time,” I smiled and stepped back from the circle of Jude’s arms. “But if you ever slap me again, I’ll kick your honky ass in front of your men.” I heard what sounded suspiciously like a snort come from Big Ben as I jumped back into the SUV. I was extremely grateful none of the men acted like anything out of the ordinary had happened as we pulled back onto the highway to Hell.
I t took us over two hours to drive to the halfway point about forty miles outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Dodging wreckage, abandoned vehicles and zombies made traveling take a lot longer than it used to. It felt like we were evading landmines, but instead of bombs we were trying to avoid becoming surrounded by the undead or stuck in a tight spot with nowhere to run if we had to. When Manuel pulled up to the back entrance of the rendezvous point I sat there for a second, wondering if the guys were just yanking my chain.
“You’ve got to be freaking kidding me,” I mumbled when Manuel killed the engine. I glanced out the window and only noticed two straggler zombies in the area—easy enough to take care of. Maybe the guys had a point. Looting a local Toy-R-Us would have been low on a priority list for people trying to survive in a zombie-riddled world. Less people looting in the area and store equaled less zombies to worry about when meeting with other survivors.
“Ghost, Big Ben, you two take care of our decomposing friends while Manuel, Melody, and I secure the building. Join us inside as soon as you scout the perimeter.” Both men nodded briskly before opening their doors and sprinting toward the zombies who had already began heading our way. “Alright, let’s move,” Jude barked out.
We entered through the back door of the building, our weapons ready and our movements almost synchronized. When the door shut behind us, it took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the unlit interior of the store. The store had been ransacked and the interior smelled musty and unused, but at least we weren’t overpowered by the stench of death and decay that most stores and populated areas were now known for. Still, being inside of a toy store tore the scab off of my freshly wounded heart and I heard a tiny cry of distress leave my lips before I could prevent it. Death and devastation consumed everything, and those bitches never skipped over children and innocents. No one was safe from their fury.
“Melody?” Manuel asked in a whisper. I swallowed back my fear and sadness and focused on the task at hand.
“I’m good,” I whispered back. We all separated and began searching the store for any broken doors or windows, and of course for any zombies. I made my way up and down each isle with my handgun drawn and an unreasonable fear that someone was going to be hiding under a shelf saying “they all float down here” and grab my leg. What? Zombies I can handle … killer clowns? Hell no!
We all met each other near the door of the manager’s office, where they would have all normally exchanged info with the men from the Charlotte base. Once supplies were exchanged, they would have gone back to their bases and met again two weeks later. That had been the routine until over two months ago when the other soldiers never showed.
“Everything clear?” Both Manuel and I nodded as Jude opened the door to the office. The smell hit us before we all even took a step inside. I gagged and yanked my knife from my sheath. Jude and Manuel spread out, but both seemed instantly aware where the other was so they could watch their backs.
“Christo,” Manuel muttered. His stance changed and he lowered his arm slightly. Jude took a small flashlight from his pocket and flashed it to the corner of the room. There sat a corpse, twice dead and covered in maggots and flies. I gagged again and stepped back out of the doorway to take a deep breath out of the office. When I returned, Manuel and Jude were standing near the corpse,
I t took us over two hours to drive to the halfway point about forty miles outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Dodging wreckage, abandoned vehicles and zombies made traveling take a lot longer than it used to. It felt like we were evading landmines, but instead of bombs we were trying to avoid becoming surrounded by the undead or stuck in a tight spot with nowhere to run if we had to. When Manuel pulled up to the back entrance of the rendezvous point I sat there for a second, wondering if the guys were just yanking my chain.
“You’ve got to be freaking kidding me,” I mumbled when Manuel killed the engine. I glanced out the window and only noticed two straggler zombies in the area—easy enough to take care of. Maybe the guys had a point. Looting a local Toy-R-Us would have been low on a priority list for people trying to survive in a zombie-riddled world. Less people looting in the area and store equaled less zombies to worry about when meeting with other survivors.
“Ghost, Big Ben, you two take care of our decomposing friends while Manuel, Melody, and I secure the building. Join us inside as soon as you scout the perimeter.” Both men nodded briskly before opening their doors and sprinting toward the zombies who had already began heading our way. “Alright, let’s move,” Jude barked out.
We entered through the back door of the building, our weapons ready and our movements almost synchronized. When the door shut behind us, it took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the unlit interior of the store. The store had been ransacked and the interior smelled musty and unused, but at least we weren’t overpowered by the stench of death and decay that most stores and populated areas were now known for. Still, being inside of a toy store tore the scab off of my freshly wounded heart and I heard a tiny cry of distress leave my lips before I could prevent it. Death and devastation consumed everything, and those bitches never skipped over children and innocents. No one was safe from their fury.
“Melody?” Manuel asked in a whisper. I swallowed back my fear and sadness and focused on the task at hand.
“I’m good,” I whispered back. We all separated and began searching the store for any broken doors or windows, and of course for any zombies. I made my way up and down each isle with my handgun drawn and an unreasonable fear that someone was going to be hiding under a shelf saying “they all float down here” and grab my leg. What? Zombies I can handle … killer clowns? Hell no!
We all met each other near the door of the manager’s office, where they would have all normally exchanged info with the men from the Charlotte base. Once supplies were exchanged, they would have gone back to their bases and met again two weeks later. That had been the routine until over two months ago when the other soldiers never showed.
“Everything clear?” Both Manuel and I nodded as Jude opened the door to the office. The smell hit us before we all even took a step inside. I gagged and yanked my knife from my sheath. Jude and Manuel spread out, but both seemed instantly aware where the other was so they could watch their backs.
“Christo,” Manuel muttered. His stance changed and he lowered his arm slightly. Jude took a small flashlight from his pocket and flashed it to the corner of the room. There sat a corpse, twice dead and covered in maggots and flies. I gagged again and stepped back out of the doorway to take a deep breath out of the office. When I returned, Manuel and Jude were standing near the corpse,
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