Byron : A Zombie Tale (Part 1) (11 page)

Now, when I said that my skin crawled I didn’t mean it in a literal sense. Though, given the condition of my body, it probably wouldn’t be long before I started breeding maggots. No – I meant that knowing John and Evan as well as I did, they were up to no good. No good, that is, as far as I was concerned. To the innocent bystander like Pam, their smiles would have seemed harmless enough. But, I knew them far too well to expect anything other than mischief.

“No. Seriously, what kind of experiment?” I asked them.

John and Evan looked at each other. Another silent exchange took place and it was apparent that John would be the mouthpiece for this particular scheme of theirs. “Well, aren’t you the least-bit curious about what would happen if you actually consumed blood?”

Pam managed to beat me to the punch and blurted, “No! Are you insane? You want to feed blood to an undead beast? Just to see what happens?”

Evan spoke up, “uh, yeah! We know nothing about what happens to these things when they actually come in contact with blood?”

It was my turn, “these things? THESE THINGS? Thanks, ass! Now I’m just one of ‘these things’?”

John leapt in next, “look, Byron, you’re not a ‘thing,’ but you are our way to understand how ‘those things’ work. And, Pam, we’re not gonna be stupid about this. We’ll do whatever is necessary to safeguard everyone from harm – including Byron. We just need to figure out all of the right precautions to take. But, we could learn so much about how the undead work…”

“And,” interrupted Pam, “you may turn the only undead ally we have into a full-fledged zombie.”

“Zombie’s don’t exist,” I blasted back at Pam. But on second thought, the very fact that here I was, the walking dead myself, kind of made this a foolish protest.

John continued, “look – this isn’t without its risks. And, we wouldn’t do anything without Byron’s consent. I mean, why do you think we’re discussing this in an open forum? Plus, we need to think of all the different safeguards we’ll need.”

Tim jumped in, “yeah… like, if Byron’s gonna turn into some mutant freak, then it may be a good idea to wean him on blood that isn’t human. I mean, maybe it’ll keep him from getting a taste for the stuff!”

John replied, “that’s a good thought. We’d have to find some animals that we could feed to him.”

My head was about to explode. “Okay, ass, stop talking about me like I’m not even here. I’m sitting right next to you! Both of You! And, don’t sit there and plan what you’ll ‘feed the dead guy’ so quickly. In case you forgot, I haven’t agreed to anything, yet. I thought this was a dialogue, but it sounds more like its going to be a certainty and that any objections I may have are only a formality.”

Evan stepped in this time, “whoa, whoa! You’ve got it all wrong Byron.” However, despite Evan’s objections to my observation, both he and I knew that I was not wrong. They intended on carrying out their little experiments one way or the other. Now, that’s not to say that they would have ‘forced’ them on me per se. No, John would have brow beat me until I followed his twisted logic.

But, at the same time, I was really curious to see if I had actually gained anything beneficial out of this situation rather than just being doomed to bloodlust and undeath.

“Listen,” I said to them, “if we do this we do it on my terms. Do you understand?”

Evan and John both nodded their assent. “Okay,” John said, “let’s figure this out.”

John, Evan and I left the room to hash out the details of the experiments. We decided that it would be best to have me restrained in some way. At least now with the metal gauntlet screwed to my left arm they could bolt me to something. Though, come to think of it, they could have done that anyways! It’s not like I would have felt it at all.

We also decided that we would use animal blood to perform the experiment. I agreed with Tim’s concern. I didn’t want my body to develop, in any way, a desire to consume human blood as long as I was still in control. This, however, would necessitate that we obtain some animals for me to feed on. Toward this end, we decided that I would be lowered through the window and then I could raid the basement and some of the nearby buildings for animals of some sort.

Then again, this plan also gave me another idea. If I went solo then I could conduct the test myself without putting anyone at risk of being attacked. But, both Evan and John disagreed with my idea because then they would not be able to observe what happened. So, I would just go out to collect some animals… somehow!

When we came back into the room with the others I was both a little angry, but also unsurprised to find that Tim had already managed to find his way over to Pam. He was sitting by her side with his arm around her back. I knew that he never really wasted much time in trying to impress himself upon women. But, this was fast even by his standards. Plus, not to mention the fact that he was still shrouded in his “zombie costume.”

I simply shook my head and walked through to the window where I lowered the rope to the ground below. John and Evan were only seconds behind me and seemed to have a similar reaction to Tim’s horn-doggedness as I did.

“Alright,” John said, “Tim, I’m going to need your help here. We’re gonna lower Byron out the window so he can go hunting.”

Tim responded with a screwed look upon his face. It was almost as if he were trying to say ‘what, you want me to let go of the broad?,’ and, ‘work, you want me to work?’ at the same time. When Tim didn’t move, Evan gave his foot a stiff kick. Then, he got the message – he had to pull his weight.

Since the details of hunting for dogs, rats and cats among hordes of the undead are not really all that thrilling, I’ll cut to the chase and just say that I’d managed to get my hands on two feral tabbies and a half-dozen rats – all of which I had stuffed into their own separate sacks. As I made it to the top of the rope I said, “I hope that this is enough. I don’t want to have to do that again!”

While out raiding for animals, I also found a small hardware shop nearby from which I obtained a shopping list full of items Evan and John wished to have on hand for the experiment. Until now, it was unclear just how they intended to use them. But seeing them eagerly at work setting up their “laboratory” I understood completely.

I was to be chained to the wall. They poked a few holes through the sheetrock and ran some chains through them and around the framing. Each of my arms and legs were tightly chained and a double chain was clasped around my midriff.

After these precautions were taken the room where I sat chained to the wall was sealed shut. Plastic was taped over all of the openings. I surmised that this was a precaution taken so that I could not smell the animals being butchered and bled out. However, I could steel hear their screams. I doubted many people have ever heard the sound a cat makes when fighting for its life as a blade was thrust into its throat. I could assure anyone who was interested that it was not a sound anyone would want to hear!

When the room was re-opened I could smell only the faintest traces of blood. It wasn’t enough to excite me, but it did keep me limber.

John was the first one to enter the room. He was carrying a sealed plastic container filled with a dark red fluid. I knew instantly this was to be my sweet ambrosia. Instead of entering I heard Evan slam the door shut behind John and lock it. They had put locks on the outside of the room.

“So,” I said to him, “this is it?” I hung my head as he nodded. “Remember,” I told him before he could open the container, “if I turn I want you to cut my head off! Don’t let me hurt anyone!”

He again nodded and then tore the cover off the container. The aroma hit me like a speeding locomotive. Drool poured from my mouth as the dark nectar touched my lips.

There were no words to describe the ecstasy which poured through me as that crimson nectar touched my lips. Its effects on me were immediate. The burning which had before consumed my whole being was finally quenched – and with it I could feel my body renewed. I could feel the bones in my arm suddenly start popping and cracking as they knit themselves back together. It was an interesting sensation to feel all the pieces of the fracture suddenly becoming whole.

New flesh grew atop the exposed muscle and bone of my right cheek where only yesterday Evan had blown it away with his shotgun. The various holes and wounds which my body had received since becoming undead were healing. I was becoming whole again. And, I could feel the bones of my neck moving back into place.

Oh no! What the hell was I to do? If my vertebrae reverted to their original position, then it would remove the pressure from the vein in my neck which was the only thing stopping the catalyst from consuming my brain and giving my mind over to the savagery of being undead.

My mind reeled. The bones were snapping to their appropriate places. I only had moments to react until my whole being would succumb to the wickedness that was consuming the human race. And yet, my lips could not pull away from the nectar which my body drank down hungrily.

I willed my arms to drop the container, but my body would not comply. Dammit! I tried to cry out loud, but my mouth hungrily slurped up the blood which was repairing my body. All I could do was sit and wait until my body completed sating itself.

The bowl dropped from my hands and I could feel my mouth open and close, seeking out more blood. It snapped left and right. My hands reached out to find something living which it could bring toward my snapping jaws. This was not good! Oh God, I was still in there. I saw John as he reached for his machete.

NO! This could not be.
John,
I wanted to cry out,
I’m still here
.
I AM STILL HERE!

But, while my body was hungry and seeking sustenance my mind was in full panic mode. I looked around. I was still chained to the wall and John seemed a bit hesitant to deal the death blow – for which I was grateful. I could see that there was a window in this room. I would have to make a break for it. I couldn’t allow my body to hurt anyone, but I also needed time to figure out how to get control of this thing.

I stared up at John. And then, it dawned on me. My mouth and hands were still doing their own things, but I was controlling my own head and eyes. I did have some control over my body, however limited it was. There was hope.

But, my hope was quickly fading. John had unsheathed the machete and was eyeing me up and down. He shouldered it and began to approach me.

I stood. The movement was so fast that I couldn’t believe I had actually done it. I suddenly became very aware of the chains and without a thought I strained against them. My right arm broke free. Or rather, the stud to which the chain was attached snapped and the loose end of the chain came flying forward. I pulled my left arm and that stud also broke. Together with both my hands I pulled apart the chain wrapped around my torso. The central chain link split right on its weld and bent apart.

All of these movements had taken place in the blink of an eye. And, that fast I was free; John had not yet struck at me. He stopped his approach, staring slack-jawed at me standing before him. The machete was on his right shoulder and his body was wound up ready to swing. But, for the time being, John was frozen.

I needed to get away.

Reacting to the situation, I lunged forward and shoved John away from me. I needed to put distance between us. He fell backward, the machete falling from his hands, and stumbled into the wall behind him. His movements, though, were strange. It was almost as though he were moving through water or in slow motion.

Before his body could hit the floor I had turned. I didn’t want my mouth to try attacking him. Instead, I leapt for the window, crashing through and to the ground below. As I struck the ground my body instinctively rolled forward and I wound up standing on my feet.

I stood there at the ground outside the window for several moments contemplating my next course of action. But, I could hear some commotion coming from the windows above from which I had just emerged.

“What happened?” it was Tim speaking.

“Son of a bitch started snapping and snarling, broke his chains, shoved me down, and leapt out the window.” John replied.

Evan came running to the window, his shotgun raised to his shoulder and his sights trained on me. “Should I take him down, John?” he asked.

“No,” John replied. “I think that Byron is still in there. The simple fact that I am here talking to you is more proof than I need. He broke his chains, pushed me away from him, and then tried to put distance between us. He didn’t try eating me.”

Watching Evan in the window I nodded as I heard them speak. John understood. He knew that I was still in here! I would be back, of that I was sure. And, when I came back I would do my best to help them out – to keep them safe.

Evan lifted the barrel of his shotgun off its mark, stared at me for a few minutes, then turned away from the window. I turned and ran away as fast as I could. My body still needed blood – it needed to feed. And so, I went off in search of animals from which I could extract that thing my body needed most.

For hours and hours my body hunted. Whenever a possible human target was nearby I ran in the other direction in search of other prey. Also, when I found an animal on which to feed I refused to bite it directly. Instead, I would tear a hole in it with my finger and find a way to pour the blood into either a container, or directly into my mouth.

I found that my strength was immense. And, my speed…I was fast. It was amazing, I was super-human! I moved faster than my prey. They had no idea that I was coming to steal their lives from them. That is, until I had torn their heads from their bodies and slaked my thirst with their blood.

After several hours of non-stop hunting, killing and feeding my body gave me far less resistance. I noticed that I was able to control it much better. In fact, it yielded to all of my whims.

Wait! I was in control! I had my body back. I was me again! As I walked past a glass storefront I noticed something else that was different, too – my reflection.

The reflection I saw staring back at me was amazing. Whereas two days ago I looked upon a walking corpse in the mirror, now I could see flesh and blood. My eyes were no longer milky white, but more like solid black – almost like a shark’s. And, my skin had regained a more natural tone, though it seemed coarser – almost like sandpaper. I could feel my heart beating strong and the air around me smelled sweet!

Huh?
I thought to myself,
Heartbeat?
The realization that my heart was again beating hit me like a hammer. This couldn’t be… I was dead. I had been killed by the broken neck, by the bite to my leg… I was dead…wasn’t I?

What the hell was going on?

I wandered around for a while, observing the world around me. Amazingly, despite that I could breathe air and my heart again pumped the hordes of undead still paid me no mind. But yet, here I was – with pink flesh, coursing blood, and a strong pulse! Still, they would have nothing to do with me. Even when I tried to provoke them there was no effect.

I didn’t want to go back to my friends just yet. Not until I had a better understanding of just how my body would react when it started to become thirsty again. So, I found myself a place to rest and sat for a while.

How could I still be in control? With so many who had been dramatically affected by whatever catalyst was spreading through the human population it made no sense that I would still be in control of my own faculties after my neck had healed.

It’s because of us, Byron
. I heard a chorus of voices in my head.

I thought to myself,
what the hell was going on?
Looking around frantically, I could see that I was utterly alone; not even a creature stood within sight. I said aloud, “who the hell is talking to me?”

We are.
The chorus had said.

Again, I said, “Who the hell is
we
?”