Plants Vs Zombies has a special place in my heart. I wrote this because I wanted to build a story around the relationship of plant and human on a comical level. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did writing it. I will attempt to publish once a day. But we all know how well that works.
Down a long dark highway, in a dark long night, a single red Sudan drove hoping to find some semblance of safety. The Mortimer family left California way back when the apocalypse started. With frying pans and shovels in hand, they loaded their car up and left for every sanctuary and evac center they heard of. Most of the time it was too late. The sanctuary fell or the evac was a bust. So, naturally, the family did the next best thing, and plotted the course for the next sanctuary.
Rosemary Mortimer—her parents called her Rosey—was tired of it all. She was the only daughter of Mister and Misses Mortimer, and as far as thirteen-year-olds were, she was quite smart, and quite an athlete. As her parents talked in the front seats, she sat board in the back while they bickered about road routes and the next best decision for the family. While Rosey had plenty to contribute, and rewards and achievements to back her before all of this started, it was unfortunate that her age didn't give her a spot in the decision-making process. And so, she sat quietly, hoping that the next decision didn't end up as bad as the previous one. Even if she predicted audibly that it would the last couple of times.
"No, dear, I'm telling you. Taking the highway south would be a better option," Said Mrs. Mortimer.
However, as always, Mr. Mortimer argued. "Honey, we've already heard the emergency broadcast. They are advising everyone to stay away from that safe zone because it's integrity is nearly breached."
"Yes, but it's closer and the evacuation is being issued," Mrs. Mortimer retorted. "It's much closer, see? We can just piggy back off of them and that way we'll be under government protection."
You'd think that would actually mean something, thought Rosey to herself as she rolled her eyes and chew on her lucky purple bandana.
"No, It's too risky." Mr. Mortimer shook his head. "I'm not about to bring the family that close to the zombies. It's much safer if we take the long road and reach the settlements further out. I've got a buddy there that says its safe."
"You mean with that Crazy Dave fellow?" Mrs. Mortimer asked, "Ugh, please. That's just a scam, Bobby. Living plants? Come on! What are a few plants going to do that the army hasn't, huh?"
"Hey, plants are cool," Mr. Mortimer again argued. "They can be dangerous to people. Why not zombies? I bet our girl learned a thing or two about that in chemistry. Right, Rosey?" Mr. Mortimer looked into the rearview mirror to see Rosey reading one of the many outdated magazines they thought would occupy her while they drove.
"It's biology, dad," She replied dully, flipping the page of a gossip magazine. There, an article about the sensational Crazy Dave was printed. "And technically, mom, plants are living species."
"Yeah, what she said," Mr. Mortimer grinned. His wife rolled her eyes. "Either way, It's safer if we just go south east. If the plants aren't alive, whatever, at least it's safe. And if they are then even cooler! People plants! What?! How's that sound, baby?" Mr. Mortimer's head again looked up to the rearview, letting Rosey know that he was talking to her.
"Sure, sounds great, dad." If she gave any real meaningful suggestions, her parents would just laugh it off, tell her how cute she was, and then go on arguing about who's idea was better. So, she got used to giving half-hearted answers.
"See? Rosey agrees with me," Mr. Mortimer bragged.
Oh, of course, now my advice is worth something. She rolled her eyes again, threw her magazine to the side and laid down with a sigh. She started playing with her bandana again. Wrapping it around one hand and then back over the other when it was as tight as could be.
"Oh, she's just agreeing with you because she doesn't want to hurt your feelings. We both know how sensitive you can be," Mrs. Mortimer said as she waved her hand.
"I'm not that sensitive," said Mr. Mortimer back.
Mrs. Mortimer rolled her eyes and looked out her window. "I know, Bobby, I know…"
"Listen," Mr. Mortimer said getting both girls attention, but only having his wife's. "I know this is going to work. I mean it. My buddy, Keith, knows the guy personally. Their next door neighbors. He said that the guy is as legit as a toy in a kids meal! And that's legit!" Rosey giggled this time. If there was one thing she liked about her dad, it was how he could transform something so simple into a big deal, and have fun while doing it. "We're going to be okay. I promise." As if to disagree, the sedan began to sputter. "Uh oh."
"Oh honey, don't tell me we ran out of gas!" Mrs. Mortimer groaned.
Rosey sat up, her heart dropping to her stomach and trying to see if she could fix the issue. Maybe there was a mistake. Maybe the car was just… tired? She looked at the gas meter and it was on empty.
"Hang on, we got a gas station here." Mr. Mortimer pulled over into the station with what little momentum he had then parked it next to the closest pump.
The engine shut off and the family was left alone with a dead car next to an abandoned gas station with boarded up windows and a broken inn set of doors. Mr. Mortimer pulled out a flashlight and noticed he had a check engine light on.
"Oh, boy, we might have a problem." He popped open the hood, but from what he and his family could tell, the car was fine.
"What's wrong with it, Hun?" Mrs. Mortimer asked hoping he'd know.
Mr. Mortimer staired at it for some time. "Uh… I'll figure it out. Why don't you ladies pump the car with gas, I'll manage things from here."
"Okay, sounds good. the sooner we're on the move the better. Come on, Rosey." Rosey wanted to help her dad, but she obeyed her mother and followed her to the pump. Her mother gave her the nozzle then pointed to the rear of the car. "Mind putting this in sweety?"
"Sure mom," Rosey grabbed the nozzle and made her way to where the gas tank should be. Only to find they were on the wrong side. She sighed. "Dad."
"Yeah?" Her father's head peaked over around the car hood.
"You parked the car on the wrong side of the pump."
Mr. Mortimer looked at both sides of the car as if he could see which was which. "Oh yeah… uh… Oops. Just…" He started making skip rope motions with his arm. "Just toss it over the trunk of the car and put it in on the other side. Try and make it reach."
Rosey rolled her eyes andshe and her mother smiled at each other. Rosey barely managed to reach the tank on the other side. "Ready mom."
"Ready? Okay." Mrs. Mortimer started the pump, and it began to fill the tank.
"Dang it," Mr. Mortimer hit his hand against the car rim. "I can't figure out what's going on. It's getting late anyway, so… after we fill her, maybe we should just camp out in this here gas station. I'm pooped."
"Camp here?" Rosey echoed, nervously playing with her bandana. She swore she heard a wolf howl. Were their wolf zombies? "I don't think that's a good idea, dad!"
"It'll be fine, Rosey, me and Uncle Keith used to do this all the time when he worked at the gas station back home. Come on, it'll be fun."
Mrs. Mortimer yawned. "I'm kinda tired too, baby, let's just do what your father says, and we can hit the road tomorrow, Okay?"
Rosey had a bad feeling, but she listened anyway. "Okay… but I think it's a bad idea. We should stay in one place for too long."
"Relax, baby. I'll be fine," Mr. Mortimer comforted as he grabbed the drunk full of their stuff. "Don't worry about a thing."
"Those doors were broken though. There could be some inside." Rosey said.
"That's a good point," Mr. Mortimer said as he put the trunk down and pulled out a baseball bat. "You ladies wait here while I check it out, okay?"
"Are you sure?" Mrs. Mortimer asked as she grabbed an extra flashlight.
Mr. Mortimer gave her the keys. "Yeah, it'll be fine. If you hear me yell then rush to the car. I'll let you know if it's clear once I give her a good once over, okay?"
"Alright, Honey, but don't take too long. It's really creepy out here and the gas station don't got any power."
Mr. Mortimer gave her a wink. "Shouldn't take more than five minutes." And with that, he disappeared into the gas station. His light being the only indication of him being alive. It took him the longest five minutes the girls had ever experienced. But eventually, we walked out, and they could breathe easy. "Place is empty, but the stores been ransacked. Not even a decent can a beer except that bud light stuff."
Mrs. Mortimer laughed. "You ain't got no business drinkin' anyway, Bobby Mortimer. Now, is there a safe place for us to set up in there?"
"Yeah, the office looks safe. We can lock the door and it'll be just like home." He picked up the trunk. "Come on."
The family set up, so they had a comfortable place to sleep on the office floor. All three had fallen asleep after some time, but a loud bang would wake them up. Mrs. Mortimer quickly sat up and hugged her daughter while Mr. Mortimer had dove for a weapon. They listened but there wasn't much else in terms of noise.
"What was that?" Mrs. Mortimer whispered.
"I don't know," Replied her husband. He got up on the file cabinets to try and see outside of the high-placed windows. He saw nothing. "I can't see anything out there!" He tried looking through different windows but then they heard the thud again. Mr. Mortimer jumped down and hugged his family to keep them safe.
Rosey hugged her mom, almost scared to death. But taking some deep breaths she tried to think on the situation logically. "Maybe, if we wait it out, it'll go away."
They heard some knocking around in the store. It was getting closer.
"I don't think it's going away. It might find us if we don't do something fast!" Mr. Mortimer dug into the trunk and tried to find a more intimidating weapon, but the bat was all he had. So, he grabbed his flashlight and went for the door.
"You're not heading out there are you?" Mrs. Mortimer asked.
"I've got to. If whatever is out there gets any closer it, might get curious and find us anyway. I'm not letting it!"
"Well, I'm going with you!" Rosey's other grabbed her flashlight and found a desk lamp then came to her husband's side.
"You're leaving me alone?!" Rosey nearly shouted.
"Shh! Rosey's right, you need to stay, Janet! We can't leave her alone."
"I'm not leaving you alone either, Bobby, Whatever it is, we'll face it together for our little girl."
"Janet…" Rosey watched in fear as they stared at each other. "Alright fine."
"But…"
"Rosey, I'm gonna need you to be brave and lock the door behind us, okay? Everything is going to be fine. I'm sure we'll be right back. Just wait for us to knock. Just like this." Her father knocked a quiet but clear pattern then reached for the door. "If you get scared, get under the desk."
The store shelves collapsed. Or so it sounded. It disheartened the two parents. But they knew they had to drive off whatever was out there. So, they gave each other a nod of affirmation and then counted to three. they jumped out and Rosey did as she was told. She locked the door. Soon she heard a panicked scream and the sound of a roar. Rosey bolted for the desk and pulled the chair in. She tried hiding in her hoodie and then started crying as she heard the shelves get knocked over again and then quiet. There was some faint stomping. Some rustling maybe. She couldn't hear very well. She held her breath and waited. But she never did hear the knock on the door. Soon, it was quiet. But she never left from under the desk. Even as she fell asleep.
That morning, Rosey didn't even realize she had fallen asleep until she began to wake up to the aching in her body. She gasped and got out from under the desk. Looking around, it was day outside. She got on the cabinets and pulled herself up to the windows. She could still see their car. But she didn't see her mother or her father.
Rosey began to panic. She had no idea what happened to her parents, and she was too scared to figure it out. She wasn't sure she even wanted to know. But she had to. She opened the door and pushed her way out of the office. Slowly, Rosey began to make her way passed the hall and into the store. It was a mess. the shelves were destroyed, glass and wood littered the floor and a big whole replaced the doorway. There was no trace of either of her parents. None but two flashlights and a baseball bat. To anyone, that could be a good sign. But to Rosey… it was evidence enough that they were turned.
Rosey sniffed then tried to wipe her tears away with her bandana. Her sniffles tuned to sobs, and she let out all her feelings. She scolded them even if they couldn't hear her. She told her dad that he shouldn't have gone. That he should have waited. She told her mother she should have stayed with her. at least then she wouldn't be alone. She sobbed her heart out to the world. She could care less if she was discovered, and her brains were eaten. Maybe she'd be just like her parents, and they'd still be able to live as a family. A really dumb—well dumber—slow, necrotized family, but a family, nonetheless.
But, once again, the more rational side of her brain talked her into surviving another day. It's what her parents wanted. They drove off whatever zombified monster that tried to find them and gave her a second chance. She was young, yes; she was weaker. But she could do thing her own way now. And she was going to have to if she was going to survive. No more fighting with her parents, no more listening to their bickering; she was on her own.
Finally cleaning herself, she noticed the car keys on the floor and picked them up. She was on her own, but she at least had transportation. Transport she saw with two humans in the passenger and driver side. One had hotwired the car and she quickly bolted out. "Hey! Wait!"
"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about, man! Rock on! Now let's take this baby for a spin!"
"Right on, dude!" The driver replied.
"Wait!" Rosey tried to get their attention to no avail. They burned rubber and took off at blinding speed Rosey had no idea their rickety car could handle. But now it was gone.
Rosey tossed the keys and sighed. A few of the magazines flew out of the car as since all the windows were open. "Stupid Morons!" She screamed at them.
One of the magazines, a gossip magazine. Lay just a few feet in front of her. She picked it up and opened to a random page. The one with that odd character that had allegedly predicted this mess according to the article. The one who her father was intent on meeting for refuge. And the one with the supposed, arsenal of anti-zombie plants for low prices up to six ninety-nine per plant. Crazy Dave's Tiddledywinks. She had a state and a town… With no other options, she ripped the page out and tossed the magazine.
"You'd better not be a scam." Rosey tied her bandana over her head. Her goal was clear.