, and found to be empty.

Once the check was done, they met back in the lobby.

"The first floor's safe, I didn't find anything, not even a puddle of blood," Jake told them.

"Then let's move on to the second floor, and be careful," Shinigami told them and charged up the stairwell. Once the other four climbed the stairs, the fanned out again, performing another room to room search.

Shinigami crept around, listening for anything that might be out of the ordinary. A dull groan suddenly sounded from one of the rooms, catching his attention. "I knew it was too good to be true." Shinigami reached for his shotgun, but quickly decided against it. He drew his machete, raising it into a striking form. With a mighty kick, the door to the room flew open. Standing there, arms outstretched, was a zombie, eyeing him like he was a blue plate special.

"Sorry, the buffet's closed." Shinigami struck, planting the blade through the zombie's head, making it drop to the ground. "Where there's one, there's bound to be more." Shinigami walked over to the window and opened it. He took the zombie by the arms and picked it up, dropping it out of the second story window, letting it land on its head.

"Things just keep getting better," Shinigami said to himself and wiped the machete off on the bed covers. But then, he looked out the window again. Several zombies were slowly approaching the motel, half way across the highway, "like I said, things just keep getting better."

Shinigami charged out of the room and into the hall, yelling for the others to come right away. "People, we've got trouble, there's at least fifteen deadheads approaching, we can't let them get here, there could be more following them," he told them.

"I'll take care of that, I was always a pretty good shot," Salley told them and walked to the room Shinigami had just come from. She looked out the window, aiming her rifle, trying to get a target on the zombies that were slowly approaching.

"Now there's a big surprise. Anybody in public school has to be a good shot," Sam joked.

"Fuck you. While she's taking care of that, let's finish the check. This floor's empty, let's get the third floor checked, and then we can secure the hotel," Jake told them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Out of a third floor window, a zombie had been shot out, courtesy of Shinigami. "That take's care of him. Did you two find anything," he asked.

"No, I didn't see anybody," Ami told him.

"Me neither, I think this hotel's been cleared out," Jake told him.

"HIAYH!" Down the hall, Sam could be heard letting out a battle cry, and swinging his axe, making contact with something or other. "I got one," he yelled.

"Well get rid of it. We don't need these things stinking up the hotel," Shinigami yelled.

"I guess that clears out the hotel. Now what," Jake asked.

"We should board up the first floor windows. But first I think we need to make a stop at the lumberyard and pick up some boards. Jake, you, Sam, and Salley take one of the vans, and get some wood so we can board up the place. The little girl and I will stay here and make sure the place is safe, just leave is some supplies and a few boxes of ammo," Shinigami told them.

"Now hold it, we've been taking orders from you all night. Who put you in charge," Jake asked.

"Me, you guys don't know enough about this situation, but I do. The only thing a chain of command does in situations like this is get you killed. We need to spend our time preparing ourselves so we don't fucking die here. Just go get the damn wood, gas up the vans, do something, just don't stand around flapping your gums," Shinigami yelled.

"I think he's right, we need the wood. You and I are the strongest, and Salley can give us cover fire if we need it," Sam told him.

"...I suppose you're right. But we'll move the supplies in first, we might need a lot of room," Jake told them.

"Fine, Ami, go help Salley with cover fire. Don't shoot unless it staggers," Shinigami ordered as he set out back downstairs.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jake, Shinigami, and Sam charged outside, going over to the SUV's and began to unload armfuls of supplies, taking it back into the hotel and setting it in the lobby.

The three ran back and forth trips, carrying in everything. This continued for twenty minutes, before the three were done. "Allright, Salley, get down here and get ready, we're heading to the lumberyard," Jake yelled.

Salley came out two minutes later, carrying tow boxes of rifle and shotgun ammo with her. "Let's get there and get back here as fast as we can," she told them and hopped into the gray SUV.

"Right, we'll be back," Sam told them.

"Hold it, take these," Shinigami told them and handed each of them a walkie talkie and signal booster, "just in case," the told them.

"Well come on let's move it, the longer we stand around, the greater a risk we're putting ourselves it," Jake told them.

"We'll hold down the fort, just hurry the fuck up," Shinigami told them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Nothing was safe from the rampaging dead. Pet stores were broken into and the animals were eaten just like the people that were found were. Even the German Shepherds on the police force were treated like another snack.

The deserted streets were being filled with the undead, and the bodies of poor unfortunate victims that were caught. Nothing stopped them; it seemed like every time one was taken down, ten more would come to take their place. Moans of hunger and pain were heard throughout the entire city.

Cars and corpses had been scattered all over the streets. Building were burning, cars had exploded, and many zombies had been burnt to death. But no matter what, there just seemed to be no shortage of the undead, anywhere in the city.

A loud horn honking was sounded down the highway. Several of the undead slowly turned, only to be run over by an SUV, sending them flying, followed by another four zombies up ahead.

"Damn that was fun," the driver roared in excitement.

"Just keep your eyes on the road Jake, we don't want to crash," Sam told him as he road shotgun.

"That lumberyard is near here, somewhere or other," Jake told them and made a left turn.

"I hope so. I don't like the thought of Ami being left alone with only Shinigami to protect her," Salley told them.

"I wonder what that gothic bastard is doing right now," Jake asked them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"We're sorry, your call cannot be completed. Please hang up, and try your callat a later time."

"God damn it," Shinigami yelled and slammed the phone handle down into the carriage as hard as he could. In a fit of unadulterated rage, he readied his shotgun, and blasted the phone to pieces.

"Um, Mr. Shinigami," Ami spoke up.

"What the fuck is it you brat," he yelled and turned to face her, pure evil appearing in his eyes. A look of fear appeared on her face. Never before had she been so scared in her life, not even when she had been attacked in the graveyard. "I, I'm sorry. I've just been trying to reach my mom, but I can't get her, and I'm worried," he told her, "now, what were you saying?"

"I think there's more zombies coming this way, I could hear something outside," she told him as she shook in terror, still recovering from the rage she had seen.

"Just great, you stay here, I'll deal with them," he told her. Two new shells were placed in the shotgun, which was soon re holstered. Shinigami then took the 12 gauge he had picked out earlier, and loaded it with the red shells.

Shinigami stepped out of the motel, trying to see whatever was moving around outside. "If you're dead, moan once," he yelled. A collective groan had sounded, followed by the sounds of footsteps and feet shuffling about. "Stupid question," he said to himself. He removed a flashlight from his coat, and turned it on, shining it in the direction that the groans had come from.

Ten zombies were slowly approaching. Some of them were fresh, while others had an advanced case of decay happening. "Terrific, old school meets new school." Shinigami raised the 12 gauge and fired, taking the head off of one zombie. In less than seven seconds, he had taken out a total of five zombies, but now realized he had run out of ammo.

"Stupid dead pricks couldn't 've attack in neat lines could they? They just had to be mindless zombies," he said to himself as he reloaded the shotgun. He unloaded another four rounds, before all of them had stopped coming. "That's weird, I could've sworn there was another corpse around here somewhere," he said to himself.

A loud, terror filled scream erupted from the motel, followed by several shots of gunfire. Shinigami dashed be inside, seeing that the one zombie that he had missed, was staggering towards Ami, who was shooting at him with her rifle, blowing multiple holes in his chest. "Shinigami help me," she screamed.

Shinigami raised his shotgun, but put it down, the scatter of the buckshot would seriously hurt her. Instead, he tackled the zombie to the ground, and switch over to Dove on his back, holding it down. "Get me a hammer, now," he ordered.

Ami reached into the supply pile and took out a straight claw hammer and gave it to him. Shinigami bent down, pulled back, and hit the zombie in the back of the head, resulting in a metallic pang. "Guy must've had a metal plate put in his head," he theorized.

Shinigami cast the hammer aside and grabbed the zombie by the shoulders, throwing it out the door. He readied his shotgun, approaching the zombie, and holding the barrel, mere inches from its face. "So long." The blast tore the head to pieces, ripping it off the rest of the body.

"These things are getting annoying. I've got an idea, Ami, give me a beer bottle and a lighter. We're gonna have ourselves a little bonfire," he told her.

"What're you going to do," she asked as she brought him the requested equipment.

"I'm gonna set these things in a pile, and burn them to ashes. And if more come along, I'll throw them on the pile too," he told her and dragged the corpse along with him.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Shinigami had gathered up all of the corpses in the parking lot, and made a makeshift pile out of them. "Heh he heh, I love barbecue," he said to himself and doused the pile with the beer, leading a small trail several feet away. "Let there be light." He turned on the lighter, and carefully, lit the trail of beer, setting the piled of zombies ablaze in a huge bonfire.

"That'll light up the place for sure," Shinigami laughed in a crazy way, "must've been a really high proof," he said to himself and walked back to the motel. "That oughta make it easier to see any deadheads that come this way."

As if on cue, the groan of a deadhead could be heard from behind the two. They turned, and saw a zombie, slowly approaching them, its arms outstretched. "Must've gotten in through the back doors," Shinigami said to himself. He readied his shotgun and fired, but nothing happened. He suddenly realized that he hadn't reloaded the ammo. "I'll take care of that later," he said and cast it aside, as he drew his machete, ready to go melee.

"Come and get me you maggot ranch. Nice, fresh, seasoned meat right here. Not too old, not too young, just right, USDA prime," Shinigami taunted and slowly made his way out the front door. The zombie began staggering toward him, leaving Ami along entirely.

Shinigami made his way to the bonfire and made it within four feet of it. As the zombie got closer, he maneuvered around, and delivered a hard kick to the chest, knocking the zombie into the fire. "How do you like that? How does it feel being roasted," Shinigami asked sarcastically.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Finally, I thought we'd never get here," Jake sighed in relief, finally reaching the lumberyard. Jake threw the SUV into park and everybody got out, only then realizing what they were up against.

Twenty, thirty, maybe even forty zombies were in and around the lumberyard. "Crap, this isn't good," Jake said to himself, "okay, Salley, if those things get too close, shoot them. We'll get the wood and then we'll get out of here," Jake told them.

"Gotcha," she told him and cocked her rifle. Jake and Sam began piling precut lumber into the back of the SUV and onto the roof as well.

"I hope this stuff is strong enough to keep the windows and doors from being broken down," Sam said as he piled more boards into the back.

"They sure feel strong enough to me, nice and solid. What we need to worry about, is if the screws will hold them in place and not get ripped out of the walls," Jake told him.

The two men continued to go back and forth, carrying as much wood as they could, and depositing it in the back of the SUV, and on the roof. Salley continued to shoot what zombies she could see with the headlights on, hoping that there wouldn't be any rear attacks, otherwise they wouldn't have much luck. "How much longer," she asked as she continued to pick off more zombies.

"Not much, just a few more minutes and we should have enough wood," Jake told her. Salley took out two more zombies, before running out of ammo and needing to reload. Ten of the zombies slowly began to approach in a small group, moaning and groaning as they came closer.

"Hey Jake, I have an idea, help me pick up that pole," Sam told him and ran over to a large wooden pole, seven feet long, and eight inches thick.

"What've you got planned pal," Jake asked.

"You'll see, just help me pick up this pole," Sam told him. The two grunted as they picked up the heavy wooden pole, managing to keep a good hold on it, "now, help me lift it higher, and get in front of the car," Sam told him.

Though it seemed strange, the two managed to get this done. "Allright, you see what I'm getting at Jake," he asked.

"...Yeah, I think I do, on the count of three. One, two, three!" Both men threw the pole at the zombies, knocking them down like bowling pins.

"Allright, strike," the two yelled and high fived each other.

"Are you guys done yet? We've got to get back to the motel before it's too late,"

"Yeah, yeah we should have enough. Now we need to find a gas station and refuel. We can fill the cans in the back too, and use them for Molotov cocktails if we need to," Jake told them and got into the driver's seat.

"Hold on," Sam told him and pulled the straps down tight, securing the boards on the roof so they wouldn't fall off, "okay let's get the hell outta here," he told them and got into the SUV.

"Let's get back to the motel before that ass gets himself into anymore trouble," Salley told them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I don't think it was worth it, dragging those corpses around to the front and throwing them on the fire," Shinigami said to himself as he loaded a black ammo belt full of the red shells, and strapping it on in an over the shoulder fashion.

"Do you think the others are allright," Ami asked as she stood a few feet away from him.

"I dunno kid, I dunno. I tried contacting them, but I think they forgot to turn on their walkie talkies," he told her as he started loading up a second ammo belt. "We got the back door locked and barricaded, the windows are storm glass types, so those are pretty strong, and I think we only have to worry about guarding the front door. That is unless Nemesis is out there," Shinigami said to himself.

"Who," Ami asked.

"Nemesis, one of the enemies in "Resident Evil 3: Nemesis". He's one tough bastard, he can take hundreds of rounds of ammo before he dies, and even after he dies, he comes back tougher than ever," Shinigami explained.

"You, you don't think that we'll meet up with him do you," Ami asked nervously.

"I doubt it, genetic engineering is nowhere near as advanced as it needs to be to build that sorry bastard. And even if it was, there's no reason for him to come here," Shinigami told her, "even if he did, I could deal with him. In the game I've dealt some good amounts of damage to him, even with small time weapons."

"You have," she asked.

"Yeah...right up until he tore me asunder and danced on my remains. It looked like some kind of Russian jig or something like that," he told her.

Several bangs could be heard, coming from the front doors. Shinigami got to his feet, readying the pump action shotgun just in case. "Who is it," he asked. several groans were heard in response, "that's what I thought. Ami, guard the door, I'll deal with them on the outside. And remember, shoot at the head not the chest," he told her.

Shinigami moved a chair in the lobby over to one of the windows and slid it open, and jumped outside. He walked around to the front, and saw several zombies trying to break down the doors, but without much success. Each of them were in hospital gowns, and looked recently dead.

"Must be some that were infect from the gas," he theorized. He stepped out, making his way behind them, and whistled loudly, "hey boys, fresh meat! Come and get it, all you can eat for a buck and a quarter," Shinigami yelled. The three zombies turned and began approaching him, not realizing where they were being lead,

"There's gonna be some major splatter with these guys," he said to himself, almost grinning ear to ear in a sick smile.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

a loud shot rang out as one of the zombies flew back, landing on the bonfire, adding more fuel to it.

"Oh yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about baby, I give that a 8.5 out of 10 on the ol' "blood splat-o-meter", nobody's gonna top that," Shinigami laughed and quickly cocked his shotgun, ejecting the spent casing.

He quickly drew his machete and swung it, cutting the throat of another zombie, leaping back as its blood gushed out like it was water from a fountain. "Aw that's beautiful," he said to himself, before blowing the zombies head off, splattering skull fragments and brain matter all over the parking lot.

"And now for you," Shinigami said as he aimed his gun, and fired. The last zombie collapsed, its right leg had been blown right off, blood gushing out of the massive wound, spilling on the pavement. The zombie moaned and crawled towards Shinigami, only to get its left arm shot off as well, spilling even more blood.

"You fresh guys are sure big bleeders when you're punctured," Shinigami commented and readied his machete again. He swung hard, cutting through the zombie's skull and into the brain, killing it without much bloodshed from the most recent of the wounds.

"I really hate these fuckin' stiffs," he said to himself. He set down his weapons and began dragging one of the two corpses, and throwing it onto the pile, soon setting it ablaze, just like the others.

"And now you." Shinigami took the zombie by the one good arm, and pulled it as close to the fire as he could with setting himself on fire as well. "Hmmm, guess I'll have to improvise." Shinigami picked up his machete, and amputated the remaining arm, using it as a makeshift torch, and toasting the zombie.

As Shinigami was about to go back inside, a loud honking could be heard, as something pulled into the parking lot. And that could be only one thing.

"Dude, what's with the freakin' bonfire," Sam asked as he slammed the car door shut.

"It lights up the place, and we don't have to bother with finding places to stash the zombies after we eliminate them. Plus, it's fun as hell to do," Shinigami told him, "did you guys get the lumber," he asked.

"Plenty, and fifteen gallons of spare gasoline," Jake told him.

"Good, now let's board up the place and secure it for tonight. Then we'll see the cable's working so we can find out if there's any news on the situation," Shinigami told them and grabbed several boards and carried then into the hotel.

"Well, you heard him. Follow the asshole," Jake told them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

An hour had passed by; the windows had been secured very well. Boards were nailed and screwed into the walls, covering the windows securely. The back door had been locked, and boarded up, as well as barricaded.

The chain had been wrapped around the handles to the front door and locked with two heavy duty locks. Boards were nailed and screwed to the two doors, preventing them from being pushed open easily.

"Now what should we do," Sam asked.

"Help me push this front desk in front of the door," Shinigami yelled. Salley, Sam, and Jake went over and helped him push the desk in front of the door, helping barricade it and prove even more difficult to open. "Damn that thing is heavy. It's gonna take a lot to push that door open," Shinigami commented.

"Yeah, now what," Jake asked.

"I say we watch the boob tube and see how far this epidemic has spread," Sam announced.

"Now we just have to hope that the cable still works," Shinigami told them.

The five went to the second floor and went to one of the rooms, sitting down and turned on the TV. At first, there was only static on every channel. But then, a news program appeared.

"Attention, attention everyone in the state of Kansas. At approximately 4:40 P.M. today, an unknown chemical agent escaped when a tanker truck overturned. An estimated 3,000 citizens were quickly infected by some unknown disease and were admitted to the hospital. Some hours later, reports had been released that the infected, had turned into cannibals, as one of the patients killed a doctor by biting into his neck, shredding the jugular vein. A single nurse managed to escape, but just barely," the news reporter announced.

"Yeah, there's a fuckin' news break," Shinigami replied sarcastically, earning a loud "Shh" from everybody.

"These patients have escaped the hospital, and have, by now, possibly overrun all of Concordia. If you're a resident of Concordia, try and avoid these patients at all costs. They've been reported as having, flooded green eyes, and pale, gray skin. They're slow, and clumsy, and seem incapable of coherent speech, only capable of communicating through moaning," the reporter continued.

"This is horse shit, nothing but horse shit! We know those things are zombies, and these guys are trying to cover it up," Shinigami shouted and turned the TV off, "let's move the supplies up here, then we'll secure the halls and stairwell so we can get some sleep," he told them and walked out of the room.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Explain it to me again, why are we taking the supplies to the third floor," Salley asked.

"Because we're up higher, giving more time for safety if the place is breached by those creatures," Jake explained as they carried the last of the supplies upstairs to the third floor.

"Hey, where'd Shinigami go to," Sam asked.

"He said something about booby trapping the stairs for safety," Jake told him.

"Actually, it's already been taken care of. Right now there's approximately three or four thousand ball bearings scattered on the floor and stairs. Nobody's getting up here unless they can climb the walls," Shinigami told them.

"Ball bearings? Shinigami you're an evil bastard. Imagine if those things actually broke in and they started slipping and sliding around down there," Salley laughed.

"Yeah, yeah, now enough talk. It's almost midnight and we need our rest. It's too dark to see those things. In the morning we can search for survivors and see what we're fighting," Shinigami told them, "now, if anybody's hungry, get something to eat," he told them.

"After seeing the carnage that I've seen, I'm not hungry, I'm going to rest," Jake told them and laid down on the bed, not bothering to remove his shoes or anything.

"That sounds good, I'll see you in the morning," Sam told them and left, but not before grabbing a box of powdered sugar donuts and his axe.

"I think we'll turn in too," Salley told them. She grabbed a bag of nachos, and a box of granola bars, and left the room with Ami following, carrying the two rifles and two boxes of ammo.

"I hope those guys remember to lock their door," Shinigami said to himself and closed the door to the room. He locked the door, then sat down, leaning against it, clutching his shotgun.

"Hey Shinigami, why didn't you choose another room," Jake asked wearily.

"No reason, one room's as good as any other. Now get some sleep before I return the favor and club you," Shinigami told him.

"Whatever," Jake mumbled and threw a pillow at Shinigami's head.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The small group of survivors has survived the first few hours of this hell on Earth, but will they make it through the night? And if they do, what awaits them in the morning? Keep checking back to find out in the next installment, "Day Two".