"Hey, hey, hey! Another quiet Saturday night here at the top of the world. If you can hear my voice, let just say, I'm glad you're still alive. The Great Zombie Zunami of 03 continues to pound the prairie into dust, headed south from Nebraska into Kansas. This hive minded crowd of a million plus zombies is crushing everything in its random path, so watch your ass out there. Keep your hands and feet inside the boat, and don't feed the animals. This is Citizen Z, signing off."
Sitting in the back of the truck I was laying back on my back using my bag as the best pillow I could muster up as 10k stood looking over the cab of the truck. I had my arm thrown over my eyes trying to shield myself from the sun. Taking my Army green jacket off shoving it under my head to try and cushion my head.
"I can't get comfortable," I said irritated and huffing. 10k turned and looked at me and smirked before turning back around and watching the road, "And I'm thirsty."
"Don't you have water in your bag?" 10k said to me turning and sitting down joining me again. I snapped my fingers forgetting about the last bottle of water I had hidden away from Murphy. I quickly sat up joining 10k, our backs to the cab of the truck. Quickly unzipping my bag I grabbed the bottle that was sitting on top only to be quickly disappointed.
"Oh, no," I said as I tried digging deeper into my bag.
"What's wrong," 10k asked leaning over my shoulder looking in my bag.
"It has a hole in it," I said pulling out the now empty bottle as it crinkled in my hand, "Everything in my bag is soaked. And just when I was going to change shirts." I pointed to the blood that was still soaked in my shirt from the day before. 10k laughed and was about to say something when all of a sudden the truck started slowing down. Looking over both edges 10k and I tried to figure out what was happening. As it came to a stop everyone jumped out, walking to the back of the truck.
"Out of gas," Doc said as he leaning on the truck next to me. We all piled together to try and think of what to do next.
"There was a sign a few miles back saying a town was nearby," Cassandra said, "I say we walk." Almost immediately everyone turned and looked at Warren waiting for her to give us the green light to do anything. After a moment of thinking she decided that was about all we could do.
"Alright, everyone grab everything you can and start walking," she said as she threw open the back door and grabbed her stuff. I quickly looked over at 10k wondering how the two of us where going to carrying everything.
"I can't leave these behind," I said looking through my weapons bag wondering how I was going to carry my backpack and the few weapons I already had on my person.
"You're going to have to pick and choose," 10k said to me as he threw on his bag and his gun across his chest. Huffing I threw on my backpack after stuffing my jacket in it, it was getting hot and I needed a new shirt. Jumping out of the truck bed I went through my bag on the tailgate. I already had my two knives in each boot, my Muela Bowie knife on my belt loop next to my ax, Beretta tucked under my belt behind me, and the small hidden gun under my shirt. Adding to my collection I took out my thigh holster strapping it to my leg, digging through my bag until I found the gun I was looking for.
"Where did you get that one?" 10k asked as I pulled out the new Colt Python .357.
"I lifted it from McClain while you guys where having the shooting contest," I said smiling as I made sure it was loaded before I strapped it to my thigh. Taking off my bag I threw as much ammo as I had into my bag almost forgetting.
"Ready?" 10k asked as the others where got their last minute supplies. I nodded my head and I did a mental inventory patting my legs and counting.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I said getting nervous leaving the truck and my weapons bag behind. This truck had become a home away from home for me.
"No bow?" Doc asked as 10k and I joined the group.
"I don't have any arrows sadly," I said, "Trust me, I feel naked without it." Doc and 10k laughed as we left the truck behind.
…
We had been walking for miles before we saw any sign of a town. My thirst was unbearable now and my shirt was not only soaked in blood but now it was soaked in sweat. My feet where hurting and I couldn't get over how hot it had gotten. 10k was walking beside me and saw me struggling slightly.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly as we fell behind the group slightly.
"I'll be ok," I said stopping for a moment to catch my breath. I leaned over, my hands resting on my knees as I breathed hard.
"Let's go guys," Warren yelled from in front of us making sure that we didn't get too far behind. 10k grabbed my arm as I huffed again taking a deep breath hoping to catch my second wind.
We finally made it to the town, frantically searching for water once we got there. We were all beyond thirsty, no one having any left over water.
"I can't go any farther," I said as I nearly collapsed in the middle of the road. Sitting there 10k wasn't far behind me as he fell to the ground as well laying on his back. Cassandra was off to my right laying across the side walk with Doc sitting with her.
"I read once you could drink your own urine," Doc said as he sat down in the road, "But all I'm pissing in dust." I looked down next to my leg to see 10k ringing out one of his old rags into his mouth. I sat there rubbing the sweat off my face as Murphy came walking around a car.
"Come on, water isn't going to find you just sitting there," he said with more energy than we all had combined.
"Why are you so freaking chipper," I said using the last bit of energy I had just to say that.
"I've been wondering that myself," he said, "Maybe its cause I conserve my precious bodily fluids."
"I don't even want to know how you do that," I said trying to lighten the mood, mainly trying to make myself feel better. However, I started to feel the ground rumble. Looking around to the others in the group I noticed that they felt it too.
"What is that?" 10k asked as he turned his head towards me, "Is that an earthquake?"
"More like a zombie-quake," Doc said as he started to stand. Turning around behind me I saw something I thought I never would. It was a wall of zombies headed straight for us. They were stirring up so much dust I couldn't see anything past the first few Z's that were headed our way. My hand immediately went out reaching for 10k's shoulder as I grabbed a fist full of his shirt. I could handle Z's easily but this many? I knew we were in over our heads now.
"Goddamn guys just wont quit," Warren said exactly what I was thinking as she stood.
"I suggest we run for it," Murphy said as he turned and took off. Once he said run for it my body went limp. There was no way I was going to be capable of running anytime soon with no food or water.
"Come on people, pick it up," Murphy said as he made his way back to the group around a car.
"I…we…cant," Warren said between breaths, "Dehydrated." However Murphy wasn't taking that as an answer. He grabbed Warren coaxing her along as Doc and Cassandra followed them. 10k and I were still sitting on the ground as I did everything I could to muster up the energy to actually run.
"Let's go," Warren said as 10k and I finally got up. I grabbed my backpack throwing it on, grabbing 10k's as he threw his gun over his chest.
"Come on! Move it!" Murphy yelled as 10k and I got farther behind the group. Running we finally caught up to them as the horde behind us got dangerously close.
"This way," Warren yelled as she lead the group deeper into the town and towards a mortuary. Quickly piling in behind everyone I heard someone yelling for her not to shut the door.
Closing the door just in time after letting the new guy in I couldn't believe we had escaped it.
"A mortuary? Really?" I asked as zombies smacked into the door causing me to jump, grabbing 10k's arm again.
"We will be ok for now," Warren said as she backed away from the door and sat down in the seat at what used to be someone's desk, "Everyone just try to get some rest." Immediately everyone sat down where they were standing. Cassandra and this new guy in chair, Doc, 10k and myself sat on the floor. 10k was laying face down on the concrete floor between Doc and me. He placed his hand on my ankle trying to keep me calm as Z's kept slamming into the door.
We had been sitting in silence for some time until I heard Doc snoring slightly. I turned and looked over at him, if I had the energy I would have laughed at him.
"So that's it?" Murphy asked upset that we all sat there motionless, "We're all just going to lay down and die?" Murphy walked around the room looking at all of us, waking Doc up out of his sleep.
"Murphy knock it off," I said as I took my bag off to get comfortable.
"Three days with no water," Doc explained, "The human body hits a wall, man." Murphy wasn't satisfied with that answer however. He stood and looked around at all of us.
"There must be thousands of them out there," Cassandra said filling the void of silence.
"Millions actually," the new guy said finally, "They're migrating." I turned to him wanting to know more.
"Migrating to where?" Warren asked what we were all thinking.
"South for the winter," the man explained.
"But why?" I asked, intrigued now.
"Z's don't like the cold," I heard 10k muffle from the floor.
"Kid's got it," the new guy said.
"I didn't even know they were that smart," I said trying to wrap my brain around it. Murphy was still pacing the room not making anything any better.
"We had a place up in North Dakota," he started, "Near Fort Yates, quiet little place on the river," as he was explain I couldn't help but think about how perfect that sounded. Although, the last time I thought somewhere was perfect it got run over my zombies, "Couple dozens of us having a go. I mean, zombie bison every once in a while, but that was about as bad as it got. Then the rumbling started and it never stopped."
"Well, where did they come from?" Murphy asked frantically.
"Refugee camp up in Alberta," he started, "Over a million people, no food, no water. It got ugly, they all turned in a week."
"We should have kept running," Murphy said as he started to get visibly scared.
"You couldn't get around them?" Warren asked trying to get answers for us all.
"This horde is miles wide. It's got a mind of its own," the guy started, "You can't move fast enough to get around it. And everything it overruns just adds to its crowd, fast zombies, healthy zombies, like the ones that just got my friend, Buck." After he told us about the horde he pulled out a flask from where I had no idea.
"Hey, you gonna share with the rest of the class?" Doc asked what we were all thinking as we all sat up a little straighter. I could feel the inside of my mouth start to water at whatever he was drinking, at this point I really didn't care what it was.
"It ain't water," he said gulping down a decent amount.
"Pass it around, whatever it is," Warren said authoritatively.
"Go easy on it," he said handing it over to Doc, "Homemade Hooche ain't for everyone." Watching Doc gulp it down I watched his face to see what he thought of it. I could tell he didn't really know and that made me iffy to try it.
"Come one man, that's gotta last me," the guy said as he took the flask back from Doc, who was still trying to figure out what he just drank.
"Anti-freeze and…" Doc said not knowing what else he could taste. Just by the sound of that it sounded nasty and I was ok not having a drink, I could wait until we found actual water.
"Caster oil," the guy finished as Doc handed it back to him.
Just as he was about to pass it to someone else there was a hard and loud pounding on the door. Causing me to jump, my attention was immediately on the wooden door that was barely a barrier between us and the horde. 10k was quick to sit up and be on guard, gun immediately in his hands.
"We've got to get out of here," the new guy said jumping up quickly. I could tell he was starting to panic and that wasn't going to end well. Nothing ended well in a panic.
"He's right," Murphy said getting nervous as well.
"Okay, this room isn't secure, we need to find some place more secure," Warren said as she stood from the desk chair and stuffed her machete in her belt loop. I quickly followed her in standing, gathering my things making sure I still had everything as Murphy opened another door looking around, "What's back there?"
"Morgue," he said shrugging his shoulders. I was not prepared for that, I never did well in small, tight places since I was a child.
"Let's go," Warren said as she made her way through the door and down the hall. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a second collecting my thoughts. With my eyes closed I felt someone gently place their hand on my upper arm. Opening my eyes I saw 10k looking at me with sympathy silently telling me it will be ok. I gave him a small smile, that seemed to satisfy him as he gave me a smile and turned to follow Warren down the hall. Breathing out finally I grabbed everything I had and followed the group down to the end of the hall into another room.
"No way," the new guy said as we all looked around realizing we were in the autopsy room, "This place is a death trap." Listening to him complain I heard the glass and wood on the door in the room we were just in give way under the horde that was pushing on it. I knew it wouldn't be long now until this room was under the same pressure. Warren slammed the door shut just as the Z's made their way around the corner, Murphy leaning against it listening to them trying to claw their way through.
…
After looking around at everything in the room I place my bag on one of the tables up against the wall and sat on the large white slab right in the middle of the room.
"I wonder where they are all going," Murphy asked as he walked around a corner and looked out the window.
"No where," the new guy said from the chair across the room as Doc came to sit down next to me.
"Be glad they don't have a leader," Murphy said. I could feel my face turn sour for a second thinking about what he was saying. He was acting different lately and I couldn't figure out why, "Now what?" Murphy walked back around the corner that he did, rejoining the rest of us.
"We wait them out," I said leaning back on my hands slightly swinging my legs freely. I had to do something to keep my mind off the hunger and thirst I was feeling.
"We can't just stay here and wait to die," Murphy argued.
"Well what else do you suggest we do," I countered with attitude. I turned and looked at him as he gave me the same look he always did when we were about to start fighting. However, before either of us could think of anything to say to the other there was a soft scratching sound that sounded like it was coming from the room we were in. 10k and Cassandra, sitting in the floor in front of Doc and myself seemed to hear the scratching as well.
"Do you hear that or is that just in my head?" 10k asked as he looked at the body cooler he was leaning against.
"I hope it's rats," Cassandra said as she slowly started turning around hearing what 10k was talking about.
"I think it's coming from in here," 10k said as he got up, Cassandra moving out of the way of a possible Z attack.
"Damn," Doc said as he got off the table we were sitting on, "How is a guy supposed to relax with all that racket going on?" Walking the small distance from the table to the body cooler Doc leaned down to 10k, "I'll open it, you pike it." 10k nodded in agreement to the plan as he reached over to my boot that was still hanging off the side of the table, grabbing one of the knives I had concealed in it.
"Don't open that drawer, just leave it alone," the new guy said as he started panicking again.
"Calm down," I said over my shoulder to the guy, knowing that we could trust Doc and 10k with our lives.
"One, two," Doc started as I pulled my legs up onto the table so the living dead couldn't grab me if it got loose, "THREE." Once Doc opened the door 10k was ready to pike anything that moved, however when they opened the door the rolling rack was empty. I sat there in disbelief for a moment.
"I think it's coming from this one," 10k said pointing at the door just above the one they opened. Doc reached for the handle again, silent understanding that he previous plan was still in effect.
However when Doc opened this one a Z was quick to jump out and latch onto him, knocking 10k to the side, not having time to pike it. I quickly jumped off the table and jumped to Doc's aid trying to help hold the Z back. It wasn't much longer until Warren was behind me, gun cocked and ready to Mercy the Z.
"The two of you ok?" Warren asked as she looked between us, Doc stuffing the Z back where it came from and shutting the door.
"Yeah," him and I said in unison. I looked down at my shirt, the new blood stain adding to the other.
"Feel free to help out next time Murphy," Doc said to my brother as he only stared at him, briefly looking over to me as well. I only stared him down equally as hard, not having anything to say to him at that moment.
"You have an ear in your hair," 10k said to Cassandra as she shut the door. I turned and looked, wondering if it was true.
"What's new," she said out of breath and rather unbothered by that fact. However, once everything seemed to be looking on the bright side there was a loud thud at the door that brought me back down to reality.
"They're coming in," the new guy said, aiming his gun at the door.
"Calm down," Warren said for the last time to him. I hoped once the horde passed we would be getting rid of this guy. Looking around, Warren was trying to think of something for us to do before the Z's broke this door down as well. Walking over to the body cooler and opening one of the doors, 10k pulled out a rolling rack as Warren looked at Cassandra and I knew what this meant.
"I don't know," she said as she looked down at the metal table before she looked back to Warren.
"We don't have much of a choice," she said silently apologizing to her.
"No way in hell I'm getting in that thing," the new guy yelled in a whisper. I only turned and looked at him, rolling my eyes.
"Well this is going to be fun," I said sarcasm dripping from each word.
…
Finally after a moment of deciding Cassandra took a breath and crawled onto the table 10k was holding.
"I don't want to die in here," she said turning to Warren before they closed her in.
"Well, you ain't gonna live out here," Doc said leaning forward from the seat he had on the table.
"I know," Cassandra finally agreed as he took another deep breath, the door shutting on her.
"Next," Warren said turning and look at me. I wasn't prepared for this, small places still weren't something I was happy with.
"Okay," I said in a small shaky voice as Warren and Doc went to open the next, one opening the door, the other with a gun in hand.
"Can you do this?" Murphy asked leaning over the table towards me, actual concern splashed across his face.
"I don't have a choice big brother," I said with a small smile, trying to convince him and myself. Warren looked from Murphy to me with a questioning look.
"She's never been good with small spaces," Murphy said as he grabbed my hand giving it a tight squeeze then letting go. I smiled up at him and he tried to comfort me, turning and looking at the small space I was about to occupy. Taking a deep breath I went to crawl in only for my body to back up last second.
"Sorry, sorry," I said as I placed a hand on my forehead trying to force myself back onto the metal table again. Trying to convince myself that I could do it I jumped as there was another loud thud on the door, "I don't think I can do this, I really don't."
"Listen to me," 10k said turning to me grabbing my arms and placing them to my sides, "You can do this, you just need to breath," 10k moved his hands from my arms to the sides of my face making me concentrate on what he was saying and not what was happening on the other side of the door, "I'll be right next to you, then all of this will be over before you know it. Just relax." He finished his pep talk with a smile on his face and I couldn't help but smile back and nod my head.
"Alright," I said breathing again. Before I turned to take my place in the body cooler 10k landed a kiss to my forehead, reassuring me that everything was going to be okay. It was a good thing I was about to be locked in, no one able to see how red my face was.
Laying down on my back, Warren pushed the table into the cooler, locking the door above me.
…
We had been in the body cooler for a while now, me trying to think of everything I could do to sooth the sounds of what was outside. However my thoughts where rudely interrupted when I heard the new guy yelling somewhere to my side. Turning my head to listen better to what he was saying he starting banging on his door as well.
"Hey," he yelled, "Get out of here."
"Try to breath man, just breath," I heard Doc saying to the man to try and calm him down before he got us all killed.
"There's no air in here," he started again, "I have to get out of the darkness, I can't take it. We all go at once we can over power them."
"No, no man," Doc start frantically, "No one is going."
"One…Two…" he started counting and I knew what was coming next.
"Otis, be cool man, be cool," Doc said trying to talk some sense into him but I knew that wasn't going to happen, I tried preparing myself for what was about to happen.
"THREE," he said as he cocked his gun. Hearing another loud thud I assumed it was him using his gun to bust open his door. Once he had done that the Z's got louder with delight as they finally found what they were looking for, fresh meat. I had to cover my ears as he screamed in agony as he was ripped apart just outside the small door that was blocking me from the same fate. Once his screaming was over I released my ears just as I heard three small taps coming from my right, the side that 10k had got in, in the body cooler. Smiling slightly I tapped the wall on my side three times in response.
Laying there staring at the ceiling I couldn't help but doze off waiting for the Z's outside to get their fill and finally leave.
….
Jumping awake out of a deep sleep I forgot where I was for a second until the door above me finally opened, light pouring in blinding me momentarily, but I couldn't help the smile that broke out across my face, as I was excited to finally be out.
"Out of my way, I need fresh air," I joked as Warren pulled out the metal rolling rack, Doc helping me jump off the table then pulling me into a hug.
"It is good to be among the living," he joked as well. Looking around to everyone I noticed what Murphy was doing. He was clearing off the table I was sitting on earlier and placing what looked like a jug of water down.
"Is that water?" I asked as I pushed my way past Doc and sitting at the table next to 10k who was patiently waiting to see what else my brother pulled out of his backpack.
"Murphy, how did you do this?" Doc asked as he sat down as Murphy pulled out the last bit of food, "No, you know what, I don't want to know. I take back everything 10k said about you." Doc patted 10k on the back as the others laughed as they quickly grabbed a handful of everything as we all stuffed our faces.
"Well, you know, I thought they got Warren already. No offense but you were almost dead, but Murphy man you are unreal," 10k said getting excited. This was the most I had seen him talk to anyone that wasn't me. And even then he didn't talk with this much excitement, "Where'd they all go? How many did you kill? Are we going to go outside and see a pile of ten deep on the sidewalk?" 10k stuck out his hand to give my brother a high-five but I could tell he was caught off guard, trying not to make a big deal about it but the smile on his face said other wise.
"That is the most words I have ever heard come out of your sound hole kid," Doc said as everyone looked at 10k in shock. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped, finally something good was happening to us.
"These used to be my favorite," Cassandra said holding up a bag of goldfish, "Where the hell did you find goldfish."
"I'm a goldfish magnet," Murphy said laughing slightly, also pointing to the box of Nilla Wafers I had in my hand, "And I remembered those where your favorite when we were kids."
"I haven't had these in years, I don't even care where you found them," I said trying to think back to the last time I ate them, unable to pinpoint it.
"I like a juicy ribeye with a loaded baked potato," Doc said joking with Murphy, "Can your psycho food radar find that?"
"You know Doc you are one greedy bastard you know that?" Murphy joked causing us all to laugh until Warren started clearing her throat to get our attention.
"To Murphy," she started, holding up her can for a toast, "You may be the mission, but today you became our friend."
"Here, here," Doc said slapping a hand on Murphy's shoulder.
"Cheers," Cassandra and I said at the same time as I reached over to clang my can with the others.
"Okay, Okay," he started, getting uncomfortable with all the attention on himself, "I only did it to stop Doc's constant whining."
The group fell into a light silence as most of us where too busy to talk, stuffing our faces as much as we could, not knowing when we would get our next meal. Watching my brother I saw him look in the mirror above us, immediately getting antsy and ready to leave.
"So umm," he started looking around nervously, "Can we go now? I need to go, so I need you to go. I need to go." He quickly stood looking around at all of us expecting everyone to jump when he said jump. He had been changing and I knew something was wrong from the way he was acting. Knowing my brother I knew he would make it to California but the way he had been acting lately, I didn't know if he could make it all in one piece.
