Byron : A Zombie Tale (Part 1) (5 page)

“So, tell me everything you know about what the hell is going on.” I’d told Pam. Her response was simply to stare at me as if she was completely dumbfounded.

“I…I don’t know,” she stammered.

This wasn’t a good enough answer. “What do you mean ‘you don’t know’?” I pushed. “Apparently you know something, you were just telling me about some zombie apocalypse a few minutes ago. And now, you don’t know?” I couldn’t help the anger that was rising into my voice. I had to admit that I felt pretty traumatized at that moment. I, myself, had becoming a walking blasphemy – an abomination – an impossibility! And, this girly potentially held in her brain the answers which I so hungrily sought.

Her response to my tone of voice was to cringe. I sighed and hung my head. “I’m sorry,” I told her, “it’s just that my whole world has just been turned upside down. I have apparently been out of it for a while. And now!” I paused. “Now, I have no idea why there are corpses walking around trying to eat people.”

My voice was getting more and more excited. She cringed as I spoke. Evidently, I was scaring her again.

“Pam,” I said as softly as I could. But, it was starting to hurt to talk. The dryness was coming back to my throat. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “Byron, are you…” But her voice trailed off.

“Am I what?” I asked her gently.

“Are… are you dead?” Her voice was hollow; vacant.

I hung my head. “I think so,” I said to her. She backed away, eyeing me suspiciously. “Then, how…”

Again her question trailed off, but I understood her meaning. She wanted to know how come I wasn’t trying to eat her head off. “I don’t know,” I replied.

Apparently, I was still alive in a sense, but my body was also very much dead. I was conscious and could still think. My body still moved. But, my blood no longer flowed through my veins. And, there was this strange burning sensation.

I raised my hands to my face, covering it in shame. However, I had forgotten one thing – blood. The officer’s blood, now cool and drying on my hands, smelled delicious!

Immediately, I stopped breathing. I couldn’t allow my body to go rogue on me now! Especially not with Pam standing a few feet from me; she already looked at me like I should be chewing on her brain or something. I closed my eyes and steeled myself.
I’m okay!
I told myself.
I will not give in to these urges
.
I will not eat PAM!

I tried to breathe again. Instantly, I felt the burning sensation enter my throat. My hands started shaking. There must be some blood on my face. Its fantastic aroma was again awakening some primal urge in me to feed.

Dammit.

I ran to the bank of sinks against the wall, turned the faucets to their stops and began scrubbing my arms and face. I couldn’t bear the thought of attacking another
living
human being, let alone eating them; especially not Pam!

The smell began to abate as I watched the crimson trail wash down the drain. However, my frantic flurry of action and the sudden deafening roar of the water in the sink had unfortunately reminded our visitors outside the morgue to our presence within. But, I didn’t care. I had to keep Pam safe – even from me.

She watched all I did with a guarded fascination. “What’s wrong?” she asked timidly. In my furor, I neglected to respond. Pam would not be put off. With much more force she repeated her question: “What’s WRONG?”

I shook my head, scrubbing harder. Would it be safe to breathe? Was the smell gone? I decided that I had to risk it and took a shallow breath. There was nothing. What’s more is that I could feel the dryness returning to my throat.

“Blood,” was all I could croak as I gestured toward my hands and face. I hoped that she understood my meaning. And, as I turned my head toward her, it appeared as though she did.

“So, you ARE one of them.” There was viciousness to her words. I could understand why, but I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt by it.

I shook my head and croaked, “No! Someth… diffrn..t.” It was getting much harder to speak. But why? It didn’t make sense. I was able to talk just fine a few moments ago.

Shaking dry my hands, I turned to her and tried to smile. She backed away a little more. “Don’… be… fraid,” I rasped. She stopped.

“What are you?” She asked. The anger was still strong in her voice.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Dunno…” I managed to pass between my lips. Everything was getting so dry again.

She took a step forward and I smiled. She paused; then, another step forward.

There was a light burning in my throat. I could feel saliva flowing again and swallowed. It felt a hell of a lot better. But why?

“What do you mean that you don’t know?” She asked with heavy skepticism.

My throat felt so much better the closer she got. And as I saw her coat it occurred to me why. It was covered with blood. Granted it was drying and I couldn’t smell it as strong. But, that had to be it! The smell of the blood had awakened my body. I also noticed that my body seemed to be more agile; more nimble. Whatever it was inside me that kept my body animated was switched on by the smell of blood!

“Just what I said,” I told her, “I don’t know what I am. I guess that I AM one of those things. But, yet for some reason I’m not! I can think. I can decide where to go. I can talk. I’m still me. But, it’s like I’m not me, too. Like when I saw that cop for the first time…” I let the thought trail off, not wanting to really think about what had happened.

“So, then what the hell are you?” She asked. “I mean, I need to know if I can trust you not to want to kill and eat me!”

I made a face of disgust. “Trust me,” I told her with a sour tone to my voice, “the idea of eating raw meat disgusts me enough – let alone the thought of biting into human… ugh!!” I wanted to vomit but knew that there would be nothing in my stomach to release. Instead, I just gagged heavily.

After I collected myself for a few moments, I looked her in the eyes. “Look, I don’t know anything about what’s going on. I don’t know what happened to me. I can’t even fathom what the hell this all is.”

“So,” she said, “then tell me what you do know! What is the last thing you remember? Do you remember who you are?”

I nodded. “Of course I remember who I am! Don’t forget that I was the one who recognized you.” I searched my thoughts for a few moments. “I remember my seventh birthday, my twenty-first birthday, my first girlfriend, my first day of college, everything. But, I don’t know what the hell happened to me when I left the pub the other night.”

“Wait!” she exclaimed and then shushed me. I could hear something against the door. It was faint, but distinct. Something was pounding against the door – trying to get in!

I scanned our surroundings. There had to be another exit from this place. The police wouldn’t be bringing corpses in right through central processing! No. They had to have a separate entrance to this area. In fact, I was sure there had to be some kind of health code dictating that they did. I ran to the door to inspect our barrier. So far, it was holding. I then followed the room around in a circle, walking the entire perimeter of the space. And, that was when I saw it.

To the left of the mirror in which I had earlier viewed myself there was a large, steel roll-up garage door. Further to the left was another door, a pedestrian door. It operated by one of those push-bar door locks that were common on municipal and commercial buildings.

“Wait here!” I whispered to Pam and then ran over to the door. I depressed the bar as gently as I could. It would be unfortunate if there were a gaggle of these creatures loitering outside and the sound of the push bar alarmed them to our presence. Luckily the door swung outward and I could sneak a peek out the crack.

So far, it looked clear. I could see a parking lot in back of the building full of police cars, and an ambulance. I poked my head a little further out the door. It looked safe. The beasts were attracted by the smell of blood and focused their efforts on the front of the building where the poor dead officer now lay being devoured by these monsters.

I slipped back inside as silently as I could. “Pam,” I whispered, “I need you to stand guard. I will knock with ‘shave and a haircut’ for you to let me in. I am going to see if we can get to one of the cars out there. Okay?” She nodded. “Good! I’ll be right back!”

With a smile, I eased the door open and slipped through into the cool evening air. There was still enough daylight to illuminate the parking lot, but I could also see that the lot’s tall lamps were also starting to come to life. It must have been early evening. The sun was setting, and soon it would be dark. I ran from the slim opening of the doorway into the open and sprinted for one of the police cars. Trying the door, I found that it was locked. Several of the other cars were also locked.

Dammit! This may not have been a great idea. I looked back toward the gray steel door behind which Pam was standing guard. Everything looked to be okay, so I approached the ambulance. It was open!

I searched the inside of the cab for keys and was pleased to find that they were actually hidden up in the visor. Yes! We should be able to get rolling soon. I slipped the key into the ignition, turned, and the engine roared to life!

We were in business!

I backed the ambulance up to the roll-up doors, left the engine running and hopped out. The sprint to the gray steel door was a short one. I gave Pam the requisite knock and pulled the handle. But to my surprise the door was very much still locked in place.

Oh no! Pam! My mind raced! What was wrong? Why hadn’t she answered? Trying to stay calm, I knocked again – this time whispering for her “Pam, are you there? Open up, it’s me – Byron.” My voice was becoming raspy.

There was still no answer after a few more moments. I’d taken too long! There was something wrong – perhaps the creatures had gotten in.

No! I couldn’t think of the worst. I had to do something to help Pam!

I knocked again. Still nothing. Maybe I could work my way around the side of the building. Or, maybe I could force the door open. I looked around to find something to force the door with. Maybe there was something in the ambulance!

I jogged back over and rifled through the various shelves, and cabinets in the back of the ambulance. I cheered out loud. There was a crowbar in the ambulance! Stepping out of the cab, my spirits took a serious blow as I saw a pair of creatures pounding on the same gray steel door through which I needed to pass to rescue Pam!

The great thing about crowbars, as many unfortunate mugging victims in places like
Newark have known, was that they have many uses. They could be used innocently for prying things apart, they could be used for breaking and entering, or, they could be used to deliver a healthy dose of attitude adjustment. This was also known as delivering whoop-ass!

I moved as quietly as I could while winding up with the crowbar. The pair of creatures who’d taken up residence outside the back door to the morgue had been making such a racket that they couldn’t hear me coming. Releasing the tension in my torso I swung at one of their heads with all my stored power. The result was that the creature’s head popped like a dropped light bulb. As the crowbar followed through the broken skull pieces of flesh and bone spattered the adjacent beast.

While the first creature fell to the concrete steps the second one turned toward me. However, its milky eyes never had an opportunity to fix upon me as I carried the momentum of my great swing which felled his companion into an arcing blow that came crashing down and cleaved his skull in two.

Both of my foes were dead! Well, I guess defeated would be a better word. Let’s just suffice it to say that I no longer had to concern myself with them.

I jammed my weapon into the doorframe and pried the steel door open. Inside the morgue the lights were out again. My body was no longer stiff. The air was thick with the smell of blood. Before even seeing that our makeshift barrier on the other side of the room had been breeched I knew that the creatures were in the room. I could smell the officer’s blood.

At least, I hoped it was the officer’s blood.

I felt the burning sensation rise in my throat again at the smell and had to hold my breath. Pam was nowhere to be seen. But, something I did see tipped me off to where she was. There was a congregation of creatures near the far left wall.

That had to be where Pam was! These damn things wouldn’t be there if there was no chance to feed.

I thought about rushing right in with my crowbar swinging, but quickly realized that it would be pure folly. There had to be nearly a dozen creatures over there, and as movement near the barrier caught my eye, I saw that many more were shuffling in to the room.

Damn! These things had a fantastic sense of smell. Why did I have to be right on top of the blood for it to affect me the same way?

As more creatures entered the room they didn’t give me so much as a first glance. I had washed the officer’s blood from me, and that same fluid no longer coursed through my veins. The incoming creatures bee-lined right over to the same place where Pam must be hiding. That was where they smelled blood.

I approached cautiously, winding up my crowbar for an opportunity to strike. But, within a single footstep of the nearest creature my attack was foiled by a slight movement I saw out of the corner of my eye. It was so slight that I had almost missed it. And, these creatures in their ravenous frenzy for food would surely have missed the movement. With my breath held, I was able to stay focused and alert.

I gradually stepped over toward the counter where I saw the movement and knelt down beside. Beneath the counter was a set of hanging curtains which hid the space beneath. It also hid the curled form of Pam!

I slid the curtains gently backward trying not to alert the creatures to Pam’s whereabouts. I held my finger vertically across my lips indicating silence, then gestured that she follow me. She slid out behind me and together we backed our way out toward the steel exterior door.

Our escape plan was flawless! We moved rather quickly toward the door avoiding detection. Until…

As we approached the door, I pushed Pam in front of me in an attempt to insulate her from the room full of flesh-hungry beasts behind us. But, what I had not anticipated was that one of the same creatures I was protecting her from – saving her from – would be making its way in through the door at the same time. I don’t know what sound was louder – the hunger-driven screech of the beast or the fear induced shriek of Pam!

Either way, the game was up. With a room full of monsters behind us and only one visible ahead of us our choice was clear: onward. I shoved Pam to the side, removing her from the creature’s path, and drove the crowbar into its face. As the creature stumbled backward, I could see that there were at least three more making their way across the parking lot.

Behind us I could hear several of the creatures from within begin making their way to the steel door. We had run out of time!

I grabbed Pam by the wrist and nearly dragged her across the few short yards between the entrance and the ambulance. I pushed her inside, jumped into the driver’s seat, and slammed the still-running truck into gear. Mashing the accelerator pedal to the floor, we lurched forward with slow but definite power. Having never driven a vehicle this big, I had to admit that it was a bit cumbersome. But, yet, I was also happy as I smashed through the tail end of a police cruiser that it had more than enough power to spare!

In the rearview mirror I could see several shrieking beasts as they came running through the gray steel door. What amazed me was the fact that they kept chase on the ambulance for quite a while before I was able to surpass their speed and pull away.

“What the hell happened back there?” I asked Pam, not realizing that this was the first time in several minutes that I had actually taken a breath.

Pam looked square at me, it was apparent to me that she was still deciding whether she could trust me or not. “After you stepped from the door I closed it tight behind you. I waited a few minutes for your return. But, then I heard the banging on the other door increase in volume. And, then BOOM! I figured that it was busted off its hinges. Then I could hear some of the furniture start to move. I panicked! I didn’t know what to do! So, I took off my coat, threw it into the far corner and then ran for the cabinet you found me in. I gambled that they would follow the smell of blood rather than focus their efforts on me. I was lucky! The gamble worked.”

I didn’t know what to say. “Wow!” was all that I could come up with. “Thank god!” As I spoke, I noticed that the dryness was creeping back into my throat. I coughed.

“Are you okay?” Pam asked with a mix of both fright and genuine concern.

“Yeah,” I rasped. The smell of blood was gone. My throat was drying up again and my muscles were becoming stiff.

Oh damn! I saw the car entering the intersection but could do nothing to alter the course or velocity of the ambulance. Its not that I lacked the will to do anything, but simply the fact that my muscles were starting to become very stiff.

I gasped a raspy breath as the hard steel of the ambulance’s brush guard collided with the front end of the compact car, decimating the plastic exterior in a shower of splinters. Pam also gasped.

Slamming on the brakes, I looked in the rearview mirrors to assess the damage. I was relieved when I saw that the car was vacant. But, in an instant I realized that I had been a fool. The car was bait – intended to make me stop, as well as to attract the attention of the nearby creatures.

The ambulance’s engine sputtered to a stop. I cranked the key to no avail. As I heard a shriek outside the vehicle my heart sank. We were trapped – and, it would appear, we were also on the menu!