Phoenix's Story
Run rabbit, frightened as you are;
Run rabbit, before I leave a scar --Phoenix
Ouietly, they walked up the long and tiring gravel hill. Eddie, Benoit, and Cerrita wer speaking softly between each other, while Jericho and Phoenix fell behind.
It was Y2J who broke the silence. "So, what exactly happened to this town? I mean, how did you survive all this time?" Phoenix was silent. "Its alright. I know it must be hard to talk about it."
"Yes, it is, very," she answered, her voice almost a whisper. "But it not that. Its-- Many asked. I never told. Anyone. Even Cerrita, what my story is."
He put an arm around her waist; she didn't protest as he drew her closer to him. "You can tell me. I'll keep it a secret."
"Very well. I suppose I should tell someone. It may ruin me if I don't."
Phoenix and her brother, David, were in her tan Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra, driving to the school. It was a Monday, always a bad day for her. Suddenly, the engine died, as the car turned onto the next avenue.
"Shit," she said, getting out of the car along with David. Snow began fall, dotting Phoenix's hair with white specks. "Let's go get that bitch, Officer Whittworth."
"Maybe we should call Dad, he doesn't work today," her brother whined; he was fourteen. Phoenix began to dial on her cell-phone.
"Dad has other things to do, besides," she put down the phone, "No signal."
It wasn't a far walk to the Police Station/City Hall/whatever- city-building-you-want-to-insert, and they arrived shortly after eight o' clock. Half an hour before school started. Everything was quiet, and surprisingly no one was there, even though a police car was out front.
"Hello," Phoenix called out. "I need some help! Damn it! How come there is never a cop around when you need one, and is there when you just want them to go away?" She moved around the side of the desk, looking through piled up papers, trying to find some indication for an empty city building. "Randy Whittworth's badge," she pondered on the thought as she picked up the object.
"Phoenix! Officer Whittworth's behind you," said David, not leaving his spot by the door.
Dropping the badge, Phoenix turned and felt relieved to see Randy standing in the doorway. "Hey! I was just looking for you," she stepped closer as she spoke. "The engine of my car stopped. I need to call my Dad. Maybe have a tow truck come and get my car 'cause it doesn't look as if its going to sart up again. We also need a ride to school.... Dude, Randy, are you okay? You don't look too good...."
Much of Randy's flesh had peeled away, revealing large amounts of muscle of which was obviously gnawed apon, and even bone. His jaw was open, dropped lower than should be, the cheek muscles torn, bone fractured. An eyeball was missing, other organs could be seen from the dark socket. His clothes were in tact, however, blood trickled down his front; its source from the mouth.
"Roust vonn libe," yelled Phoenix in German, a.k.a. 'move holy shit,' to her brother.
"You're supposed to speak English only! I can't understand you," he replied.
"Doesn't matter! Just go!"
He turned to open the door, but through the thin glass more zombies had gathered outside. "we're trapped!" He turned back to his sister with a pleaing expression.
Phoenix was backed up against the wall; she looked out a window to her right, seeing an army of the Dead marching down Main street. She heared a scream which she knew to be her brother's. She turned and witnesses three zombies pounding on the glass door; their only exit.
Taking too long, she almost failed to sense the cold, spidery hands of the zombie cop pushing down on her shoulders. Starving for her flesh, the zombie prepared to bite, only Phoenix countered.
Phoenix reached up and forced her hand onto Officer Whittworth's face, pushing it back. Skin and muscle tissue tore from bone and was left in her hand, which she immediately dropped.
At the motion, the zombie stumbled back; buying enough time for Phoenix to see as well as take the berretta fromt he zombie's hip holster. She quickly flipped off the safety and fired, the parabellum round sinking deep inside Randy's exposed skull.
Glass from both door adn window shattered, allowing zombies to crawl and flounder their way in. "Phoenix," cried her frightened brother.
Fear rising, but no time to think, Phoenix aimed the gun and pulled the trigger; bullet finding its way to the side of its victim's face. She fired again, the sound that came meant the chamber was empty.
Zombies were closing in on her brother. There was nothing she could do; they were going to die.... NO! She couldn't give up! Never quit, it was her family motto, part of their values!
She searched the body of a dead cop, and found a nightstick. "Hello," she said. "Hey! You, yeah you, you little assclown, come on! Get me! I'm right here! Give your best shot!" She has gotten the attention of only one zombie, David began to scream. She was losing him! She had to hurry!
Phoenix swung the nightstick, crushing the zombie's head. It took her precious time, but in the end, the room was cleared of the living Dead.
One, she recognized, was the mayor himself. "I always knew you were a two-year-old with a title! Serves you right for not caring about your town and its people!" She turned her attention to David. "Hey. Are you going to be okay," she asked softly. He started to cry. "Don't cry. You're going to be fine. Can you walk?"
"Yes," came the shuttering reply. "I can run, too. But I'll need help." She helped him up, and could see where the zombies had gnawed on his arm and shoulder, blood everywhere.
With nightstick in right hand, berretta tucked in her belt, she helped David walk to the school, running occasionally, and cutting down zombies when desperately needed....
"He was soon transforming.... from the bite, I think. We had to put him down....," Phoenix looked as if she were about to weep, but she took a deep breath and continued, "....if we hadn't, he would have killed us all. He would've become one of those disgusting things...."
Her attempts failed; the tears were streaming down her face, completely out of her control. Jericho stopped walking; he watched as the three ahead became smaller as they went.
Turning his gaze to Phoenx's, he took her face within his rough hands. Tears flowed down her cheeks; her sobs melting his heart. All he could do was stare at her painful glance. She then looked up at him, all her hurt exposed, and more excrusiating than ever. Somehow the tears either stopped or ran freely without her notice; there no sobs left as the two leaned toward each other, their breath making warm, soft clouds in the cold.
Then no more did their lips brush; the ground gave away and thry were in a giant pit beneath the earth, Phoenix's shrill scream filling the air.
There was a male voice. "Ah, Citizen--"
"Chris Jericho," he said.
"Not you, the girl." A woman's voice.
"Phoenix," he spoke for her. She was sprawled out on the pit floor as if she were going to make 'snow-angels' in the dirt. Her eyes were closed.
"Are you okay," Chris knelt beside and took her palm in his hands. She was silent, but he could tell she was breathing by the slow rise and fall of her bosom. He shook his head. Sadly, he said, "She's unconcious."
"Well, she'll be fine once Hurricane and I find a way out," replied Mighty Molly.
Y2J laid Phoenix's hand back down; someone was calling from above. It sounded like Eddie. "Hey essa! Are you okay down there? Benoit found a ladder, homes, we're gonna get you out!"
Fortunately, the pit wasn't deep; only about seven or eight feet. A ladder was dropped and Hurricane set it up straight.
"Give her to me, I'll get her out," he said, positioning himself on the ladder.
"NO," Jericho was holding her limp form in his arms, "If anyone is going to take her up that ladder, it's going to be me, jackass! Because I'm the King of the World!" His muscles were tense, and a few veins spasmed.
"He's delusional," said Molly, "Let him do it himself." Hurricane nodded in agreement, and soon they were up the ladder.
"What happened," asked Benoit in an unusually kind tone.
"The fall knocked her out," said Y2J, as Phoenix was handed back to him. Hurricane was helping Molly up the ladder, they both arrived safely out of the pit.
"We should keep moving," Earl told them. "Our vision will be more impaired than it is now once its around five-thirty to six o' clock."
Cerrita asked, "What about Phoenix?" Her friend's scream had worried her.
"Don't worry," answered Jericho, "I'll take care of her." He had her scooped up in his arms, carring her, fair-tale style.
"Just don't be too chival," Eddie torted jealously, walking past him. Earl fell behind, keeping watch. In the front, Benoit and Cerrita were talking.
"This damn town is starting to piss me off," he was saying.
"Hey! This is where I'm growing up! Besides, don't be so hard on yourself; you've only lasted a day. Phoenix and I were in this shit from the start. It's been a whole frickin' month!" Cerrita held out her hand. "Rain."
The drops fell down in tiny sprinkles, slightly wetting hers and Benoit's hair. "A month, huh? You've got good heart."
"Hmmm. One more thing, just before I forget. I'm sorry Palouse isn't a clean, litter-free enviroment, like you precious Canada!" She sounded annoyed.
"Yeah, well, neither is Georgia, and I live in Atlanta!"
"Really?"
"Uh.... yeah."
There was an awkward silence. Then, "Redneck." Cerrita had a little smile when she said it.
"What!? I'm not a--"
"Citizen Benoit....," Hurricane coming to a stop beside the Rabid Wolverine.
"....and Citizen Cerrita," piped Molly.
Hurricane continued, "You really shouldn't fight. Not in this prediciment! I know! Why don't you two--"
Benoit was a short-tempered man. He hated people telling him what to do. "Why don't you shut you pie hole, you sick mo'fo, or I'll Crippler Crossface your sorry ass!"
Hurricane looked confused. "What is up wit dat?"
Benoit stopped, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled. "You are two seconds away from becoming tonight's main dish," his voice was dangerous.
Hiding a smile Cerrita extended the threat. "Roast Hurricane. Sounds yummy. Perhaps we can have Molly as a desert?"
"Leave me and my Hurri-poo alone, you canabals," Molly cried, wrapping her arms around Hurricane's neck.
Benoit gave her a toothy grin. "Then maybe you should leave us alone." He extended an arm to Cerrita's shoulder, the farthest away. She rolled her eyes and threw his arm from her shoulder. "Wh-what'd I do," he exclaimed.
"Idiot." She began walking again.
"Oh, so now I'm an idiot! I was just trying to be nice!" Benoit fell in step with Jericho, and sighed.
"Maybe she likes you," he said to the Wolverine. "That's what happened to me."
"Maybe," came Benoit's answer.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang....
Run rabbit, frightened as you are;
Run rabbit, before I leave a scar --Phoenix
Ouietly, they walked up the long and tiring gravel hill. Eddie, Benoit, and Cerrita wer speaking softly between each other, while Jericho and Phoenix fell behind.
It was Y2J who broke the silence. "So, what exactly happened to this town? I mean, how did you survive all this time?" Phoenix was silent. "Its alright. I know it must be hard to talk about it."
"Yes, it is, very," she answered, her voice almost a whisper. "But it not that. Its-- Many asked. I never told. Anyone. Even Cerrita, what my story is."
He put an arm around her waist; she didn't protest as he drew her closer to him. "You can tell me. I'll keep it a secret."
"Very well. I suppose I should tell someone. It may ruin me if I don't."
Phoenix and her brother, David, were in her tan Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra, driving to the school. It was a Monday, always a bad day for her. Suddenly, the engine died, as the car turned onto the next avenue.
"Shit," she said, getting out of the car along with David. Snow began fall, dotting Phoenix's hair with white specks. "Let's go get that bitch, Officer Whittworth."
"Maybe we should call Dad, he doesn't work today," her brother whined; he was fourteen. Phoenix began to dial on her cell-phone.
"Dad has other things to do, besides," she put down the phone, "No signal."
It wasn't a far walk to the Police Station/City Hall/whatever- city-building-you-want-to-insert, and they arrived shortly after eight o' clock. Half an hour before school started. Everything was quiet, and surprisingly no one was there, even though a police car was out front.
"Hello," Phoenix called out. "I need some help! Damn it! How come there is never a cop around when you need one, and is there when you just want them to go away?" She moved around the side of the desk, looking through piled up papers, trying to find some indication for an empty city building. "Randy Whittworth's badge," she pondered on the thought as she picked up the object.
"Phoenix! Officer Whittworth's behind you," said David, not leaving his spot by the door.
Dropping the badge, Phoenix turned and felt relieved to see Randy standing in the doorway. "Hey! I was just looking for you," she stepped closer as she spoke. "The engine of my car stopped. I need to call my Dad. Maybe have a tow truck come and get my car 'cause it doesn't look as if its going to sart up again. We also need a ride to school.... Dude, Randy, are you okay? You don't look too good...."
Much of Randy's flesh had peeled away, revealing large amounts of muscle of which was obviously gnawed apon, and even bone. His jaw was open, dropped lower than should be, the cheek muscles torn, bone fractured. An eyeball was missing, other organs could be seen from the dark socket. His clothes were in tact, however, blood trickled down his front; its source from the mouth.
"Roust vonn libe," yelled Phoenix in German, a.k.a. 'move holy shit,' to her brother.
"You're supposed to speak English only! I can't understand you," he replied.
"Doesn't matter! Just go!"
He turned to open the door, but through the thin glass more zombies had gathered outside. "we're trapped!" He turned back to his sister with a pleaing expression.
Phoenix was backed up against the wall; she looked out a window to her right, seeing an army of the Dead marching down Main street. She heared a scream which she knew to be her brother's. She turned and witnesses three zombies pounding on the glass door; their only exit.
Taking too long, she almost failed to sense the cold, spidery hands of the zombie cop pushing down on her shoulders. Starving for her flesh, the zombie prepared to bite, only Phoenix countered.
Phoenix reached up and forced her hand onto Officer Whittworth's face, pushing it back. Skin and muscle tissue tore from bone and was left in her hand, which she immediately dropped.
At the motion, the zombie stumbled back; buying enough time for Phoenix to see as well as take the berretta fromt he zombie's hip holster. She quickly flipped off the safety and fired, the parabellum round sinking deep inside Randy's exposed skull.
Glass from both door adn window shattered, allowing zombies to crawl and flounder their way in. "Phoenix," cried her frightened brother.
Fear rising, but no time to think, Phoenix aimed the gun and pulled the trigger; bullet finding its way to the side of its victim's face. She fired again, the sound that came meant the chamber was empty.
Zombies were closing in on her brother. There was nothing she could do; they were going to die.... NO! She couldn't give up! Never quit, it was her family motto, part of their values!
She searched the body of a dead cop, and found a nightstick. "Hello," she said. "Hey! You, yeah you, you little assclown, come on! Get me! I'm right here! Give your best shot!" She has gotten the attention of only one zombie, David began to scream. She was losing him! She had to hurry!
Phoenix swung the nightstick, crushing the zombie's head. It took her precious time, but in the end, the room was cleared of the living Dead.
One, she recognized, was the mayor himself. "I always knew you were a two-year-old with a title! Serves you right for not caring about your town and its people!" She turned her attention to David. "Hey. Are you going to be okay," she asked softly. He started to cry. "Don't cry. You're going to be fine. Can you walk?"
"Yes," came the shuttering reply. "I can run, too. But I'll need help." She helped him up, and could see where the zombies had gnawed on his arm and shoulder, blood everywhere.
With nightstick in right hand, berretta tucked in her belt, she helped David walk to the school, running occasionally, and cutting down zombies when desperately needed....
"He was soon transforming.... from the bite, I think. We had to put him down....," Phoenix looked as if she were about to weep, but she took a deep breath and continued, "....if we hadn't, he would have killed us all. He would've become one of those disgusting things...."
Her attempts failed; the tears were streaming down her face, completely out of her control. Jericho stopped walking; he watched as the three ahead became smaller as they went.
Turning his gaze to Phoenx's, he took her face within his rough hands. Tears flowed down her cheeks; her sobs melting his heart. All he could do was stare at her painful glance. She then looked up at him, all her hurt exposed, and more excrusiating than ever. Somehow the tears either stopped or ran freely without her notice; there no sobs left as the two leaned toward each other, their breath making warm, soft clouds in the cold.
Then no more did their lips brush; the ground gave away and thry were in a giant pit beneath the earth, Phoenix's shrill scream filling the air.
There was a male voice. "Ah, Citizen--"
"Chris Jericho," he said.
"Not you, the girl." A woman's voice.
"Phoenix," he spoke for her. She was sprawled out on the pit floor as if she were going to make 'snow-angels' in the dirt. Her eyes were closed.
"Are you okay," Chris knelt beside and took her palm in his hands. She was silent, but he could tell she was breathing by the slow rise and fall of her bosom. He shook his head. Sadly, he said, "She's unconcious."
"Well, she'll be fine once Hurricane and I find a way out," replied Mighty Molly.
Y2J laid Phoenix's hand back down; someone was calling from above. It sounded like Eddie. "Hey essa! Are you okay down there? Benoit found a ladder, homes, we're gonna get you out!"
Fortunately, the pit wasn't deep; only about seven or eight feet. A ladder was dropped and Hurricane set it up straight.
"Give her to me, I'll get her out," he said, positioning himself on the ladder.
"NO," Jericho was holding her limp form in his arms, "If anyone is going to take her up that ladder, it's going to be me, jackass! Because I'm the King of the World!" His muscles were tense, and a few veins spasmed.
"He's delusional," said Molly, "Let him do it himself." Hurricane nodded in agreement, and soon they were up the ladder.
"What happened," asked Benoit in an unusually kind tone.
"The fall knocked her out," said Y2J, as Phoenix was handed back to him. Hurricane was helping Molly up the ladder, they both arrived safely out of the pit.
"We should keep moving," Earl told them. "Our vision will be more impaired than it is now once its around five-thirty to six o' clock."
Cerrita asked, "What about Phoenix?" Her friend's scream had worried her.
"Don't worry," answered Jericho, "I'll take care of her." He had her scooped up in his arms, carring her, fair-tale style.
"Just don't be too chival," Eddie torted jealously, walking past him. Earl fell behind, keeping watch. In the front, Benoit and Cerrita were talking.
"This damn town is starting to piss me off," he was saying.
"Hey! This is where I'm growing up! Besides, don't be so hard on yourself; you've only lasted a day. Phoenix and I were in this shit from the start. It's been a whole frickin' month!" Cerrita held out her hand. "Rain."
The drops fell down in tiny sprinkles, slightly wetting hers and Benoit's hair. "A month, huh? You've got good heart."
"Hmmm. One more thing, just before I forget. I'm sorry Palouse isn't a clean, litter-free enviroment, like you precious Canada!" She sounded annoyed.
"Yeah, well, neither is Georgia, and I live in Atlanta!"
"Really?"
"Uh.... yeah."
There was an awkward silence. Then, "Redneck." Cerrita had a little smile when she said it.
"What!? I'm not a--"
"Citizen Benoit....," Hurricane coming to a stop beside the Rabid Wolverine.
"....and Citizen Cerrita," piped Molly.
Hurricane continued, "You really shouldn't fight. Not in this prediciment! I know! Why don't you two--"
Benoit was a short-tempered man. He hated people telling him what to do. "Why don't you shut you pie hole, you sick mo'fo, or I'll Crippler Crossface your sorry ass!"
Hurricane looked confused. "What is up wit dat?"
Benoit stopped, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled. "You are two seconds away from becoming tonight's main dish," his voice was dangerous.
Hiding a smile Cerrita extended the threat. "Roast Hurricane. Sounds yummy. Perhaps we can have Molly as a desert?"
"Leave me and my Hurri-poo alone, you canabals," Molly cried, wrapping her arms around Hurricane's neck.
Benoit gave her a toothy grin. "Then maybe you should leave us alone." He extended an arm to Cerrita's shoulder, the farthest away. She rolled her eyes and threw his arm from her shoulder. "Wh-what'd I do," he exclaimed.
"Idiot." She began walking again.
"Oh, so now I'm an idiot! I was just trying to be nice!" Benoit fell in step with Jericho, and sighed.
"Maybe she likes you," he said to the Wolverine. "That's what happened to me."
"Maybe," came Benoit's answer.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang....