Knight Terrors: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale (9 page)

     The Lowes in Mt Pleasant was on one side of a large shopping center called Towne Center.  There were about thirty or so cars out front.  More than I expected anyway.  And they were all empty. We pulled the two vehicles up next to the lumber side door and climbed out.  It took only a moment to adjust our gear.

     “Okay,” I said before breaking into a coughing fit.  It took a moment to recover.

     “Ryan, why don’t you let us do this?” said Tom. 

     “No, I’m supposed to be the leader…”

     “You are, Boss Man.  But, you obviously feel like shit.  I bet your head feels cloudy and heavy?”

     I nodded while I coughed.

     “Then why don’t you watch our backs and we’ll take care of this part,” said Tom.

     “Okay, be careful.”

     I turned around and found a good spot to cover the rear.  John went up to the door and slowly pulled it open about two feet.  But, nothing came through.  After a few minutes, John fired three rounds through the opening.  But after a few more minutes nothing appeared.

     “That’s weird.  Hey, Ryan,” yelled Mike.

     “Yeah.”

     “What do ya think?”

     “I don’t know.  Lets get our headlamps on and get ready to go in.”

     “Why don’t we give it a little longer?” said Tom. “Something about this feels wrong.”

     “You mean that the zombies weren’t at the door waiting for us?” I asked.  “Or, that they didn’t come to dinner when we called?  Or, that we’re actually talking about actual fucking zombies?  Which part feels wrong to you?”

     I fell back against the bus and began to cough as I tried to catch my breath.  I was sicker than I thought.  It took me a minute to catch my breath.

     “Tom, I’m sorry.  I feel like shit and I was hoping this would be an easy day.  But, I shouldn’t have said that.  I’m sorry.”

     Tom came over and nodded.

     “All of the above,” he said.

     It took me a moment in my cloudy state but then we all began to laugh.

     “It’s the fucking Zombie Apocalypse, Ryan.  None of this feels right.”

     We all laughed a little more.

     “All right,” I said catching my breath again.  “Lets fire a few more rounds in there and give it some more time.”

     I turned back to my job and found three zombies about fifty feet away.  I raised my crossbow and called out.

     “Three in the rear.  Engaging.”

     I heard John fire off his shots into the store then fired my own shot.  Each one found it’s mark.  I was thinking about walking out and getting my bolts when Keith called out.

     “Ryan, on your left.”

     I looked over and there was another zombie not twenty feet away shambling towards us.  My crossbow was not loaded so I grabbed my tomahawk and adjusted my grip.  Damn, I really must be worse than I thought to not notice that one.  A few more feet and I could’ve smelled the thing.  Well, not as congested as I was.  I raised my tomahawk and got ready to move when I heard a ‘zing’ and a bolt appeared in the zombies head.   After it went down I turned to see who my savior was.  Tom was reloading hos crossbow.

     “Thanks.”

     “You’ve saved my butt plenty of times,” he said.

     We collected our bolts and looked over at John watching the door.  He shrugged.

     “Okay, now we get our headlamps on,” I said.

     The Lowes was too big of a store for us to safely clear.  There’s just too big of a risk for something to get behind you in an area you thought was clear.  So, we made the decision to clear as we went.  Two of us would provide cover while the other three loaded and carried.  We were at the lumber door so we started there.  Sheets of plywood and 2X4’s went into the van.  Then came the chicken wire, screen and nails.  Every so often we would pause to listen.  There was a persistent noise coming from the far end of the store.  Not exactly banging but not taping either.  It wasn’t getting any closer and we didn’t see any zombies.  We grabbed hammers, saws, screwdrivers and all manner of hand tools.  We found large trash cans that would make great rain barrels.  Laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, large brooms and most importantly, more toilet paper were grabbed, too.  All the while, the persistent noise grew louder as we moved to the opposite end of the store.

     Finally, we could see that the doors to the inside garden center were boarded up.  I had no illusions as to what was behind those doors.

      Most everything was set up for Christmas but there might be some seeds over here somewhere.  Let’s spread out and find them,” I said.

     Keith and I made our way over towards the boarded up door and found a rotating stand that had seeds.  We took everything.  I was thinking about little pots to starts the seeds in and where plastic sheeting was for a greenhouse when the noise from the other side of the door intensified.  They must have heard us.  Before we could react, the door gave way, bursting in like an avalanche.  An avalanche of the undead.  The noise of the breaking door, the rush of the foul stench and the pile of zombies that came through was too much and I jumped backwards with a scream.  I fell over a display of bug spray or fertilizer or something and went down.  My foot got caught and my ankle turned and popped.  I could hear it over the moaning zombies.  I crab crawled away from the advancing horde with the same fear I’d felt the first time I saw Mrs. Thompson coming at me through the screen door of her house.

     I drew my pistol and fired, once, twice, three times.  But I couldn’t shoot and move.  Then there were arms grabbing me from behind.  I started to fight to keep from being bitten but it was Keith.  He pulled and I fired my pistol.  But the floor was slippery from whatever I knocked over and he fell.  Panicked now, I crawled away from the zombies as fast as I could.  Tom, John and Mike were running towards me, shouting and shooting.  I didn’t know what they were saying and I didn’t care.  I just knew that with their help, Keith and I were safe.  Then I turned to see Tom and John shooting zombies at close range.  Mike was pulling Keith out from under the pile of newly dead again zombies.  What happened?  Keith was right behind me.

     I tried to stand and fight but couldn’t put any weight on my ankle at all.  I collapsed again as the firing stopped.

     I crawled over to where Keith was sprawled on the floor in the bug spray.  The smell of the zombies mixed with the chemicals was nauseating.  Tom was kneeling, talking to Keith and John was standing over them crying.  Mike was checking for zombies that got missed.  I saw tom unsheathe his knife.

   “No, No,” I cried.  “No more death.”  I grabbed Toms hand to stop him.  Keith was crying but his eyes were closed.

    “Keith, hey,” I said.  There was a chunk of his face missed, tore off like so much flesh.  His eyes opened.  They found my face and focused.

     “You okay?” Keith asked.

     “Yeah, you saved me.  Dumbass.”  He grinned.

     “Go home to your kids.  They can’t lose you.”  His eyes closed and he started to shake.

     I started to grab him but Tom pushed me out of the way with one hand and plunged the knife into Keith’s’ eye with the other.  Johns head fell into his chest and Mike turned away from the painfull memory of his fathers death.  I fell onto my back and screamed a mournfull wail.

     Then the store fell silent but for our tears.

     Without any words, Tom rose up and went off.  He brought back some drop cloths from the paint department to wrap Keith..  I watched him come back hoping he would look at me and see how sorry I was but he avoided my eyes.  Mike grabbed a flat bed cart and Keith’s body was placed on it.  John and Tom began to wheel him down towards the lumber doors.    Mike grabbed another cart and helped me on it.  We followed behind the others.  The cart had a bad wheel that echoed through the store, mocking my stupidity for getting Keith killed.

     Keith was placed on the floor of the bus where Michael had been.  Where Sam had been.  They helped me in and I sat on the seat next to him.  No words were spoken.  The three of them went back for our carts and loaded the rest of the supplies.  The last thing loaded was Keiths backpack.  It was full of the precious seeds.  Seeds for our future survival.  A future that Keith wouldn’t see.

    I watched from the bus for any visitors as the others loaded the boat.  Short two people it was a long, silent process.  I didn’t see anyone watching us this time.  Mike helped me to the boat and I crawled to the wheelhouse and into the captains chair.  Zombies fell silently into the water from the Yorktown as we motored past.

     Lois was on lookout when we got back to the pier.  I hadn’t called in so they all knew something was wrong.  Everyone else was at the dock waiting.  Tabby went to take Lois’ spot on watch.  I sent Karen away with Mal and Willie to go play somewhere else.  Karen started to protest but then saw the look on my face and thought better of it.  I stayed in the wheelhouse and waited for Lois.  Instead, Tracie got there first.

     “I wanted to know you were okay,” she said.  I just shook my head, the pain both physical and emotional shown on my face.  I could see tears well up in her eyes.  She moved to touch me when Lois came in.

     “What happened?”  I remained silent.  “Ryan?” 

     I took a deep breath and tried to say something, but the tears were in the way.

     “Keith…  Dead…  Saved me…  I’m sorry…”  It was all I had.  The pain rushed in and I paused. 

     Tracie wrapped her arms around me from behind and even Lois who kept a lot in put her hand on my face. 

     “Are you hurt?” she asked.  I nodded.

     “My right ankle.  It’s sprained pretty bad.  I’ve done it before.”  Talking was easier now with Tracie there.

     Lois knelt done to examine my ankle and I stopped her.

     “It’s not important right now.  Pat lost her son.  Tom lost yet another member of his family.  Go help them, both of you.  I am not going anywhere.”

     Neither one moved. 

     “They need help more than me.  And the boat is full of supplies.  When you’re done, send somebody to help  me off.”

     “Stay off your foot,” Lois said.  I nodded and she turned and left.

     Tracie lingered a moment then unwrapped her arms.  I immediately felt cold.

     “Thank you,” I said.  But she was gone.

     Alone with my thoughts now.  I could hear Pat crying.  I could hear the boat being unloaded.  I didn’t know Keith very well but he was a good young man, that was obvious.  And I knew what Tom had been through since all this started.  Except for John, Pat and Willie his whole family was gone.  And two of them died on my watch.  First Barb, at the house we sought shelter in during our escape from Preston’s gang.  Now Keith.  I was responsible for Keith.  If I hadn’t fallen…

     “You’re not responsible, you know,” said Tony as he came in to the wheelhouse.

     “Getting around pretty good now with that cane, I see.  Of course I’m responsible Tony.  I’m in charge.”

     “That just means we all follow you.  You can’t save everyone.  I think you know that.”

     “I know that people are dying all around me and I can’t fucking do anything about it.”

     “Good, now learn to accept that,” he said.  “I’m going to go see if the kids will let me play with them so Karen can help with the boat.”  I nodded and he left.

     Mike came to help me off the boat.  The hardest part was transfering to the dock.  I ended up putting my foot down and screamed a little at the sudden pain.  I sat in one of the carts that we took from Patriot’s point on the previous trip and Mike pushed me up to the fort.  I felt helpless.

     Tracie met me at my campsite.

     “ACE bandage and painkillers.  Lois said that if you don’t stay off it then you’ll never heal.”

     “Got it.”  I downed a painkiller right away and began to wrap my ankle.  I know how to do it but wrapping your own injured ankle is different than wrapping your uninjured ankle.  And it hurt like hell.

     “Let me.”

     Tracie knelt down, gently taking my foot and putting it in her lap.

     “I’ve done this before for my husband.”  She was careful but it was painful to keep my foot in the right position.  I didn’t want her to see me cry anymore but if she noticed, she didn’t show it.  When she was done she piled up a jacket and a blanket and put my foot on top.

     “Keep it elevated.  Want some company?”

     “I’m not going to be very good company right now.”

     “You’re not going to be very good company for yourself either.  But, I’ll leave you.  Yell, if you need something.”  I thanked her and was alone.  Eventually Thor found me and curled up next to my legs.  I had to adjust slightly so he wouldn’t put pressure on my ankle but the dog was warm and reminded me of better times.

     I watched the inhabitants of our little home move about trying to put the supplies away.  No one was happy today.

     Tony came by with Mal and Willie.  Mal seemed very nervous and anxious.

     “Daddy, did you get bit?’

     “No, buddy.  Is that what you’re worried about?”  He nodded.  “No, I got scared and fell down.  When I did, I twisted my ankle.  That’s all.”

     “You were scared?’

     “Yep, I was very scared.”

     “But, you weren’t bit?”

     “No, but I won’t be able to walk for a few days.  You and Tabby will have to help out some, Okay?”  he nodded.

     As Tony was taking them away, Thor woke up and started licking my face.  Doggy kisses are sometimes just what you need.  That and good painkillers.  I was soon asleep.

     I dreamed of zombies and bug spray.  Of doors and screaming.  Of shots fired and crying.  It was not restful.

     Soon after I awoke, I could see Tom and John up on the top of Battery Huger.  They were digging Keith’s grave just to the south of Sam’s.  I needed to make a marker for Sam.  I had thought she’d be the only grave up there.  That her monument would be a monument for all the ones who had died so we could be safe here.  I had thought we were safe here.  Foolish.

     Tabby appeared in front of me with some dinner.

     “Mike said you might want some alone time.”

     “Not from you.  Never from you, Tab”

     “Sorry, how’s the ankle?”

     “Bad, but nothing I haven’t done before.  It’ll be ok.  I just need to stay off of it.”

     “There’s gonna be a funeral for Keith in a bit. They’re gonna put him up near Mom.”

     “I saw,” I said, looking up at the top of the Battery.  “I don’t think I’m going to make it up there.”

     “Okay, you need anything?”

     “Nah, thanks.”  She kissed me and left.  I had to pee but I wasn’t going to let her help with that.  But, when she left I downed the water bottle I had and rolled over onto my side away from the parade ground and filled the bottle.  I didn’t get too much on me.

     When I rolled back over, Tony was there.

     “You’re pretty quiet for an old man.”

     “You were busy.  Are you in a better place now?’

     “You mean do I still feel responsible for Keith’s death?  Yeah, I do.  I’m tired of people dying, Tony.”

     “It’s not up to you, it’s God’s will.”

     “Where exactly do you see God in all of this?”

     “Everywhere.  Just like always.”  I shook my head.  I was not a fan of God today.  “I see Him in the miracle of you guys finding supplies for us.  I see Him inus finding this fort for shelter.  I see Him in the eyes of my wife, your children and this pregnant woman we found.  She’s a sign, Ryan.  That life goes on.  And, today God needed Keith.  Either for something up there,” he pointed up.  “or, for us to learn something down here.”

     “Learn what?”

     “I don’t have all the answers, Ryan.  That’s why I trust in God.”

     “When did you get all this religion?”

     He knelt down next to me.

     “Back when all this started, Beth was asleep and I was up keeping watch.  It was right after we lost contact with our boys, there was nothing going on outside.  I sat down in the recliner for a moment to relax and found myself on my knees talking to God.  I went to church, of course, but mostly for Beth and the boys.  But, I wasn’t sure how this was all going to end so I prayed to him that we would find a way through.  If we were worthy, if He had a plan for us, He just needed to give us a sign and we’d follow.  The next night you, Mike and the kids showed up.  God, sent me a sign, Ryan.  He sent you.  And we ended up here.  This, all of this, is Gods will.”

     I sat silently for a minute pondering what Tony said.  God was not something I believed in.  if this was His doing He was an evil son of a bitch.  Part of me wanted to give up control, give up responsibility for the group.  But, Gods, will?

     “We should get up there,” said Tony.

     “I can’t make that climb.”

     “You have to.”  Tony just looked at me.  Damn.

     It took almost thirty minutes, a gallon of sweat, a cane and help from three different people but I made it up to the top level.  All I could do once I got up there was sit and pant and try not to pass out.

     When it was time, everyone gathered while Tom and John placed the body next to the hole.  There were no tears.  No one had any to spare now.  I didn’t want to be responsible anymore.  I wish Tom, Mike or Tony would just step up and take over.  And at the same time would I trust anyone else with the safety of my children?  Probably not.

     Tom cleared his throat.

     “I am so tired of death.  Ever since this all started there’s been nothing but death.  Zombies, then humans now zombies again.  It goes on and on.  There’s almost none of my family left.  Today we put Keith in the ground.  He was a good young man.  Worked hard.  Listened.  Fought hard.  He was an important part of the family and ythe group.  He will be missed.”