Paradise Within Hell
Season 1 – The Easy Road Doesn't Exist Anymore
Chapter 1
A noise I wished I would never hear bolted through my ears, startling me wide awake. I looked down at the fuel meter. The red arrow was now past the little E. "Well Lucic, looks like we're walkin' from here." I said as the truck rolled to a halt. His soulful eyes just looked up at me, like he knew it wasn't a good thing. We'd been driving for seven hours straight now and only stopped twice. We were both restless but we sure didn't want to leave the truck, not anymore.
I quickly checked the mirrors, making sure we were alone, and when I was sure the coast was clear I grabbed the overfilled backpack next to Lucic and reluctantly opened the door. A wave of Georgia heat hit me the second the door opened. It was only 8 A.M. but it was already above 90°. I'm not exactly sure why, but I took the keys from the ignition before getting out, not that I was going to ever use this truck again. I had already taken gas from three abandoned cars and used it all up. Didn't think it would last us very long but I did hope we might find somewhere safe by now.
I slowly got out of the truck, my legs seemed to take on the consistency of the pleather seats I had lived on for the last few days, but that's what I get for wearing shorts. My skin was sticky and damp with sweat. I could tell swamp ass was not far behind. Oh well, that was the least of my worries now. I slipped the straps of the thousand pound bag over my shoulders. Lucic was still sitting in the trucks passenger seat, starting to pant. "Come on boy, time to go." He just sat up. "I know, I don't want to leave it either but we got to go now." He finally got up and jumped off the seat and out of the truck.
We walked to the back of the bright red pick up where the trailer was attached. I carefully pulled down the large silver door to the trailer revealing my other two friends. Paille, my favorite horse, a large brown draft gelding from the ranch I used to ride at before the world went to hell was standing in the trailer, munching on straw.
I was the only one that could ride him, other than his owner, Becki. He was very shy around strangers, but he quickly warmed up to me. About a week ago, I was working at the stables, helping the owners get the horses ready to leave. Fuel was already hard to get and horses were going to be the renewed way to travel. Becki had three other horses with her and gave him to me. We had become good friends over the years and our families grew closer. Her brother ended up marring my aunt. It was almost creepy how well our families bonded. Anyways, Becki gave me Paille, his saddle along with a pair of saddle bags, some feed, and the trailer for him. The truck was my grandfather's that I had been using for a while. It might as well have been mine.
On the floor of the trailer was my other friend, Luna. She was an all-white German shepherd with golden eyes. She and Lucic grew up around horses, which I was grateful for, seeing as that's how we were going to be getting around. She stood up and wagged her tail at the sight of her brother Lucic, a long haired dark brown German shepherd with brown eyes. She got a bit jumpy when I hopped into the trailer and I was glad I had thought ahead and removed all but the name tags on their collars so they wouldn't jingle around and make noise. I quickly got Paille's saddle and saddle bags on. They, like my backpack were hardly able to close, they were so filled with stuff. I wasn't sure what I was going to need, and not being a light packer before, I sure as hell wasn't turning into one now.
Next to brush holder on the wall of the trailer was my empty gun, hanging by its strap. I grabbed it and quickly loaded it, then slung it around my shoulder and hopped on Paille. Before I left the trailer, I made a quick check, making sure I had everything. Gun, check, backpack, check, knife, I felt the sheath on my belt, check. Bow? Nope that was the only thing left and I was ready to go. Guns being a loud weapon, I kept quieter ones on me at all times just to be safe, like my knife and bow and arrows. Can't be too safe nowadays. My bow hung next to the now empty water bucket.
"Okay, let's go." Paille slowly walked out of the trailer and down the narrowing dirt road. Lucic followed on my left while Luna did the same on my right, keeping close but giving us enough room to move. Not wanting to look back at the truck and trailer, all that was left of home, I gave Paille a slight kick and we took off. We kept on going for a few hours, while the path narrowed down to nothing. We were surrounded by woods now and the sun was high in the sky. It was just after one but I was already thinking about where to spend the night. We hadn't come across survivors yet like I had hoped and really didn't want to sleep in the woods tonight. Not alone, even with my small furry family. The entire time we drove in the woods we didn't see anything to be worried about but I didn't want to take any chances.
Soon we came up to a clearing, where we could see the tall buildings of Atlanta, but I knew better then to hope it there was anyone left there. The first hour or so getting out of my home city was spent swerving around the newly raised bodies of rotting flesh and their left overs in the road. The cities were worse than any place else, so I turned Paille towards the hill in the opposite direction.
We slowly made our way up the hill and I could feel that Paille was getting tired under my weight and the weight of the supplies. Please let us run into people soon, I prayed as sweat ran down my face. Luna then ran ahead of me followed by Lucic. "Hey you guys, come back here." I said quietly. I pressed on Paille's sides, trying to get him to catch up with the dogs, but when I saw what they were after, I was almost wanted go throw up. Both dogs had their tails between their legs and were snarling at a mass bent over something rank smelling. Its hair was a sickly shade of red and its clothing was hanging off its body in shreds, revealing grayish skin, damp with what I could have only hoped was fruit punch. It was hunched over what had until recently been a Home Depot employee. A gaping hole in its torso was spilling its insides onto the ground and disgustingly, into the creature that hovered over its mouth. The creature was so consumed in its meal it never even moved as I dismounted Paille and approached it. I quickly readied my knife and slammed it into the top of the creature's skull, bringing its sad life to a more permanent end. I rammed the knife into the Home Depot employee's skull as well, just to be extra safe. After whipping the blade clean on a leaf, I put it back into its sheath, hoping I wouldn't have to take care of anymore of those creatures, those cannibals, those zombies, that had now taken over our world.
I walked beside Paille for a bit giving him a rest while I munched on a little baggie of dry cereal, wishing I just one drop of milk to go with it, but I had a feeling it was going to be a long time until I had milk again.
It was about three when the dogs once again ran ahead of me. Fearing another zombie would be just around the corner, I got my knife ready. I might have rather taken a zombie over what I found. In the grass between some trees were two people having sex about ten feet away. Not sure if I should disturb them or not, I backed behind a large tree in a bushy area and let them finish up. After a few minutes I couldn't take the moaning anymore. It was the end of the freaking world, why should I care if I should disturb them or not? I stepped on a dried out branch, snapping it in half making a loud cracking sound. Thankfully, it got their attention and so I didn't have to go up to them and break them up. The man quickly got up and zipped his pants back on while the woman buttoned her shirt up.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" I asked, trying to sound like I hadn't already seen them. The man walked over to us. He had short, curly black hair and dark brown eyes.
"Shane, who is it?" she asked following him. She had long wavy brown hair and light brown eyes. I took Paille's reins and went up to them. They were both clearly in their thirties and a bit weary of me.
"Who are you? Where are you from?" Shane asked me.
"My names' Lucy, Lucy Naila. I came from Charlotte, North Carolina." Lucic ran up to Shane and sniffed his hand. He quickly pulled it back, thinking he might get bit. "Don't worry they don't bite." I smiled down at Lucic. He was always so good around people.
"You road all the way from Charlotte?" the woman asked.
"No." I giggled politely. "My truck ran out of gas bout fifteen miles that way." I pointed towards the road that had so kindly led me to these other survivors.
"Did you get bit?" Shane asked me in a more aggressive tone. Not sure why he was getting angry with me I showed him my skin, which seemed to calm him down.
"No bites, no scratches, we're clean. Well, only in that sense." I said looking down at my mud covered boots and the dogs paws.
"Lori, what do you think?" She almost looked shocked that he was asking her opinion, must not happen often.
"She doesn't seem like a threat to me." She said.
"Okay. Camps' this way." he said taking lead.
"Camp? There's more?" I asked, almost thrilled.
"Yeah," Lori smiled at me "Over the last few weeks a bunch of us grouped together."
"Guess it's better that way. Safety in numbers." Shane said over his shoulder. I lead Paille with the two dogs at my side towards what I hoped could be a new home for us. I looked up at the now setting sun and thanked whatever god that was up there for helping me find these people.
Lori came up beside me and asked, "What's his name?" looking at my large steed.
"This is Paille." I said petting his nose. She did the same.
"What about them." she asked pointing to my goof ball dogs.
"The brown one is Lucic and the white one is Luna."
"Friendly?"
"Very. The both of them love people." Luna looked back at me, knowing that I was talking about her. "They're family. Even Paille here is family now."
"Is he not yours?" she asked.
"My friend gave him to me a little over a week ago. I've been riding him for a few years but when all this happened, I helped her and her family get out of dodge. She gave me him hoping he could be useful to me. Wouldn't have gotten here without him."
"Carl would love him." she said.
"Carl?"
"My son. We lost his father awhile back and he has been having a hard time dealing with it. Maybe having some animals around would cheer him up." I understood completely now, her and Shane. I wouldn't have to ask, and could save everyone from that awkward conversation, not that it was any of my business anyways, but I do like understand relationships between people. Makes everything easier.
"Yeah sure. If Carl would help me take care of Paille, he can ride him."
"Thanks." She smiled again. We rounded a few bushes and came upon camp. There were a few nice tents set up, a fire pit with chairs around it, a white van next to a dark gray jeep, a large RV and a motorcycle. A few people stopped and starred at us. I could understand why. A girl coming from the woods leading a huge horse and two dogs must look a bit odd. A man with a white hair, beard, mustache, and a gray fishing hat came up to greet us. I must have been beaming, seeing all these people. There had to have been at least ten, which might seem like nothing but when you haven't seen another living person in a few days, you become more than a little grateful to see ten of them.
He spoke with Lori for a moment then came up to me, "And who's this?" He held out his hand. His grandfatherly face was very trusting and welcoming.
"I'm Lucy Naila." I said shaking his hand. He looked up at Paille who towered over us. "Paille, Lucic, and Luna." I said preparing to do it a few more times.
"Nice looking family, you've got there. I'm Dale Horvath."
"Nice to meet you." I unbuckled the waist strap from my backpack before my back gave out.
"Oh here. I can put this in the RV until your all settled." he said taking the heavy bag from me. I wasn't sure he would be able to carry it, but he proved me wrong. He soon returned as I took the bow and gun from around my shoulders. "Well, you sure are prepared."
"Can't be too careful I guess." I rubbed some more sweat off my forehead. My shirt was covered in sweat stains and I was almost embarrassed, but when a little boy and girl came up to me, also covered in the stains, I didn't care.
"Carl and Sophia." Dale said putting a head on each of the children's head. They were very intrigued with my animals and I felt like the center of attention. "Dale, is there anywhere I can wash them and myself off?" I asked referring to my mud covered feet and pets.
"Down that dirt path is a lake at the bottom of the quarry."
"Thanks, I'll meet everyone else once I am cleaner."
"Can we come?" Carl asked.
"Is it okay with your mother?" I asked taking off Paille's saddle.
"It most certainly is." Lori said coming from a near tent. "Sophia, your mother says it's okay too. Come on, I'll take you." We followed her down to the very blue lake and once we reached the water, the dogs and I jumped right into the refreshing water. It felt so nice and cool on my aching back. The dogs swam while the two kids and I brushed and washed Paille. Carl seemed to enjoy himself with the animals. He even laughed at Lucic when he ran up to Carl and shook water all over him.
When we got back up to the camp, I tied Paille to a tree in the center of camp in a nice grassy area. The kids played with the dogs while I met the other survivors. I met Jim the mechanic, Carol and Ed Peletier, Sophia's parents, a few others, and a very nervous blonde named Amy, who's sister was with some people from the group in the city, savaging.
It was starting to get late when were heard a car alarm going off. It was coming closer and people were starting to freak out, not knowing what it was and the fear that the sound would lead some zombies to us. The red sports car parked next to the RV and a smiling Koran kid wearing a baseball cap named Glenn jumped out. Amy ran over to him asking about her sister while Dale and Shane yelled at him to turn the alarm off. Jim finally pulled the alarm plug, silencing the car. Shane and Dale bickered with the kid about being more careful when a white construction truck parked behind the sports car. Out came another blond that ran up to Amy and hugged her. A Hispanic man named Morales got out fallowed by a black man called T-Dog and, no way!
"Jacqui!" I yelled running up to give her a hug.
"Lucy is that really you?" She said pulling me close. "Girl, where's your family?" I just shook my head at her, and she quickly got the message. "Well, least you made it." she said with tears in her eyes, pulling me into another of her motherly hugs. We walked back to the RV when I looked over to where Lori was trying to calm down an upset Carl when another man in a cop uniform emerged from the truck. Carl run as fast as his legs could carry him up to the man, yelling "Dad!" the whole way with Lori not far behind. They all pulled into a family hug that included tears. Shane looked just as shocked as Lori with this man's return, which almost seemed like a bad thing.
We all sat around the fire after dinner, listening to Rick's story of how he survived and made it back to his family. Andrea, Amy's sister came up to me, offering me a place to sleep in their tent, which I gladly accepted.
Once Rick finished his story Glenn asked, "So, what's your story Lucy?" Everyone looked at me waiting to hear this one.
"Well, back in Charlotte, I worked in a PetSmart. When we got hit with the whole zombie thing, my family decided to bunker down and wait it out. Guess what-, bad idea. We got split up on the way out of Charlotte in this massive traffic jam. I had my grandfather's truck with the horse trailer and was able to get out of the jam so I came south. I wasn't really sure where I was heading. I guess I was going towards the CDC where we all were heading, but it's too dangerous to head into the city so I stayed to the outskirts of towns till I ran out of fuel and rode Paille here."
"Risky move." Glenn said.
"Yeah but it lead me to more survivors."
"How do you know Jacqui?" Amy asked.
"I used to babysit her and her younger sister when they were little, back in North Carolina." Jacqui said. The group talked about some guy that got left behind in Atlanta named Merle Dixon and how they would tell his brother about it. From what everyone was saying, the Dixon brothers sounded like trouble and I sure wasn't eager to meet them.
When we went to bed I checked on Paille before heading into the tent where Amy had found me another cot, pillow, and an extra blanket. My backpack and the saddle bags were already at the foot of the cot, waiting for me. Lucic hopped on my legs while Luna crawled under the cot to sleep. "Thank you guys for everything." I said to the girls.
"Always glad to see a new face." Andrea said before turning off the lantern. "Night everyone."
"Goodnight." Amy and I both said. I laid back on the cot and thought about everything. I felt so safe here in this pocket of people, in the middle of the end of the world. I did feel the gnawing thought of the loss of my friends and family, but dismissed it right away. There was no need to grieve now, not yet. Grieving can be done when we are completely safe, when the constant threat of death is no longer nipping at our feet. I was safe for now with these people and my animals, that's all I need.