Jade: Earth's Last Hope Against the Undead by Kenneth W. Cain Page A

they
had endured thus far. Could another race somewhere in the depths of
space find them and save them from this eternal peril? What if
there were worse creatures waiting for an opportunity to attack?
She found herself in constant hope Earth would decline no further,
that it had already sustained the worst of it all.
    Soon it would be dawn. Daylight was the
safest time for Earthlings. She, along with many other survivors,
would take this opportunity to hunt for food and find sufficient
shelter before night returned.
    They needed to stay mindful of the creatures
that might exist in those accommodations during the daytime. The
vampires would inhabit any indoor area to avoid direct sunlight.
Luckily, they tended to hide away in groups, like a family of bats.
They writhed together, so that their collective body heat warmed
them.
    Jade didn’t think they found much warmth in
that manner, certain the only heat they felt came by the means of
draining blood. And when they drank, they took their fill and
always wanted more. They were insatiable in their desire to
feed.
    For now, Jade didn’t care to worry about the
vampires. It was difficult enough to watch out for the zombies.
Besides, there were many more zombies than vampires. The vampires
had put a small dent in the devastation humanity had suffered thus
far. Jade feared they might not be able to do enough to keep their
flock healthy and vivacious, as they didn’t seem capable of
controlling their own needs. It saddened her that she was no more
than a pretty little pet to them, a creature to whet their
appetites.
    Many of the major cities, and even the
smaller ones, had been bombed by humans before the vampires
arrived. There were very few structures left standing in which to
hide. She avoided those that seemed obvious vampire lairs, but she
could not withstand another night like the previous six, lying in a
rancid sewer drain. She required warmth for at least one night.
    Jade climbed over a vast sea of rubble,
managing it as best she could. She saw a few others seeming equally
as standoffish as she. They didn't trust each other. It took a
great deal of time before anyone could establish faith in someone
else. Therefore relationships rarely materialized.
    Humans avoided each other, spreading out and
trying to find paths of their own. As quickly as they had opted to
move in different directions, a noise erupted some distance from
where Jade stood. Two people altered their paths, coming straight
for Jade. She shuffled away in response, staring in their
direction. Jade lingered long enough to see the huge horde of
zombies following them. They quickly overtook the farthest
person.
    Even from her current position she could
hear the slurping sounds they made when they ate, the snap of bones
being pried apart in search of the sweetest meats. They moaned in
waves, reminding Jade of how people behaved at baseball games. Many
of the zombies didn't get to feed and therefore had to continue
their pursuit. These zombies took note of the other humans racing
toward Jade. They'd screwed her in their flight from impending
death.
    Jade turned and ran, trying to keep an eye
on the throng behind her. At the same time, she kept a watchful eye
on where she was going, hoping not to run into any other zombies.
Already, as the rumble roared behind her she felt hope
diminishing.
    Suddenly she stumbled, falling to the ground
amidst rock and dirt. A cloud of dirt rose around her and she
struggled to discern the damage she'd suffered. The sharp sting in
her shin indicated the possibility of something bad. The dust
cleared and she got a good look. The bright red of fresh blood
trickled down her shin. It was a deep cut, but it wouldn’t kill
her—as long as she got moving.
    She eyed the fast approaching mob of zombies
along with the two people running her way. One, an older woman,
passed Jade without a sideways glance. The other, a young man,
stopped to help her to her feet. She struggled and used him as