THE COLT AND THE DEAD

Chapter 1. The Boring Life

(The italic part of the story is dedicated to the original zombie horror flicks!)

Well what can I say about my life here in America. Every day is a long stretch of dullness in which nothing really seems to happen. Couldn't care-less. I just like to sit back and watch all the little fools run around with their busy lives and stupid errands. My name is Charlie or Charlene. I am average sized, in every form, and a brunette. I am pretty but not glamorous enough to get noticed. I am sitting in the back of my class room watching the teenagers acting like kids.

"Okay class," Mrs. Harpwell shouted,"the bell has rung! We need to start class." No-one listened to her or the ringing bell. She pulled out her whistle and I covered my ears. She blew as hard as she could. Everyone shut up instantly and looked at her."Now class," Mrs. Harpwell began her lesson on the double helix. I just sat and listened. I watched several of the kids sneak papers around and other things that should be kept discreet.

The lunch bell rang, and not a moment too soon. Half the class was asleep, even Mrs. Harpwell was tired of being heard. The class ran out in a rush of fury as if they were on fire! I waited for a bit, then left. As I was walking down the hall to the lunch room I heard someone yell my name.

"Charlene! Charlene!"I turned around to see Leslie. She was a beautiful girl, in her own way. She tended to get on my nerves, but I never complained. I paused and turned around to see her running towards me. I gave a low, disgruntled moan and waited.

"Hey Charlene, how's my lil' goth girl doing?"

"Fine. How's the blonde going?"I asked with a little bit of annoyance.

"Great! Are you going to the party tonight? It is supposed to be a blast!"

"No thanks. I have other things to do. If, you don't mind." I caught her trying to go through my backpack. She is so noisy, but then who isn't. "Sorry, just looking to see if anything out of place." I rolled my eyes as she went on to talk about my look and how PETA is the bomb! I can understand about animal rights, but the way she talks about it makes me wonder about her.

I got in line to et my usual chili cheese fries. I didn't know why, but it was the only thing in school that I could stand to eat. It was actually good. Leslie got her salad and milk. She was a vegetarian to help save the animals. A humane thing to do, just surprised she's actually doing it. I grabbed the nearest seat I could. Leslie sat down next to me. I couldn't make out half of what she was saying. Out of now where someone pulled on my hair!

I turned to see Roberta. She was a nice person, when it suited her. Otherwise she usually beat me up for laughs. Hard to believe we were friends. She sat as far away from Leslie as possible. They couldn't stand each other and would probably kill each other if left alone.

The day went on and I pretended everything was normal. Roberta told me she'd by later to go over homework. I walked down my street and watched a group of kids. They were huddled around something. I didn't really care, except for the gnawing bit of curiosity that took hold of me. I looked over one of the boy's shoulders and saw a person. She was on the ground and looked like she had been bitten! I just shrugged my shoulders, and figured it had to do with the dalmatian next door. I walked on as the ambulance turned the coroner.

I made it home without anyone yelling my name. I went into my bedroom and looked around. No-one was home. The only sign of life was the letter on the fridge. 'Pasta in the bowl. Be home at 8:00.' They went to the casino again. We were gonna fall into debt soon if they kept going. I fell on my bed and allowed the letter to fall on the ground. I opened my window and looked at the graveyard. The only thing I liked about my home was how close we were to the graveyard.

It was a grim site for most, but I enjoyed it. I got up and walked to my bathroom. I got the master bedroom, because my mom was afraid of having a site of the graveyard. It didn't bother me. I turned on my shower and made sure the water was warm. I walked back into my room to get a change of cloths.

I sat in the moving chair and looked at myself in the mirror. My pale complexion, from the make-up, and the dark eyes, mascara and eye liner. I liked being a gothic, it was entertaining. Even if my mom didn't like it. I opened my drawer and pulled out a black shirt and black jeans. I saw my hidden tongue ring. I had to hide it so Tammy could wear it at her prom. I didn't have enough courage to get a piercing myself, but always thought of getting my hand pierced. I also didn't have enough courage to tell Tammy, or anyone else, no. If I did, I wouldn't be in trouble so much. I sighed and looked out my window.

I saw a lady and her husband carrying flowers. They walked to 'OLD MANNY'S' gravestone. I had paid several visits the graveyard and knew the gravestones very well, at least the names. The husband was in his mid thirties and had look of tiredness on his face. His wife was thine, with a long neck, and was around the same age. I sighed and went into my bathroom to take my shower.

"Bert," Darla yelled at her husband,"We need to get going. If you wanna make your party at the Cheveller's. "But honey,"Bert moaned," do we have to be here. She was an old hag that no-one ever liked anyway." "That's besides the point. She deserves our respect!"

Bert never liked Manny. She was his wife's mother who did nothing but make their lives miserable. She yelled and complained every second of the day. He would give anything to be the one who killed her. To bad the burglars got to her first. Darla made them take her in and take of her during her last years of life.

They walked up to the gravestone that marked Manny's final resting place. "Okay," Bert muttered," lets hurry up and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps." "Just a second, Berti." Bert squinted his eyes at the sound of Berti. Manny used to call him that.

'Berti boy! Where's my food. How dare you make an old woman starve to death in this retched place!' Bert would give her her food and listen to her complain about him, of all things. He had to do everything for her. No matter how foolish or demeaning it was.

He sighed at the thought. Darla stood up and said a little prayer. "Are you done yet, honey?" Darla fell into shock at he sight of something in the distance. "Bert!" She grabbed his arm. "Whats that?" Bert narrowed his eyes to see the distant image."It's just a man. He looks hurt. Stay here, honey."

Bert walked up the hill to see the man. The man was tall and very pale. He couldn't be no more than twenty or so. He was thin and looked handsome enough."Sir, Sir! Are you all right? Sir!" The young man just moaned and collapsed. Bert ran over to him. The young man had been bitten by something. Bert turned him over and saw into his vacant eyes. He was dead, he had to be. Bert sighed and closed his eyes. The man got up and bit him.

Bert screamed and pulled his arm free of the man. He watched the young man slowly get up. Bert was at a loss for what to do. He heard his wife screaming from fear. He ran down to her quickly."We need to get out of here Darla!" They ran to their car and saw a few more walking around the streets. They got in and rushed as far away as they could get!

Charlene didn't hear anything that happened. Her shower was on and that covered the screams. She got out in thirty minutes. She felt relaxed and refreshed. She got dressed and went into the living room. She turned on the television and saw a news report talking about zombies or something like that."Another horror flick. Hm...Oh well." She changed the channel and kept finding similar things on. She put on her favorite DVD, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy's Revenge. She loved to watch the idiot kids get killed, over and over again. She looked at the clock on her wall and saw that it was 7:45. Roberta wasn't there yet. "Oh well. Maybe she'll be here tomorrow." She went on watching her DVD and waiting. Waiting for anyone to show up.