Chapter 10

"Come on!" screamed Travis with an outstretched hand. He was standing in the back of a flatbed semi holding a large automatic weapon. Kate was starting to drive the giant truck away. I ran a little bit faster, and I eventually jumped to grab Travis. When he got hold of my hand he swung me around and I rolled onto the flatbed. I picked up a rifle that was lying on the truck and took aim.

Kate was driving the truck towards the interstate. We were hoping it would be less congested, seeing as how everyone was dead. We were wrong. People were dead, but their bodies lined the cemented path ext to the abandoned vehicles. Kate had to slalom these cars, but in doing so she ran over a number of bodies. This didn't bother us anymore as we were used to the constant death. There was not a single zombie walking these roads, which made the trip a little bit easier. There was nothing left for them to feast on except for us, and we didn't plan on stopping anytime soon. We were headed for the nearest military base.

The next day I just stood out on the roof and watched. I just watched the zombies and tried, like I always did, to imagine it was something different. This was a video game. This was a movie. This was a story in a comic book. This was just a dream. I tried to make myself believe in something that wasn't true at all. I'm still home in my bed with my family just down the hall. Sometimes the method works, but there's no denying that I'm stuck where I am. This thought always filled me with regret and made me utter a loud sigh.

The door to the roof creaked open, and Travis popped his head out like he was looking for something. He spotted me and motioned for me to follow him. I followed him all the way down to the main entrance. On the way there I could hear a tune being hummed. It was both jolly and sadistic at the same time. The sound made you shudder with fear, and it caused your hairs to stand. We came to the front doors that were blocked by the movie stands. Travis ducked to hide himself, so I took cover as well. I peeked around the corner to see what was making the noise.

Amanda was facing the doors and moving very strangely. She was still humming that tune, and she seemed to start posing. I was confused, but Travis tried to explain.

"She's been doing this for hours," he whispered. "She's modeling for the zombies. Mike...we both knew that this was going to happen eventually. She's just...she's..."

"What?" I asked, even though I knew what he was saying.

Travis looked down before responding. "She's lost her mind. Mentally she's just not there anymore. I don't know what it is. I'm no doctor. She goes on and off between Amanda and this person who doesn't know us. I've tried talking to her once in this state of mind, and she acted as if she didn't even know who I was."

"Yah...I've been noticing some changes lately." I said while still staring at Amanda. "I thought that something like this would happen. I just wish it didn't have to. I...I don't really know what I can do. I can't change her..." I took a long pause and just shook my head. "What about Kate?"

Travis looked up at me. "She seems to be fine. She's figured out some way to block out this whole thing. It's amazing. She's in one of the theaters if you want to have a look. I can keep an eye on Amanda for you. I know you'll be back for her."

I nodded before standing. I went down the hall towards the theater where noise was coming from. I walked into the dark room and heard cheery music playing. Kate sat in the middle of the theater alone. The film was some sort of love story. I noticed that Kate was speaking along every word with the characters on screen. She had memorized this one front to back.

I sat down next to her and watched the movie with her. She hit every word flawlessly. I didn't say anything to interrupt her. I just sat silently until the movie came to an end. When the credits began to roll, she finally looked towards me and smiled. I tried to smile back, but I could tell I failed miserably. There was something about her that bothered me deeply at that point. I don't know what it was that made me uncomfortable, but her eyes just bothered me. I think it was because of the fact that she was not bothered by anything.

"How's it going, buddy?" she asked a little too chipper.

"It's...going." I said. "Been outside lately? Have you gotten any fresh air?"

She laughed deeply. "Outside? Why would I want to do that? Going outside just reminds me of the situation we're in. If I stay inside, away from the windows all day long, then this is all one giant slumber party as far as I'm concerned." She sighed and paused to take a drink from a water bottle. "Might as well, right? This is the last party we're ever going to have."

I stood up after talking a bit more and headed back into the hall. Travis left when he spotted me, and I got a chance to watch Amanda. She was still putting on a little show for the audience. She was dancing around to a tune that wasn't playing. She wasn't humming any longer, but every now and then she'd let off some short noise as if she were really getting into it. I eventually stood up and made my way over to her. I wanted to talk to her. I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned slowly to face me, but her expression was blank when our eyes met.

"Hey, mister...you ruined my performance!" she said while putting her hands on her hips.

"Amanda..."

"And how do you know my name? I'm not supposed to talk to strangers...go away!" she said before I could say anymore. I tried to say something, but she kept interrupting me. "I don't know you! Leave me alone or I'll tell my parents on you!"

All I could do was walk away. Her mind had gone way back to when she was a child. It must be some sort of defense to this. Her mind has gone back to when she wouldn't even know what a zombie was. I was glad that part of her still existed, even though it would also soon fade away.

I turned to look as Kate stepped out of the theater and stretched. Travis was nearby, and the two of them walked down the hall hand in hand. Kate rested her head on his shoulder and followed him into a room at the end of the hall. I smiled because I was happy for them, but I frowned knowing that I might never feel like I was loved again. Watching Amanda was breaking my heart so I turned around and headed off to sleep...alone.