3/9/09 UPDATE: So for those of you seeing this story for the first time, welcome. My goal with it is to provide some extensive back-story for the four principle characters, as well as to create an awesome version of the zombie apocalypse. Please at least read the introduction and chapter 3 if you are unsure as to whether or not you want to read the whole thing; but if you couldn't care less about the back-story and just want to get to the downfall of humanity, just skip to chapter 6. Most importantly please, please, please review, feedback makes my poor little soul tingle with happiness.
It was the end of a hot day in downtown DC, the setting sun baking the tarmac. The Mall, usually packed with tourists heading back to their hotels, was almost empty. Only a few people remained at the Lincoln memorial, taking a few final pictures of the brilliant sunset before escaping in to the metro. One figure, lounging on the steps of the memorial, quietly smoked a cigarette and stared out over the reflecting pool. He was dressed in a worn, olive green uniform, devoid of decoration save for an American flag patch sewed to the shoulder. On his shorn white hair, he wore a beret the same color as the uniform. He continued to gaze out over the Mall as the sun continued to set, lights flickering to life along the reflection pool and in the memorial.
A lone figure came jogging along the side of the pool. She was a collage student, dressed in shorts and a Georgetown tee, with her hair tied in a neat ponytail. She reached the stairs of the memorial and took a long drink from a water bottle. She sat a few feet away from the veteran, occasionally glancing at him. They sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound coming from the old man as he lit a second cigarette. Finally, the girl turned to the man;
"Beautiful evening, isn't it?" The veteran grunted in reply.
"I've seen you out here a lot when I go running. I- I'm Zoe." The man turned, and, with the look of one resigned to a conversation replied:
"Bill. Do you run for a team?"
"I run cross country for Georgetown."
"Hmm." He stared out over the Mall and took a long drag from the cigarette. "How long do you got to run for that? Two miles, three?"
"Five K." she too looks out over the mall, pausing to look over at the Vietnam memorial. "I- I don't want to seem… prying, or anything, but- I always see you out here, all alone, usually wearing that uniform. Do you- live somewhere? I know someone at the Washington VA, and they could set you up with an apartment…"
The old man chuckled softly,
"Don't worry kid. I have a place to live, and more then enough money to own other clothes. I just feel more comfortable sitting at this beautiful little spot in these fatigues then I do sitting home in sweats. Thanks for asking though. I know many of my old friends aren't doing as well I am."
A look of embarrassment flashed over Zoey's face.
"Oh well good, I was just afraid you were homeless, or- or something." She said haltingly. "Ill just get going-"
Bill smiled; "It was good to meet you Zoey, really. Don't be a stranger."
Zoey laughed in a slightly relieved tone "Ok then, I'll- I'll see you later"
She got up and quickly took off into the rapidly gathering dusk. Bill chuckled again as he watched her go, then took another long drag of his cigarette. As his eyes wandered over the mall, they came to rest, as Zoey's had, on the Vietnam memorial. He looked at emptily if for what seemed like hours, his mind taking him to another time. Finally, as the moon began to creep into the sky, he got up and, with a sigh, walked off toward the metro.
