"PH 3674." My mom repeated, gazing at the small index card in her hand.
I squatted down and closely examined the extensive shelf of small orange boxes. "I see 3607..." I reported glancing up at her.
She shook her head and pulled out her glossy, black iPhone; her last resort. I sighed heavily and stood back up.
Two men with round stomachs and long, saggy faces waddled into the aisle. I gave them a small glance as my only acknowledgement.
"Hey, are you sure you needed a 3674?" My mom spoke into the phone.
It was Saturday night, seven thirty. Instead of wasting my time on my laptop, I was stuck at Wal-Mart searching for some type of filter for my mom's 2002 Suburban. None of the letters and numbers made sense but I searched for that little orange box.
The two men were browsing for oil, I was sure, when I caught them standing awkwardly facing us desperately trying to find a spoke to cut into our conversation.
We were hopeless, we looked hopeless. Three girls; a 42-year-old, a 17-year-old, and a 14-year-old in a men's aisle at seven thirty at night just screamed, "We're lost."
I assumed we weren't going to be here long; I was sure wrong. I hadn't gotten the time to apply any makeup (which bothered me greatly) or have the decency to change out of my pajamas.
"What are you looking for?" One of the two men, gripping a McDonald's cup in his hand, inquired.
"Oh, a filter for our car but we're not having any luck finding the right one..." My mom told them holding her phone away from her mouth.
"What type of-" That's all I heard until...
Clack-clack-clank!
The sharp, clacking of wood (or bones; wood sounded more realistic.) pierced the air that made me pause. The noise was almost faded and I could tell from where I was standing, it was aisle away from ours.
I looked at my mom, who was in deep conversation with the man. She showed no sign, or acknowledgement that she had heard that. No one had any reaction if they had heard it!
I shook my head slowly as if riddening it from my mind when-
Clack-clack-clank!
There is was again! And no one else heard it!
What's that old saying? I wondered nervously. Three times and you're crazy? I listened fearing it would come again but to my thankful surprise, it didn't.
I exhaled slightly and banished it from my mind.
"There." The man holding the McDonald's cup exclaimed, jabbing his pudgy finger at some small text in a book I was holding. I hadn't even realized I had picked it up; I hadn't realized I actually picked it up. "They are all 3607." He ran his finger a long a time of numbers that were identical: 3607.
"Could they have changed the number?" My mom questioned.
"That's possible..." -clack-clack-clank!- "...how likely it is though."
I physically sagged in defeat and annoyance. I silently offered out the book to the man who took it gladly and carried on explaining.
"I'm going to the bathroom." I murmured into my mom's ear. She approached with a quick nod. I hurried off, searching for the source.
The particular aisle we were at was in the far right-hand corner of the warehouse that made up Wal-Mart.
Clack-clack-clank!
I strode hastily down the back aisle of the store. It was getting louder and louder as I past more empty aisles. I quickened into a steady jog. I peered into one aisle and I halted, immobilized. My jaw fell.
In the middle of the bathing aisle with the scented goodies I enjoyed so, two being were present. One of them had a broad, shiny forehead that extended past it's nose and hid its eyes. It had a dark maw full of sharp teeth, oozing with saliva. It's entire, slender body was wrapped in a skeletal, bone-like suit. It was in an awkward, low crouch, it's long arms slouched over its knees and leaned against its shoulder was a white scythe with a rather dull blade. The second and final being was lying on its side, its arm resting on its folded knee. It was consumed in a thick, spiky coat of fur and a narrow, dog-like skull with sharp ears.
The strange beings were enjoying some type of... game. Both beings tossed down in the space between them what appeared to be tiny wedges of wood, pasty white bones, and small metal chips.
"Aha! That's another win!" The eyeless being hissed with a hollow voice. The second hair-covered being growled. "Heh, heh, heh." The eyeless being chuckled, gathering its loot.
My mouth gaping, adrenaline prickling every air on my arms and legs quivering, I managed a low, hushed shriek.
The two being head's snapped to face me and I almost collapsed in fear. The eyeless being sprung up and armed itself with its scythe, grasping it tight in his fist. The fur-covered being's hair stood straight as it moved into a tense stance.
"Are you a zombie?" The eyeless being snapped hastily, slinking closer.
"A z-zombie?" I could barely pronounce the word; or move my lips.
The eyeless being nodded quickly. "You do know what a zombie is right?" The being inquired in an almost amused voice.
"Yes." I mumbled. "But they're not re-real."
"Not real?" The eyeless being bellowed. I flinched and began to shake and my stomach knotted. The fur-covered being snarled, licking its fangs.
Then the eyeless being wailed with laughter. "Where have you humans been the last couple hundred years?" It threw its head back, laughing hysterically.
That's when I began to shake violently, gasping for breath.
"You are completely unaware of what's happening around you! Isn't that right, Hiemon?" The fur-covered being barked in approval.
"What?" I gasped.
"Look doll-face; no one can see or hear us except a few. And no one can see the treachery your world is undergoing! Except that few." It's gaze fell on to me, I think. "You should be honouring us for all the work and breath we put into protecting your world."
"Protecting from what?" I whispered.
"The zombies! Zombies can see us; so can the Zombie Slayers!" The fur-covered being "Hiemon" roared.
"It's an equal match really." The eyeless being added with a dangerously light tone. "Though, its hard to tell who are zombies and who are Zombie Slayers. From my perspective now... you could be either."
"How do you know?" I murmured.
"You can't tell. We can. Zombie Hoarders is an acceptable name you could call us." The eyeless being spoke. "But if you really want to know, we'll tell you."
I didn't utter a word. My throat was dry as bone.
"What do you think, Hiemon?" The eyeless being asked leaning against his scythe for support. The fur-covered being sat on its hunches and studied me. "Zombie? or Zombie Slayer?"
The beings stood in silence, observing me.
This is a dream. I told myself. None of this is real! They're not there. They're only fragments of my imagination.
"Zombie Slayer. I reckon..." The "Hiemon" hissed.
"I do agree. But it's hard to tell..." Then the familiar footsteps of my mom tapped in the distance, increasing in volume. "Alyssa?"
"Looks like our time is cur short..." The two beings resumed their previous positions. "If your interested, please do come back. It gets awfully boring waiting for hundreds of years for a zombie or Zombie Slayer to come walkin' past."
I swallowed, my face pale.
"Oh, the names' Rem by the way. And I know how curious humans can get." Rem cocked his head and chuckled and then the two demonic beings resumed their deadly game...