Aftershock: A Collection of Survivors Tales (16 page)

A man pulled his camper up next to the roof. He jumped out of the driver’s door, and made his way up the ladder on the back of the rig so that he was up at our level. The rest of the group circled up their vehicles and waited to see if they were staying put or moving on. The man on the roof eyed us real quick and signaled for the group to cut their engines. They did, but still stayed put.

“Name’s Wayne. Yours?” He spoke in a friendly voice.

“Mick. That’s Amy, Garett, and Zoe.” I pointed at our group as I named them.

“You guys stuck up there? Or are you taking a break from the road?”

“Started off as stretching out from being in the truck too long, but we saw a mass of zombies pass through while we were up here, and are rethinking our route.”

“Where were you headed?”

I pulled the flyer out of my pocket, and as I did Wayne did the same.

“Well, shit! What a coincidence. We are heading in the same direction.” He laughed.

Wayne turned and gave a signal to all the other people in his group. They started unpacking. He asked if was ok for them to make their way up to the rooftop. The more I saw of these guys, how organized they were, their demeanor, the more I knew I would be a fool not to try to get our little group attached to theirs.

We had a feast that night. One of the guys had bagged a deer, and a few squirrels. Add to that the prepackaged food they had with them, and it was a party. Garret had dropped his snotty ass teenage thing. One of the group members was a fifteen year old girl, and a pretty one at that. Amy and I were out of his radar, and I changed the conversation I would have from it is none of your damn business, to don’t get us kicked out of this group by trying to screw the guy’s daughter.

As we ate we discussed all the things we had seen. Turns out these guys were preppers. You know, the nutjobs that spent all their money preparing for the end of the world. Damn smart of them too. They had only just emerged from their bunkers to go to the same place we are headed. They had a guy that got there already, and said it is safe. What a fucking relief! All this time driving towards it we never knew if it was a good place, or a trap. Now we do.

They were just as concerned about the massive herd we saw. When I explained the size of it, they made me repeat the details over and over. It was decided that we would yet again wait a few days before heading out. Wayne said he would work with us to learn all of their signals. It keeps them safe on the road. They also wanted to go through our supplies with us, and make sure we were fully stocked in case we got separated.

Anything we were lacking we were lucky enough to find in the store down below us. We hadn’t had a chance to make a sweep through it, and it was well stocked still. That may have been due to the ten dead freaks roaming around inside. Wayne had us demonstrate our skill in extermination before we collected the supplies. I could see he was pleasantly surprised that we all were proficient in putting down zombies. You have to figure by this point anyone still alive is.

Amy spent her nights in my tent for the rest of the time we were there. Life was as good as it was ever going to get. I had a good woman, a family, and a new group of people who were actually ready for this hell hole. I think my luck has really made a complete turnaround. I didn’t want to jinx it, but I really felt happy. Laying there at night, with Amy asleep draped across my chest, I felt like I could finally relax.

I think I have finally had it with the Rev. I know he’s got his “mission from God” and I don’t mean to disrespect him, but this shit is has gone beyond stale.

We found these flyers out along the highway talking about a safe place. Bigger, better fortified than this dump could ever hope to be, and probably better run too. Like I said, I got nothing against the Rev, he took me in when he didn’t really have to, but this town is sorely lacking for leadership.

I won’t criticize him openly, I couldn’t do the job any better and I don’t want it anyway, but he is way too dependent on guidance “from above” if you get my meaning.

Take this flyer shit… This place is where we need to go. We’re running out of food and ammo. The gardens aren’t growing fast enough to feed the few people we have here. There’s shit-all for hunting too, the animals are either dead or just gone from the area. And it is only a matter of time before some gang of hardcases notices our spread and comes and takes it. I keep telling the Rev that there is no way we would be able to hold off even a small group of organized thugs, or a sizeable group of zombies either. We need to pack up our shit and roll out. We have enough vehicles for the fifty or so people living here, and this place on the flyer isn’t that far. We could be there inside of a week. We might lose a couple of the older folks on the trip, but how long are they gonna last just sitting here? Half-starved with nothing to do all day but stare at the walls and wait to die. What kind of existence is that for these people? Fucking Rev says his god told him we’re supposed to be here for some fucking reason only He, with the capital “H” knows about. Bullshit.

So we patch the wall, we till the gardens, we look for new spots to dig wells and latrines. We scrape out another fucking day, every fucking day. Meanwhile, the moaning on the other side of the wall gets louder and the grumbling in my stomach gets meaner.

The Rev won’t even go for the idea of sending a scouting party over. I brought it up one night at one of our meetings. We could send 8 or 10 guys, I’d go with them. We’d be back in a couple of weeks and we would know one way or the other what was up with this group from the flyer. They were printing up paper for fuck’s sake. What group of pirates was going to go to the trouble of making a fucking brochure? Rev says no dice. He says that if we were supposed to go, God would send a sign. When I asked what he thought a thousand pieces of paper falling from the sky was. I thought for sure he was going to tell me to go fuck myself, preacher or no preacher. He closed his book, got up from the table, and sulked off to his room. Discussion over I guess.

Fuck him and his god. Tomorrow, I’m taking 6 guys over the wall and we’re going to see what the hell’s up over in Jersey.

Every day I lived the lie. I woke up and found myself trapped in the nightmare. There was nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. I had no other options, except death, and as much as I hated this existence, I wasn’t ready to end it all just yet. So I played the game the best way I knew how. I acted as if being with him didn’t disgust me. I’m not sure if he believed my act. I’m not sure he cared.

I was guarded at all times. If he wasn’t with me, one or two of his goons were watching. At first I thought it was to protect me, but over time I saw the way they were looking at me. They were waiting for me to make a run for it. As time went on, I felt myself dying inside. Hope was gone, and the longer I stayed trapped, the less I was myself. Vincent was obsessed with creating an heir. Nothing was more important to him.

He had his men round up pregnancy tests. I can only assume they raided a pharmacy, since they came back with a case of them. Our ritual became test in the morning, then sex. Test in the evening, then sex. There was no point in explaining the mechanics of testing to him, that it takes time for the hormone to show up. He never really listened to anything I had to say. Every negative test result was a double edged sword. Negative meant no baby, a baby I didn’t want, but negative also meant another round in bed with him.

This was a no win for me. I began to detach myself from the reality I was living in. Becoming a character in one of my stories was the only way to not lose my mind completely. I watched from the outside as she went to bed with him again and again. Disgust would take over my body, and as soon as he left I would throw up. Eventually, I stayed on the outside looking in, my body becoming yet another zombie. My body went through the motions. It must have been enough for Vincent, for he never questioned any of it.

The days ran into one another. Time blurred, the routine of it all made it impossible for me to know how long this had been going on. I had to be reminded of the simple things, when to eat, or bathe, even what to wear. Nothing seemed important. The bodyguards would try to talk to me, but I would just stare blankly at them. There was nothing to be said.

Vincent came to my room one afternoon. This was odd, I normally only saw him in the morning or evenings. The look on his face was one of excitement. When a crocodile smiles at you, it is a very frightening thing.

“Dearest, I have news.”

I nodded my head to show that I had heard him.

“A group of survivors paddled over from the mainland. I allowed them into a quarantine area. It’s been such a long time since we had news from off the island. One of them was carrying a flyer. There is another colony over there. These people were afraid to go there, that is why they ended up here. They felt it was a trap. I’m not sure. Maybe this is what we need. They may have the people there who can figure out why I’m immune, and use that to save us all.“

He sounded so rational, so unlike him. There had to be an angle. Some way that he felt he could use this to his advantage. I felt a glimmer of hope wash through me, but it faded as quickly as it came. Even if I could get to the mainland, how would I know where to go? He would never just let me leave. And he sure as hell wouldn’t tell me where to go to get away from him.

Then I thought of the poor people in quarantine. They believed that they were escaping the trap, just to walk into one. I prayed that they would do as he said, and not end up dead like so many others. He stood and wrapped his arms around me. Sliding his fingers down my back, he eyed me like a piece of meat.

“I would take you now Dearest, but I have a few things I need to do first.” His lips pressed against mine, and I could feel myself pulling out of my own body again. “I will be back, and we can celebrate this good news tonight.”

He wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me off the ground. He carried me to the bed, and tossed me on my back. Lowering himself to my body, he ran his hands down my shirt, undoing the buttons as he went lower. “Until later my dear, when we can have enough time together,” he said suddenly and headed towards the door.

I could breathe again when he was gone. They sent Tim this time. All of the other guards scared me. Tim was different. You could see the fear in his eyes, and sometimes the pity. Most of the higher ups were people with agendas. They were bad people who fit right into the crew. Not Tim, he made the mistake of being called over when I was bit, and that alone put him higher up than he ever should have been.

“Hello Tim.” I said in my hollow voice.

“Miss Jessica, is there anything I can get you? Have you eaten yet?”

They have all taken to asking if I have eaten. Unlike the others, when he asked I felt as if he actually cared. That maybe, I was more than just guard duty. I was so tired of being alone. I know that sounds strange, due to my unfortunate living arrangements. I missed being myself, having conversations, and just feeling safe with someone else around. Being a caged bird was wearing me down, and I longed to be set free.

“I ate Tim, thank you, but I do need something. I am out of books again, and wonder if there are any more lying around. “

“I will find out for you.” He answered with that oh so common look in his eye. The one that makes me feel like he is trying to decipher how I am doing all of this. The look that makes me feel like he sees me as human.

For the next few hours we engaged in small talk. I babbled on and on about the three books I had finished reading since he had seen me. He told me of the news of the island. Tim’s stories were told without feeling. He would just relay the facts. There was no hero worship, and for that I was grateful. I never spoke of Vincent. Nothing good, nothing bad was ever uttered. I trusted Tim as much as one could in my situation, and even though I was needed alive, it was a gift to be treated as well as I was.

Night came, and Tim took his leave to the other side of the door. Vincent made his entrance and our nightly routine began. After yet another negative pregnancy test our “celebration” commenced. He opened a bottle of wine and gave me his version of the events that Tim had already relayed to me. The difference was Vincent’s version all had the slant of him being the gears that made the island move smoothly. All failures, on the other hand, were the fault of others.

“Dearest, I feel as if you should resume your writing. We still need the future generations to have a record of all of the great things accomplished before them. Without our history, they will have to repeat our mistakes, not that I have made any. But they will see the mistakes of others and avoid them. This will be your legacy to them.”

“If that is what you wish. I have time between our visits.” I could hear her say.

She was there again. Taking my place. She would live through the horror for me, and I would stay clean. Untouched by the man who I knew was evil. I just hope she lets me take my body back. Each time she takes over I wonder if this will be the time. Am I giving the rights over to her because she has to be soiled by him? Do I even deserve my body back?

It was over as quickly as it began. That is the gift of no foreplay. The act itself is quick when the man doesn’t care if the woman enjoys it. She let me back, a bit too early for my taste. I laid there trapped under his sleeping body. I learned early on that pulling away only led him to draw me in. So there I lay, stiff as a board. I would have prayed for morning, but morning just brought another round.

Frantic knocking awoke us both. One of Vincent’s larger goons came bursting through the door. It had to be important to risk the wrath of Vincent. No one was allowed to see my naked body but him. I was his possession, and he had made this fact very clear to his guards. Vincent shot upright with a look that could have stopped the devil in his tracks.

His eyes scanned my side of the bed, and relief washed over his face to see that I was covered by the sheets. “Tell me,” he ordered in a flat tone.

“They…they….burst…through…” the goon wheezed, obviously out of breath from his trip to find Vincent.

“Enough.” He interrupted. “I am sorry my dear, I do not know when I will be back, but I have to deal with this. Relax, you need not worry.”

With that, he rose out of bed and dressed quickly, but calmly. As much as I despised the man, I had to admit he carried himself with an air of power. Even when facing unknown danger, the kind that made a man the size of his messenger panic, he seemed unfazed. This was the moment that I knew why all of them followed him. While they were busy pissing their pants in fear, he was standing above them all as calm as a spring breeze.

With that I was left alone. I had never been so grateful for a zombie breach. I was going to have one night alone, something I haven’t had since I was found to be immune. I dressed, and then went back to bed. For a moment I may have even felt a hint of joy. Sleep came easy and I drifted off as soon as my head hit the pillow.

“Jessica,” he whispered as he shook me awake.

The world was fuzzy as I tried to see who was waking me. “Tim?” I questioned sleepily.

“We need to go now. The breach will only distract them so long. I need you to grab just what you need, and throw it in this pack.” A bag was stuffed into my hands.

“Go? Go where Tim? We can’t leave… can we?”

“Yes Jessica, we can, but we have to go now. I broke the defense to give us some time, but it won’t last forever. You need to get moving. I have a boat waiting, but we need to go now.”

I was confused, and scared, but not stupid. This was it. The only chance I would ever have to get out of this hellhole. I thought for a split second and realized I didn’t care if I died trying. That made me move. Two minutes later we were on the run with my small pack of supplies. God I hoped he had more, otherwise we were screwed.

Tim put a hoodie on me as soon as we left the room. In the dark I looked like everyone, or no one at all. We needed that anonymity, because all the men knew who I was and what Vincent would do if I got away. Tim held my hand and led me through the town. His route was deliberate, but we did not rush. There was no need to look suspicious. Finally, we came to the bay.

Tim pulled back some brush and tied to the shore was a small boat. A duck blind. It was genius. The thing was already camouflaged. He helped me in, and I found out how prepared Tim really was. The boat was stuffed with supplies. As he pushed away from the island I felt the weight of it all at once. Once those floodgates opened it was impossible to close them. I cried for what felt like hours, and when I had no tears left I curled into a ball and fell back asleep.

Guilt woke me with a start. I had left Tim to take care of both of us. This man had risked everything to save me from Vincent, and I hadn’t even said thank you. “Tim?”

“Jessica. You are awake.” He whispered. “We need to stay quiet still. We made it across the bay last night, and are attached to some tree in the middle of the marsh. I don’t want to attract any of the dead. I am exhausted. Do you think you can watch for a while and let me sleep?”

“Anything,” I whispered back, and pulled him close. I kissed his check ever so gently. “Thank you.”

He blushed, handed me a gun, and tried to find a comfortable place among the piles of supplies. Hours passed without a peep. The worst part about being on watch is being alone with your thoughts. I replayed every event since the outbreak began, second guessing every decision I made. By not fighting Vincent did I allow all of this to happen or was I right and it would have happened anyway? My stomach turned the more I struggled with my own path. I needed to wake Tim. I couldn’t be alone in thought anymore.

I waited as long as I could, then I woke him. To my surprise he was happy. “Did you look at what I brought?” he questioned proudly.

“No,” I stated feeling very stupid.

“Then you are in for a treat, because we have a great breakfast in here somewhere.” He rummaged through the bags for a minute and smiled as he pulled out a box of Pop Tarts. “Aha! Found them. I hope you like cherry.”

“I love cherry. It is my absolute favorite flavor.” I lied, because at that moment I was happy to be alive and free, and this man had made all that happen.

“Awesome.” He replied.

He carefully rose out of the boat and untied us. Next he pulled out a compass, and a flyer. We were heading to the place on the flyer. Inside I was screaming with joy. Not only were we escaping, but we were not heading out into the unknown. We had a goal, and all we had to do was get there. If we were lucky we could manage to find our way before Vincent, and warn them of what was coming.