Authors: Armand Rosamilia
"You want to eat the children," Russ said quietly.
"No. I want to drain everyone Jeff and his men can bring to me. I want to stay immortal. I want to outlive everyone on this rotting planet. I have a higher purpose you can't even begin to imagine. But I will not share my power. I am the oldest living zombie since many others have died. I am the most powerful, and I intend to stay this way," the Lich Lord said.
"You called yourself a zombie."
The Lich Lord chuckled. "I use the word jokingly, since I am now so much more."
Russ could see a shadow detach from the darkness and move slowly towards him.
"I will address my followers two nights from now. Gather them outside the building. I have many plans and I will need their help. In exchange I will allow them to live and prosper and will never hunt them… unless they have done something wrong. And as long as they continue to bring me what I crave."
Russ stood his ground even though he was shaking.
The Lich Lord was coming at Russ slowly and when Russ saw the two glowing red eyes he nearly turned and ran.
"You see, Azrael, I need new things with each new day. My growth is not complete but I can see the end of the proverbial tunnel. I'm no longer interested in the flesh of mortals, just the blood. I need it to survive. I look at the sexual drive as a fading memory, a last sin before I could break the chains of mortality. It was a test, a last spark in my brain I needed to release and get out of my system."
"The zombies will stop raping the living?" Russ asked, watching as the Lich Lord took another two steps. "But they'll still try to bite us?"
"Eventually I'll need a sacrifice. I need the blood to keep me going. I need to keep gaining strength. There can only be one of us left, don't you see? A god. But what does every god need?"
"Followers," Russ said quietly.
"Exactly. And I will become your god. In return I will protect you and help you to thrive and repopulate the world in my image. We'll hunt down those who oppose my rule, and we'll create a better place. With a god walking among you."
Russ gasped when the Lich Lord walked closer and he could see the twisted new features of his master: his eyes burning red, his canines now elongated and his skin a pale ivory, smooth and nearly featureless. His physical appearance was jarring.
"You look like…" Russ managed to say but looked away, the skin so white it almost glowed.
"This is evolution. Homo Superior. What every human should strive for. But it won't come to pass, because I intend to keep everyone in check. I allow you to live and you allow me to grow. Without me, the zombies would run amok and destroy your little haven. I offer you protection and stability."
"And all you ask is the blood," Russ said. He glanced behind him to the doors, which had been covered with newspapers and sheets. "Why is it so dark in here?"
The Lich Lord said nothing but Russ could see him smile from only a few feet away.
"You can't go out in the light anymore, can you?"
"I don't need to. I no longer need to sleep, eat or breathe. I can read your thoughts and sense everything and everyone for miles. You might see this as a limitation, but I see it as a positive. I don't need the hateful sun on my side. I am not a sun god, I am god. Someday this world will be plunged into absolute darkness."
You're mad
, Russ thought.
"Very much so. Aren't all the brilliant ones, through time, raving lunatics? Go and spread the word of what you've seen and what I've said. Some will attempt to kill me but they will not succeed. Others will kneel before me and I will vanquish the enemies, even now, heading towards us."
Chapter Four
The last two zombies did a sweep of the two vehicles to make sure no one was missed. Reluctantly they began walking down A1A at a leisurely pace and heading north.
When Tosha was sure they were both out of sight and not going to double back and none of their undead buddies were hiding in wait, she scampered down from her perch in the dunes and made a beeline to the van, which was still entangled in the chain and two cars.
She quietly opened the side door and saw the dying woman first, her throat gushing blood and her eyes wide with fear as she tried to stop the flow. "Help me," she whispered to Tosha with her ruined vocal chords.
Without a thought, Tosha slammed the butt of her rifle into the woman's head, making sure she not only died but she wouldn't be coming back to undead life. She figured it was the only real way to help the woman. Tosha pulled her body out of the van and slipped inside, smiling at her find.
The rear of the van was filled with metal cans of all shapes and sizes, the labels peeled off of most of them. There was a cardboard box full of plastic bottles filled with water, and a collection of knives duct-taped to the inside wall of the van.
Tosha popped her head back outside to make sure she was alone and sighed. The black SUV was back, driving slowly down the road, toward her spot. She'd been seen. She lifted the carbine and aimed at the SUV, which stopped fifty feet from her.
She knew she couldn't run. If she did, they'd follow her in the SUV. She had no idea how many people were actually in the vehicle because the sun was glaring off their windshield. She decided to take her chances and stand her ground. "Driver, exit the SUV slowly, with your hands up, or I will shoot. Now."
The driver's door opened slowly and Tosha saw a pair of cowboy boots hit the pavement first. The man walked around the open door, hands in the air and smiling. He was wearing faded blue jeans, a gaudy Hawaiian shirt, cowboy hat and mirrored sunglasses. His face was covered in a graying beard. "Gosh, ain't you a pretty one? I bet under all that dirt and shit you got a rockin' body. Am I right?"
"Say another word and I'll put a hole through your stupid grin, cowboy."
He kept smiling and nodded.
"How many more people are in the SUV?"
Cowboy held up one finger.
"Is it your girlfriend?"
Cowboy smiled. "Not at all, sugar. I'm speculatin' you'll be my girlfriend before this is all over with."
"It's going to be all over with if you keep talking shit and don’t just answer the fucking questions I'm asking," Tosha said. She was beginning to think this was a mistake. This guy was too cocky. She looked around suddenly, making sure no one was sneaking up on her.
"Little paranoid, darlin'? It's just me and my boss. We got ambushed not too long ago by a bunch of smart zombies, and we managed to high-tail it to safety. Now, we're coming back to collect the food and weapons, which are ours." He dropped his smile. "Do you have a problem with anything I'm sayin'?"
"Nope, Cowboy. Only the part where you think you're still entitled to this shit in the van. The way I see it, you walked away and left it for me to find. I found it. Now it's time for you and your boss to drive away and leave me and my new shit alone." Tosha raised the rifle and smiled. "Unless you want me to go through the SUV as well. I have no problem shooting you in your pretty face."
Cowboy was smiling again and slowly reached up and tipped his hat in Tosha's direction. "I appreciate you noticing my physical charms."
"I didn't…"
"You said I had a pretty face."
"I was being sarcastic. Tell your boss to get out of the car slowly," Tosha said, wanting to kick herself in the ass for letting him sit inside this long. With the glare of the sun, he could be loading a bazooka and she'd be unaware. "I want to see his hands."
Cowboy turned slightly and waved at the SUV before turning back to Tosha. "You must be quite the killer to have survived this long. What's the chance you put down that pea-shooter and we chat for a bit?"
"No chance. Shut up."
The passenger door opened but no one stepped out.
Tosha aimed the gun in the direction of the windshield. "He has to the count of three to exit the vehicle or he will be painting the back window with his blood. I can't make this any clearer. No stupid moves."
"No need for threats," a man yelled as he slowly got out of the SUV and put his hands on his head. "We're all in this together, ma'am. I'm living and breathing like you are. You're not my enemy and I'm certainly not yours. We're in this together."
"Not from where I'm standing," Tosha said.
The man was tall and had definite strength despite his age, his face and head clean-shaven. He was weathered, sun-burnt and had creases in his leathery skin. He only wore a tight gray t-shirt and a pair of worn blue jeans with a pair of black sneakers. His fingers were covered in rings and his forearms covered in ink. He was smiling but even from this distance Tosha could see there was nothing pleasant about this man.
He also looked familiar but Tosha couldn't place where she knew him from. It was rare these days to run into anyone she knew… and it was not too common to be talking to living, breathing people in the last few months.
Both men stood in front of the SUV and looked amused.
"Stop smiling," Tosha yelled, knowing how stupid and desperate it sounded. "I want you both to strip down."
"Can I get dinner first?" Cowboy asked. "I'm a cheap date, honey, but I ain't that cheap."
"I'm going to shoot you."
"So you've said. Only I don’t think you will, because we have something you need," Cowboy said. "Besides the obvious sexual attraction, I think we share a common goal."
"What would that be?"
"Staying alive. There's a rumor a group has secured a sweet spot a few miles south of us on A1A. We were heading in that direction when we were attacked by a mob of zombies. We lost everyone in the attack," Cowboy said. "Why not come with us?"
Tosha laughed. "I don't think so. I'm not interested in you two losers attempting to rape me, and as much as I'd enjoy cutting your dick off and shoving it into your buddy's mouth, I'm not interested in the work involved. Take a hike."
"You're making a mistake," the other man said. "We could work together and get to safety. I'm sure of it." He looked around dramatically. "I don't see you driving anything. How do you plan on carrying everything from the van?"
"That's not your problem," Tosha said quickly. "I'm thinking I load up the SUV and drive away and leave you two to rot."
"I won't let you do it," the man said. He looked at Cowboy. "You might as well shoot us and be done with it, because I'm not going to be weaponless and be attacked by zombies. You'd be doing us a favor by just pulling the trigger, but you'd be killing us in cold blood. I have a deal for you."
"You're in no position to offer me a deal," Tosha said, but she was interested to hear what he had to say. She knew there was no way they'd give up not only the supplies, but their mode of transportation as well. But she wasn't stupid enough to shoot first and ask questions later.
"It's getting really hot out here. I have air conditioning in the SUV. Can we come to an agreement already?" Cowboy asked.
The other man laughed. "The deal is simple: the three of us load up the SUV with the supplies and head to safety."
"That's not much of a deal, especially when I have a gun pointed at your balls. Here's my deal: you walk away with those balls and I get the supplies."
The man nodded. "Fine. We're going to get back in the vehicle and drive away. You can keep the food. And figure out how to move all of it by yourself, especially with the area filled with intelligent zombies."
"I'll figure it out," Tosha said. "I'm in a good mood, so I'll tell you what… get in your SUV without funny business and we'll simply step away."
"I like that. I can live with it." Cowboy smiled. "But someday you and I are goin' to have a proper date, little lady. I have a weakness for redheads."
"I won't say it again… go away."
The other man nodded and put his hands down slowly. "We'll meet again, Red. I'm sure of it."
Tosha was waiting for one of them to do something stupid. She casually took a step back so she could dive behind the van if she had to get away.
But both men turned and walked back to the SUV.
"Wait," Tosha called out.
Both men turned and looked at her.
"I know you," she said and pointed at the other man. "Where have I seen you before?"
He smiled and shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'm not originally from around here. Ever been to Upstate New York?"
"I'm from Harrisburg. I've never been that far north. But I know you from somewhere," Tosha said. She was starting to get an uneasy feeling. She was sure she'd seen him somewhere before, and not in a good place.
He nodded to Cowboy and the two of them went to climb into the SUV. "Like I said, Red, I'll see you again. Soon. My name is Doug Conrad."