Claire stared into the mesmerizing glow of the fire-pit and tried to lose herself in the strange, voiceless atmosphere that the even stranger "People" seemed to ooze from every pore. She had heard the capital letter in the word and, despite how diverse the nationality makeup of the group was, they acted like they were some sort of exiled nation of warriors out of a damned fantasy movie. It was weird and oddly comforting at the same time.
Achilles sat next to her, the thin blanket they shared barely better than the floor, slowly drinking the last of his stew. Xena sat on her other side, sharpening the blade of her hatchet with a small block of something dull, and stared off into space. Ajax and Athena sat on the other side communicating in sign language.
Then Athena stood and quickly began removing her armor. First came the shoulder-pads and chest protector. She was wearing a hard corset beneath her chest protector and that came off just as quickly. Athena stacked her arm- and leg-guards neatly beside her blanket. She was wearing a black, skintight, body-suit beneath her armor and it made her ass look great. She had a small bust, maybe slightly larger than an A-cup, but it only served to accentuate the slim, elegant lines of her body. There was a sense of strength, nobility even, about Athena that was not dimmed in the slightest when she began to slide the body-suit down.
"Uhm, what are you doing?" Claire croaked, looking away, directly into Achilles' stoic expression.
"Getting naked. Duh," Athena said quite cheerfully.
Claire heard Xena stand and turned to find that she was removing her armor now. So was Ajax... in fact, everywhere she looked people were getting naked.
"Come with me," Achilles said, standing and heading towards the stairs to the roof access room.
Claire stared at Achilles' back and tried to ignore the low moans that were beginning to come from every direction. Achilles led her back to the break room, at least she guessed that was what it used to be, which was empty except for the pair guarding the door. The scary duo didn't turn, just sat on either side of the door facing each other, and slowly ate their stew. Achilles headed towards a door lit up by a pair of glow-sticks at the base. They stepped into a small office, bare of furnishings, illuminated by a single stick. Achilles slid to the floor in the farthest corner of the room. Claire wrinkled her nose at the smell. She had never been in this part of the store and it smelled like someone had met a gruesome end here. There were several smears on the wall but oddly none on the floor.
"She died on her desk," Achilles answered her unspoken questions, "If you're careful then you can kill an aged Risen with little bloodletting. Sit."
Claire made a face but sat on the floor against the wall a few feet to his left.
"They should be done in an hour or so. Then we can go back," Achilles fixed her with a strange look, "Unless you'd like to sleep up here. I would have to as well though, because I vouched for you." Claire flinched involuntarily and Achilles' eyes narrowed slightly. "I will sleep in an opposite corner and I swear I will not harm you or allow harm to come to you."
Claire stared at the man with, she could tell by the way Achilles looked at her, a severely dumbstruck expression. It took a minute but eventually she regained enough brains to nod.
"I'd like to sleep up here then."
"I'll be right back," Achilles got to his feet, so quickly he had a spring in his ass, and was out the door in a flash.
Claire leaned against the wall, anxiety making her sweat just a little, and felt like she would have if she had been planning on sleeping with Achilles.
Ha! Wouldn't that just piss Mom off?
The thought of her mother, Claire prayed to God that she was dead and not a walking corpse, brought a spasm of pain to her. She clutched her stomach and started quietly sobbing. She had no idea how long she was on the floor crying but as soon as she stopped Achilles appeared. He carried cutout sections of rug under one arm and two sleeping bags under the other. Wordlessly, he set the rugs down in separate corners, away from the doorway, and placed the sleeping bags on top of them. Claire calmly crawled over to her own and rolled onto her back with her hands behind her head. She heard Achilles shuffling around and raised her head to see him removing his armor down to the body-suit. For some reason he left his boots on. For a second Claire's entire body tensed in reflexive fear but then Achilles sat on his own bedroll.
Once Claire's initial fright passed she was able to stare with lascivious intent at Achilles body. He wasn't as musclebound as Ajax but something about the swell of his muscles reminded Claire of a cat. Achilles was also almost perfectly proportioned.
Mmmm, he's yummy, she thought.
Then another voice was in her head, So one minute you think he's going to rape or kill you, maybe both, and then the next minute you're thinking about riding him like a pony! Let's not even mention how screwed up it is that you just cried. You're messed up in the head, you little bitch.
Claire winced, whenever she mentally whipped herself it was in her mother's voice, and Achilles spotted it even in the relatively dim light.
"What is it?"
"Oh," Claire scrambled for something to say, "I was just thinking... uhm, what were they doing back there?"
Achilles shrugged and turned on his side to face her, "They were having an orgy."
Claire's eyes went wide, "Really? Why?"
Achilles shrugged, "The custom started before we were one people. Shaka and I couldn't forbid sex so we restricted the times The People could indulge. Humans react funny to life-or-death psychological trauma. As long as birth control is used, and a secure location is available, then everyone is free to do as they will. Somehow it became a communal, almost ritualistic, thing."
"Wow. When was the last time?"
"About a month ago?"
Claire's mouth worked soundlessly for a minute before she could say a word, "You've been traveling for over a month? Where'd you come from?"
"That is a story long in the telling," Achilles said, his expression dark.
"Well, I do have that reservation at Spago's."
Achilles grinned, "Fair enough."
The warrior turned and stared at the ceiling for a minute before speaking.
"I was a cashier in a grocery store in Pennsylvania when it started. Some friends of mine, Shaka is the only one here, had thought something like this could happen and we were prepared. We gathered our families and friends at an industrial park." Achilles paused and she could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke again. "We took over the whole place, there were nearly three hundred of us at the time, but the entire state was tearing itself apart so no one noticed or even cared. We raided so many places, even a National Guard Armory thanks to an inside guy, for supplies and guns. We locked the park down when it started getting very unsafe to go anywhere. We had enough food for years and a water tower. It was a perfect place. At least that's what they thought."
This time the pause was longer and Achilles tone grew cold.
"Everyone agreed that there was no way that the zombies would get in and in a few years they would all just rot away. They said we could plant crops if the food situation got bad. We even had a small herd of milk and beef cows. Shaka and I though, had been talking about how dangerous the area was ever since the park was sealed up. There are... were tens of thousands of people per square mile all over that part of the East Coast. We noticed how Risen were attracted to human noise and how they'd follow in the direction of whatever caught their notice until they caught it. Or until something else distracted them. Shaka and I knew that it was only a matter of time before the park was surrounded by miles of Risen with the sole intent of getting into the park and eating us alive. We tried to convince them but it was like talking to a wall. My own parents wouldn't listen to me."
Achilles turned back to Claire and his eyes burrowed into her.
"We gathered ten others that believed as we did and locked ourselves away from the others in a building at the edge of the park. From the end of summer up until the end of winter we trained, we built, and we planned. When the time came, we escaped." Achilles closed his eyes, "It was worse than we thought. The town was filled with Risen. We barely escaped through the sewers to the treatment plant. Days later we were climbing out of the valley when we heard the explosions. We could only assume the park was overrun and everyone we knew was dead."
Achilles opened his eyes but this time Claire didn't think he was looking at her, "We traveled, during the day and mostly by bike, picking up worthy survivors here and there. We killed any that wanted to take what little we had."
Looking into those eyes, Claire could believe it easily.
"Most of the enclaves we've come across have been filled with decent people. Only a few have been run by colossal assholes who think they have inherited the planet. But good or bad, they all have one thing in common."
Now Achilles was looking at her, his eyes glittering with the eerie blue-green light of the room, and she felt uncomfortably aware of what she had done to survive.
"Deep down, no one wants to accept that everything's changed. Civilization as we knew it is over. There is no army coming, no miracle will be our salvation. It's up to us to save ourselves and our chosen people. The End Time has come and gone. So now you can lay down and wait to die or you can forge a new destiny from the ruins of the old. To forge one's destiny requires skill, determination, but above all else, it requires an unalterable bond with the truth of one's existence."
"I wanted to go back for my parents, as Shaka wanted to go back for his ex-wife and son, but down that path lay only death and we had an obligation to our people. That was our Truth then and we accepted it. It was not easy, but we did it. I've seen women sell themselves, gladly sell themselves, for the prospect of elusive safety and the comforts of a life they may never have again. I've seen men do the same... and some kill themselves because of it."
Anger crept into Achilles voice, "I have seen the strong prey on the weak and I have slaughtered them only to leave those too weak to accept Truth to die as well. I've watched them be eaten alive and done nothing. For they were not People and were undeserving of my sweat, my blood, and possibly my sacrifice."
Achilles ground his teeth as he watched her, "I know what you've had to do, Claire. I can see it in the way you talk, the way you flinch when a man reaches for you, but the way you carry yourself is far different from the two that came down here with you today. You can be strong, Claire. We can help you, but you must choose us. I can be your sponsor, and your trainer, to guide you along the path. We will be here for another day. You have until then."
It took Claire a few moments to think of something to say.
"Where are you going?"
"Texas for now. There are, or were, a few isolated groups of survivors. We'll feel them out but if no one has a solid plan then we're headed for Canada. Then Alaska if Canada is unsuitable.
"Alaska?"
"Low population density. Tough to live there but not having hordes of Risen coming at you every few months is a bonus."
"Did you guys start the mythological name crap before or after you left the park?"
Achilles' face went completely still, "After. I don't talk much, none of The People do, and it has tired me. Goodnight, Claire."
Achilles rolled over until his back was to Claire.
The Truth of my existence, huh? Claire thought as she rolled onto her back. Well, that's easy. I'm stuck in a small town hotel with a talking ape that likes to be The Man. I have to sleep with him if I want to keep a roof over my head and zombies off my ass. None of the locals, except Daisy, like me and they act like Richardson's been running things for years the way he has for the past year.
The other voice chimed in then, C'mon, you weak bitch, that's not the crazy bastard's 'Truth' and you know it. Just-
"I want to kill them all," Claire whispered and clamped her hand over her mouth.
Oh my god! It's true! Claire looked over at Achilles' back. Maybe I'm as crazy as he is.
Maybe he's not that crazy.