II - The Monster Within
Dana panted as she looked behind at the prisons.
"Oh no," she muttered. "That's a lotta dead ones."
A lone roamer hanging outside the laboratory wandered around. Dana took out the machete from her backpack and ran towards the roamer. As the roamer turned to look at her, the blade of the weapon cut through its skull, killing the infected one. Dana panted and looked around the runway.
"How did this roamer get here?"
Dana entered the former airport and found the laboratory to her right. She entered the large room and found Dr. White and Lisa experimenting on a small white mouse.
"Who's there?" asked Lisa.
"It's me. Dana. I got something important to tell you guys!"
Lisa placed her cup away and gave a small piece of cheese to the mouse. Dr. White put his syringe down and looked at Dana.
"Carol's giving birth," she explained.
"Is Haley in the infirmary with Carol?" asked Dr. White.
"Yeah, but she asked for you."
"Strange. She knows a lot more about delivering newborns than I do. Why would she ask for me?"
"I don't know but we gotta– wait. Do you not know what's going on outside?"
"This lab is soundproofed," said Lisa. "Both on the interior and exterior surfaces."
"The military napalmed the woods and the town center!" said Dana. "That attracted a really large herd, you know the one from the city?"
"She wants me to treat the victims," said Dr. White. "I understand now."
"Okay, we have to go now, though!"
Sergei, Kotaro, and Ted burst into the room, causing Dana to yelp.
"God, this room was really quiet!" said Dana.
"We need your help, Lisa," said Sergei. "We got couple vehicles to help us with herd, but we need ammunition."
"The armory is next to the makeshift barracks," said Lisa. "I'll lead you there."
Dana held her machete and nodded at Dr. White.
"Looks like it's just you and me," said Dana. "Got a weapon?"
Dr. White shook his head. Dana tossed her gun at him, which he failed to catch.
"Come on," said Dana. "We have to go now!"
"I don't use weapons," said Dr. White. "I don't have the strength for it."
"Fine, just stay behind me then."
Dana and Dr. White exited the laboratory and walked on the runway. Dr. White shifted his glasses and looked into the distance, finding the herd by the prison. However, he couldn't find anyone on the guard tower.
"We're not going there, are we?" said Dr. White.
"If you don't wanna go there, tell me another damn way to get to the infirmary!"
"We could go through the back of the base and into the town," said Dr. White. "You know that bitterness was uncalled for."
"Well, blame this world for taking the nice out of me," said Dana. "Wait…"
The roamers broke through the fence door and entered the military base. Dana shook her head.
"We can't get through that, can we?" she said.
"Not anymore," said Dr. White. "We have to go close to the Units."
"Let's go," said Dana. "Run!"
Dana and Dr. White ran to the lower section of the military zone by the prisons. Dana then tapped Dr. White on his shoulder.
"Look over there! That's Benny!"
Benny ran around with his sword, slicing the roamers and killing them.
Meanwhile, Lisa, Sergei, Kotaro, and Ted were rummaging through the crates in the armory. Lisa then visited a room where she found barrels of napalm gel and other incendiary chemicals. She also found wires and snares.
"I have an idea," said Lisa.
Sergei, Kotaro, and Ted followed her out of the armory carrying ammunition and weapons. They walked past the military base and found it overrun by roamers.
"Mother of Tesla!" shrieked Lisa before closing the door.
"That's not gerna' hold," said Ted.
"She bought us time!" said Kotaro.
"Roll the barrels!" said Lisa. "We're initiating my plan!"
Back in the town, Benny held his katana how Hana taught him too, unlike a baseball bat. His hands and the arms of his topcoat were drenched in blood.
After killing a certain amount of roamers, he knew he could make it back to the infirmary. With a few roamers on his tail, he dashed to the infirmary only to find Lori and Bobby outside.
"What are you two–?" he said.
"We're helping Dana!" said Lori. "We need to get Dr. White's ass here!"
"Coming?" asked Bobby, taking his knife out.
Benny spun around while sticking his blade out. He decapitated two roamers and sliced the arm of another. He made another swing and finished the roamer off.
"Where to?" asked Benny.
"The laboratory!" exclaimed Lori. "You brought some friends with you?"
"Don't tell Luan!" grinned Benny.
Bobby yelled as he stabbed one of the roamers in the head. He fell down with the roamer and was reminded of the twist-strategy.
Lori swung his hatchet around, chopping heads halfway through their skull, dispatching as many roamers as she could. Blood was sent flying everywhere, as more bodies dropped.
Benny spotted a roamer on top of Bobby. He thrusted his sword forward and struck the roamer through its head.
Bobby covered his face with his arm as the body fell on top of him. Then, he shoved it out of the way and stood up.
"Thank you," said Bobby.
"Don't mention it," said Benny. "The herd's getting all riled up."
"Let's go!" said Lori.
Benny flicked his sword, sending all the roamer blood to the snow. Lori and Bobby ran ahead, leaving behind the infirmary.
Lily stood on the couch, staring out the window. She looked at the bodies in the ground and bit her lips. A roamer then jumped into the window, creating a loud thud, spooking Leni away from the couch.
"What happened?" asked Lincoln.
He gasped as he saw Lily staring at the roamer on the window.
"Lily, move away from that!" he exclaimed.
The roamer growled and rubbed his teeth on the window. Lily stared at the roamer's golden eyes, seeking for its soul. However, she couldn't see anything. The roamer released its mouth from window and stared at the girl. It hissed and moved away from the window as Lily stepped down from the couch. She bit her lips and looked at Lincoln.
"That was the monster?" asked Lily. "He look sad."
Lincoln knelt down and looked at Lily.
"Aren't you scared?" asked Lincoln.
"No. I'm brave like Lori."
"Well, what do you make of that?" said Lana. "She's going to be so hardcore."
"And foolish," said Lincoln. "Those things should be feared! Lily, look at me! Next time you see those monsters with the bright yellow eyes, you run, got it?"
Lily bit her lips again and nodded. She still couldn't figure out why her family hated the monsters. And she was so curious to find out.
Lori, Bobby, and Benny moved ahead into the military-zone. They stepped over the fence gates and found the roamers huddled around Unit A– the closest prison.
"I don't see anyone up there," whispered Bobby, looking at the guard tower.
"Come on, Luna," murmured Lori. "I know you're safe somewhere."
"The herd sees us!" said Benny.
The roamers jogged towards the trio, lunging at them. The roamers weren't as scattered as the ones in the town, so Lori found no use in fighting with her hatchet. She took out her revolver and motioned Bobby and Benny to follow her.
"Look!" said Bobby.
Dr. White and Dana ran towards Lori, Bobby, and Benny before realizing how close the herd was.
"Run to Unit D!" yelled Lori. "C'mon!"
Dana and Dr. White regrouped with them and ran towards the prison by the east fences. Lori found some roamers near Unit D. She aimed her revolver at the roamers and shot it, missing her shot completely.
"Damn, the movies made it look easy," said Lori.
"What's that?" said Benny.
"Running and getting a headshot," she said.
Dana aimed her pistol at the roamers ahead of her and shot multiple times until she got a headshot. With each shot, the fresher roamers were stopped briefly, but the more decayed roamers didn't flinch with each shot.
"Hear that?" whispered Jace.
"Yeah," said Luna. "I know that sound. It's Lori's piece. Her baby. Colt Python."
"Is it really?" asked Sam.
"Mhmm. Richard told me way back when we came across those Piranha bastards in Albany. Just to think if they didn't take his wife…"
"She would've been a better shot than I with this gun," said Sam, still gripping her AR-15. "And Carol would've been kickin' ass with Lori."
The roamers ran after Lori, Bobby, Benny, Dana, and Dr. White, leaving the guard tower alone. The roamers by Unit A also left the area, following the gunshots.
"Open the door, Bobby!" yelled Lori.
"I don't have the keys!" he replied.
"I do! Move," said Dr. White.
Dr. White wheezed as he struggled to get his keys from his coat. The frosty wind bit his fingers as he tried to open the door to the prison. Lori placed bullets into the chambers of her revolver while Bobby, Benny, and Dana protected her.
The corpses dropped one after the other as the door jiggles grew louder.
"Anytime now," said Dana.
"Got it! Get in!" said Dr. White.
The five survivors entered the prison. Benny, being the last one in, shut the door and pushed it, preventing the roamers from getting in. The roamers, however, kept banging on the door.
"Lock it!" said Dr. White, tossing the keys to Benny.
Benny grabbed the keys and shoved his shoulders against the door. He placed the keys inside the keyhole and flicked it before removing it. He slowly moved back, hearing the roamers bang against the door. The light coming from the bottom of the door was overwhelmed by the shadow of the dead.
Benny looked around the prison.
"There's no way out now," he said.
Lori walked by the cells and sighed, trying to think of a solution.
"Can you lead us to the chambers?" she asked Dr. White.
The doctor walked into the large hallway, followed by the rest of the group. He went downstairs and opened a door, finding a small group of roamers inside the chambers. Outside of the breach, where the blown-up helicopter resided, the herd walked by. He closed it before the roamers spotted the group and backed away.
"Not too many in the chambers," he said. "But it's like hell outside the prison. We won't be able to get out through the opening without them pouring in."
Lori sat on the walls. She closed her eyes and murmured to herself, trying to recollect her thoughts. Her heart pounded in her chest, as she heard the dead knocking on the prison doors.
George and Mr. Spokes shut the door. The roamers pounded their fists and hands on the wooden door, scratching and clawing against the surface.
"We need a barricade!" groaned Mr. Spokes.
Vonda and Rusty ran to the couch and took hold of it, pushing it towards the door.
"Move, Dad!" said Rusty. "Man, this is heavy!"
Mr. Spokes and George moved away from the door, causing the roamers to shove it open. However, before the door could fully open, Vonda and Rusty pushed the couch against the door, crushing the arms of some roamers.
Vonda jumped to the couch and leaped close to the door. George wondered what she would do as she took out her bow. She poked the roamers away until she was able to close the door.
"Now, Rusty!" she exclaimed.
Rusty groaned and pushed the couch against the door, preventing the roamers from entering. The wooden door banged against the frame, causing the hinges to jiggle.
Vonda leaped out of the couch and stood behind George, watching the wooden door jerk back and forth.
"We don't have much time here," said Vonda.
"We could leave through the back door," said Mr. Spokes. "But then where would we go?"
George peeked through the curtains, finding the swarm of roamers outside the house flocking to the front door. The other roamers scattered around the streets, wandering by the houses.
"The church," said George. "If we can hop through the fences and head south in that direction, we'll be able to regroup with the others."
"And do what?" asked Rusty. "Do you see how many of them there are?"
"Our chances will be better if we have more manpower to fight against this herd. Better than just going from house to house, risking a locked door each time."
"It's going to be alright, son," said Mr. Spokes. "If we just stick together, we'll be okay."
"I know that, Dad. I've been around those things. I'm worried about you."
"Before we go…" said Mr. Harrison, stepping forward. "I have to show y'all something."
Mr. Harrison rolled up his sleeve and revealed his lower right arm. A wound with eight small gaping holes was smeared in blood.
"I'm sorry, son. I really am," he said.
Reggie ran up to him and held him, crying on his chest. Mr. Harrison held him and sniffled. Vonda's eyes watered up, something that Rusty and George didn't recall her doing before.
"Mr. Harrison…" said Vonda. "We could've–"
"It's not worth it," he replied. "The infirmary is too goddamn far. I would've passed out and be a burden to y'all. So let me just stay awake… and do something."
He turned towards his son.
"Everything's gonna be fine. I've talked to Elder Jeffrey. He'll take care of you, so play nice with his nephew, you hear?"
"First, Mom, then you…"
"You got this. I believe in you. I love you, son."
The hinges in the door jiggled louder. Mr. Harrison motioned George and Mr. Spokes to come to the kitchen.
"I just want to give you two a piece of advice. Show your child the way of surviving this shithole of a world. But don't let 'em go. Stay close. Bond more. Cause you're never know when you'll lose them. Or when they'll lose you. Ruddy, you're doing well with your son, Rusty. And George, I realize that Vonda ain't really your daughter. But I know you'll treat as if she was."
The hinges in the door snapped. The roamers broke through the door and cracked it in half with their weight. The group aimed their weapons at the roamers trying to get inside the house.
Mr. Harrison, George, and Mr. Spokes ran to the living room. George aimed his shotgun at the roamers when Mr. Harrison shook his head.
"Lead 'em out!" he said. "I'll stay! I got these ugly bastards!"
"Dad!" yelled Reggie. "Come with us!"
"Go! Just go! Don't look back!"
Vonda grabbed Reggie's arm and dragged him to the back door with the other survivors as he screamed in protest. Mr. Harrison aimed his gun at the roamers breaking the couch.
George closed the back door and held the group in behind the house.
"Jump over the fences!" said George. "The church is that way!"
The roamers shoved the dented couch out of the way. Mr. Harrison shot the roamers one by one with his small sidearm, dropping them to the ground. His sweat soaked his burning face as he let the rest of the swarm come inside the house.
"Five, four…" he muttered. "Three. Two… one."
The roamers growled as they advanced to the cornered man. He pointed the gun at his right temple and pulled the trigger, painting the wall behind him red.
The roamers dropped to the ground and prepared to feast on his tainted corpse.
Reggie held back his tears after a few seconds, realizing that his father wasn't going to fire another shot. Vonda looked ahead and struggled to hold back her tears. Rusty sighed and realized that he was now the only child with a living parent.
Every single member in the group had lost their parents in some way, except him. He felt somewhat guilty.
Dana leaned on the wall next to Bobby and Lori. She thought about Wavehead and Becky.
"If we just wait it out…" murmured Benny.
"No, Dr. White has to treat the injured, especially Lynn!" murmured back Lori. "Where's Lisa?"
"She went to the armory with Sergei and the others," replied Dr. White. "I have no idea what they're doing there."
"Something smart, I'm guessing," said Benny.
"Let's check out the courtyard," said Dr. White. "See if there's anything worth checking out."
The group left the hallways and found themselves outside in a large concrete field with a few roamers lurking around. However, the herd remained outside the fences, throwing the idea of climbing the fences out of the way.
The group walked back inside and continued to formulate ideas. Dana, however, couldn't focus on escaping the prison. She thought of something else.
"Have you ever imagined how prom night could've been?"
Lori and Bobby looked at Dana. Dr. White took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before placing them back on. Benny scratched his hair and looked around.
"I have," replied Lori, turning to Bobby. "We have."
"Did you see our dresses? They're beautiful. You looked absolutely stunning. And you, Bobby, looked very handsome in your tux. You two are the cutest couple in the room– besides Leni and Chaz of course– but for some reason, I see Carol winning prom queen. You, Becky, and I are just standing there, getting totally jealous, but it didn't matter. It was one of the best nights of our lives!"
Dana wiped a tear off her eye.
"Lori… how could it be the best night of my life if it never happened? It was supposed to happen! All the hard work we did, we at least deserved that!"
"I know exactly how you feel," said Lori.
"Chaz, Tad, Derrick, and Wesley were too young to die. You, Bobby, Benny… we're all too young to die!"
"We're going to get out of this," said Lori. "We just have to find a way. I know you can be brave!"
"Brave unlike some people in this town," said Dana. "Wesley believed that Jenny actually had the guts to save him. The last words he ever emphasized… guts…"
Dana blinked twice before opening her jaw softly.
"He remembered…" she said. "I remember now! Lori, I know how we can get out of this!"
Dana stood up beaming confidence with her posture.
"We could get a couple roamers, kill them, and cut them open!"
Lori, Bobby, and Benny smiled, now realizing what she wanted to do.
"I don't see where this is going," said Dr. White.
"We smear the roamer guts on ourselves!" said Dana. "It'll blend us with the other roamers!"
Lori, Bobby, and Benny cheered.
"Wait, wait, hold up!" continued Dr. White. "That sounds utterly ridiculous!"
"I tried it before," said Dana. "It worked. The roamers can't tell you and the other dead ones apart!"
"Zombie guts? Intestines and organs? Should I tell you how hazardous that is?"
"There's no other option," said Lori. "We have to do this."
Dr. White looked at his lab coat.
"Fine. But let's wear some protective clothing first! I've got some lab coats in an office upstairs."
"Get 'em," said Lori. "We'll get some guts from the roamers in the courtyard."
Dr. White walked to the stairs in another room while Lori scanned her hatchet. Dana held the back of her machete blade and moved the handle. The handle moved slightly.
"Kill all the roamers inside the courtyard," said Lori. "Then, drag the closest roamers inside the prison. Ready?"
Dana, Benny, and Bobby nodded. Lori opened the door to the courtyard and ran to the closest roamer. She swung the blade to its face, crushing the brain from the front.
Dana sliced the top part of a roamer's head off and made it pour the blood from its brain into the ground.
Bobby reached for a roamer and grabbed its shoulder before thrusting his knife into its eye.
Benny snuck up behind a roamer and was closer and closer. Then, his straight-bladed katana cut through the roamer's chest, and Benny kept it there, turning the roamer around. He lowered the handle of his katana and raised the blade of the sword, preventing the roamer from escaping.
Lori dispatched two more walking corpses and walked to the body closest to the courtyard. She found a particular corpse and closed her eyes, trying to drive the rotten smell out of her nose.
Bobby shivered upon touching the arms of the dead roamer, feeling the soft, decayed flesh. One of his fingers were able to feel its frozen bone.
Dana grabbed the legs of the roamers, feeling the cold, torn pants. Recognizing the fabric of it, Dana knew that in the corpse's human life, she tried to show off her behind in tight jeans.
Benny dragged the roamer to the door and pulled out the sword. He then swung it and decapitated the roamer. He grabbed the body and dragged it inside the prison.
Lori closed the door and dragged a body into one of the cells. Dr. White arrived with four new lab coats and a box of non-latex gloves.
"That was quick," he commented. "I'm not looking forward to what we'll proceed to do."
"Neither am I," said Lori, taking out her hatchet.
She placed on a lab coat and a pair of gloves, with the rest of the group following. Lori swung her hatchet on the abdomen of her dead roamer, causing a squirt of black blood to jump out slightly.
Bobby looked away as Lori chopped more. Benny felt his stomach turn. Dana squinted and stared down at her own roamer. She raised her machete but she found herself unable to turn away from Lori.
Lori dug her hands into the gaping hole in the abdomen. She took out a mess of splattered guts and looked back at Dana, who nodded softly. Lori felt her throat getting warmer and her chest breathing harder. She placed the guts on her coat and smeared it around.
"This is literally so fucking gross," said Lori. "And you were drenched in this shit?"
"Yeah," replied Dana. "I had some organs hanging from my shoulders too."
Bobby placed his hands on his mouth. Lori dug deeper into the corpse and pulled out ripped intestines, though some were still in one piece. Lori gulped as she placed it around her shoulder.
"Oh my god…" groaned Benny.
Bobby retched and covered his nose.
Dana chopped a limb from a roamer. She held it up and poured it down her coat before rubbing the chopped end onto herself.
Benny sliced the roamer's chest open and ripped its ribs out. He groaned as he snapped the ribs. He then grabbed the roamer's heart and placed it on the ground. Using his palms, he pressed it against the ground, crushing it before he rubbed what remained of it on his coat.
Bobby removed the splattered parts of the roamer's face and dug into the shattered skull, pulling pieces of its brain out. He flicked it away, shaking his goosebumps out at the same time.
"Here," said Lori, holding up the roamer's intestines. "This isn't going to smell pretty but try not to–"
Bobby vomited onto Lori's coat as she placed the intestines around his shoulders.
"–puke. It's fine, it makes me smell more dead anyways."
"That smells fucking musty," said Benny, pressing onto his stomach. "The hell did you eat?"
"It's gastric acid mixed with decaying organs," said Dr. White.
"I'm so sorry," said Bobby. "I know I can do this, but… my stomach…"
"Just hold my hands," said Lori. "Everything's going to be fine, okay?"
Bobby nodded.
"I would kiss you right now, but my mouth reeks of vomit now."
Lori grabbed Bobby's arms and kissed his forehead. Bobby was surprised at how affectionate that felt.
After a few minutes, everyone's coats were smeared with dark-red blood and flesh, some with pieces of organs stuck to their coat. Lori, Benny, and Dana took off their gloves, leaving Dr. White and Bobby with tainted gloves.
"Here's the plan," said Lori, holding her hatchet. "Benny, Bobby, and I will go to the armory to see what Lisa and the others are up to. Whatever they're planning, it's gotta happen."
"Let me come with!" said Dana.
"No, you're taking him to the infirmary. There are other people who need his help."
Dana nodded softly before looking down at the chambers. Lori nudged her.
"Hey, Dana. Thank you."
Dana smiled as Lori held her hands. She followed Lori, Bobby, and Benny into the chambers after Dr. White slowly opened the steel door. The roamers growled and looked around, letting the survivors pass them as they tried to figure out where the strange scent came from.
Lori walked towards the breach in the chambers, finding herself in the blistering cold with roamers mere inches away from her. She kept her grip on Bobby as Dana followed Dr. White in the herd.
Dana created a tired expression in her face, helping her blend in with the herd. Dr. White mimicked her and followed her out of the prison.
Lori looked inside the helicopter and found a burnt skeleton whose ribs were filled with snow and ice. She closed her eyes and then looked ahead at the barely visible building in the distance. She looked back at Bobby and Benny, nodding as she began walking to the armory.