Chatter (5 page)

Chapter 10

“Boom,” erupted the gun.

              Gore from an undead splattered Cade and the others. It had been standing just inside the doorway and they hadn’t cleared the room after seeing Meg. An eyeball plopped out of its head and bounced across the floor and onto Autumn’s shoe.

              “Ah dammit, gross,” she cried.

              The others chuckled; all except for Cade. He grabbed his sister in a tight bear hug and lifted her off her feet. “I’m so glad we found you, I was getting worried.”

              Meg’s blonde hair was matted with blood, her face scratched and dirty. Once a homecoming queen and cheerleader she now looked more like a mini Laura Croft from Tomb Raider.

              “We’ve been to the house,” said Cade. “What happened?

              Meg looked at the group with hollow eyes. She had been through a lot these last two days and it should have felt good to be with others but instead she only saw six more humans she might have to kill later.

              “It all happened so fast,” Meg said. “Mom and dad were having a luncheon for the company. I was still upstairs getting ready when it got silent, oddly silent. Those parties are usually full of chatter and bad jokes.” She continued, “I peeked down the stairs and all that I saw was people on the floor or slumped over the couches and chairs. It looked like they all died at once or were napping.” Meg wiped her eyes and said, “I ran downstairs and checked on our mother. She was a heap on the floor by the kitchen door. Her eyes were rolled back into her skull; only the whites showed and were fluttering violently.”

              Meg looked around to each person, all were listening intently. “I ran to phone and dialed 911. No one answered. Then they all started with the damn teeth. I hate that noise. The whole room began chattering in unison.” She cleared her throat, “Then all the people stood at once. All of their eyes were white. I ran back upstairs scared to death. All I could think of was that I was dreaming and in some crazy, cheesy zombie flick.”

              Cade hugged his sister again and comforted her. “We were stuck in an airplane when it happened but at least we had each other.” He kissed her cheek, “I can’t imagine going through this alone.”

              “I waited in my room for hours,” Meg said. “I thought for sure the prank would be over and things were ok. But once I checked the stairs again I knew this was real.” Meg closed her eyes, “On the stairs a few of those things had somehow climbed up halfway. I tried to think of any weapons in the house but all there is, is dad’s bow in the den downstairs and I don’t know how to use it anyway.” She opened her eyes but they fell to the floor, “The shed was the only thing I could think of. Dad has all the tools out there. So I climbed out my window and down the gutter. It broke from my weight and I fell. The landing knocked me out and when I came to it was getting dark out. So I ran to the shed and grabbed tree trimmer, you know the stick with the saw knife at the end.”

              “Why didn’t you just run away,” asked Trina. “Why stay?”

              “I felt like I HAD to stay. My family was in there and I didn’t want to leave them like that. The police weren’t answering so again I thought to those cheesy zombie movies. I thought maybe I was the last person alive.” Meg was running through the events in her head, “I went into the front door and started killing them. The tree trimmer let me keep a good distance. I found that if you stab them anywhere but the head they keep coming. Who in the hell invented actual zombies? I mean who thought that was a good idea? Anyway, I began stabbing through the eyes. I couldn’t stand looking at them.” A few tears ran down Meg’s cheek, “I saved mom and dad for last. I kept yelling at them to wake up. Instead their mouths opened so grossly. They were like three times the size of a regular mouth. But yeah, Cade, I killed our parents.”

              Cade and the others remained silent and let Meg get composed. “We have all had to kill them sis,” said Cade. “It doesn’t get easier but it’s necessary.” He cleared his throat, “I never ever will think badly of you because of mom and dad. They would have killed you.”

              “We need to get back to the house before dark,” said Vick. “Let’s get moving.

              The seven made their way back through the park quickly. Most of the undead had been dealt with and the others were now easily avoidable.

              Once at the house they all kind of split up after eating a little. Trina and Autumn shared the guest room. Vick took the couch in the den. Cade and Keiko shared his room. Dwayne commandeered the parents’ bedroom and Meg went into her own.

              “Do you think we will make it to Canada,” asked Keiko.

              “I think we will, we have good people with us.”

              Shyly Keiko kissed Cade and wiggled close to him, “Just in case,” and they made love through the night.

              The next morning Meg had a surprise for the group. “Want to go to Canada in style?” She pushed a button and the huge garage door opened to reveal a brand new camper. It had beds, kitchen, bathroom; anything that could be thought of was here.

              Everyone loaded supplies into the camper. Anything they thought could be useful was added to the collection. Vick and Dwayne siphoned gas from the other cars to fill it.

              Vick took the wheel and drove out onto the highway. Cade had instructed him which roads to take as the GPS was not functioning. Everyone seemed relaxed and in good spirits to have more room to themselves while traveling.

              “All right everyone,” said Cade. “Let’s go to Detroit.”

Chapter 11

The highway had surprisingly little clutter. It must have been a light traffic day when the incident happened. The group had just passed Michigan City and entered the new state. Detroit was still hours away but should be easy going if the roads stay clean.

              Cade sat in the passenger’s seat reflecting on the last few days. He had gone from a geek video game guy to a zombie survivor. The others surely felt the same way; except the geek part. He took that title easily among the group.

              There was almost a joy circulating inside the camper. Everyone seemed to think the worst was over. Canada was mere hours away and safety with it.

              Trina rode in the back on the sofa staring out the window. She joked with the others and was in the best mood among them. She had an aunt in Toronto. Her goal was to get there. As she stared out the side window shiny objects caught her vision. She focused and saw planes going overhead.

              Then parachutes dropped into the sky. “Guys, parachutes,” she said.

              The others went to all the windows and watched them fall. “There’s one not too far off,” said Trina. “Let’s see what landed.”

              The parachute descended about a mile south off of the highway. They approached it slowly, watching out for danger. As the camper slowed to a stop they could all see it was a metal container of some kind.

              The group exited the vehicle and walked over to the downed container. It had a fastened lid that popped open easily. Inside were several notes in different languages, as well as food and water.

              Cade took the English note out and read through it.

             
Citizens who find this container: you have one day to reach either of the designated safe zones before cleanup crews arrive. Several nuclear missiles will hit the United States, killing off the infected mistake that has been made. Please note that China, England, and several other nations are leading this cleanup. Your president and his people have been evacuated already. Again, take these supplies and head to Mexico or Canada, whichever is closest. After tomorrow the United States will not exist.

              “Oh my god,” cried Autumn.

              Smoke or dust in the distance caught Vick’s attention.

              “Guy’s I think we have a problem.”             

Chapter 12

The clouds of dust drew nearer. Finally after a minute the objects became clear. Two jeeps filled with men were coming for the supply drop. As they came closer, Cade and the others could see the men were well armed.

              “Everyone take cover where you can,” yelled Vick.

              Vick and Cade stayed by the supplies to talk with the men, while the others scurried to the ditch or behind the camper.

              The jeeps stopped about 100 feet from the parachute drop. The men exited and raised their weapons to Cade and Vick.

              “This is our land and our supply drop,” said one of the men.

              Cade looked to the men and answered, “No, we just got here. We were passing through and saw the parachute. All we have done is read the notes inside the container.”

              “Notes?” said the man. “Lemme see these notes.”

              Vick handed over the English note and the man read through it. “Looks like we got to get out of here don’t it.” He eyeballed the camper. “I think for your trespassing we will take your camper truck.”

              “Not going to happen,” said Vick as he raised his gun as Cade did.

              The lead man smiled, “You forgot about the men behind you.”

              The sounds of guns behind cocked came from behind the group in some trees. Of course a pack like this traveled in groups. Some of them were probably military trained. One of the men behind had Keiko, gun pointed at her head.

              “Drop your weapons or I will make an example of that one,” said the leader.

              The group came out of hiding and stood beside Vick and Cade. All of them dropped their weapons into a pile. This first defeat left a bad taste in all of their mouths.

              “We did as you asked, now let her go,” screamed Cade.

              “Ah, she must be your sweetheart.” He looked around at the supplies and said, “Load up our jeeps with the supplies and we might spare you.” He pointed to Keiko, “Any kind of trick and she dies before your eyes.”

              Dwayne, Trina, and the others began loading the supplies for the men. Cade kept his eyes on the man who held Keiko. There weren’t enough guns to take them on and the bandits seemed better trained or bluffed well.

              The supplies were loaded in no time.

              “This world as we know it has changed. A few days ago, I was a foreman at a lumber mill. Now we fight for our very lives against monsters that used to be friends and family. What I am trying to tell you is, basically, trust no one,” said the leader.

              With that he raised his pistol, aimed it, and fired. The bullet ripped through Keiko’s skull, losing half of her face and head. Her lifeless body dropped to the ground in a heap.

              “NOOOOOOO,” screamed Cade. He raced over to her body and knelt down holding her. Tears streamed down his face as he laid her back down. “Foreman, I will kill you. You can leave now, but we will catch you. And I will kill you; kill you slowly as you beg for mercy I swear.”

              The foreman chuckled and kicked Cade square in the face, knocking him unconscious. The men gathered the little bit of supplies lying about and drove off.

              Cade awoke to sobbing noises. The group was huddled around him, all except Vick. He was digging a hole by the tree line for Keiko.

              “Was I dreaming?”

              “I’m afraid not. They killed her and drove off with everything,” said Autumn.

              “We are so sorry Cade,” said Trina. “None of us knew what to do.”
              “It isn’t your fault guys; none of us were ready for this.”

              He got to his feet slowly and walked over to Vick. The man dug with speed and emotion. His eyes were watery and he kept himself hunched so no one could see.

              “Let me take over,” said Cade. “I owe it to her, a nice burial.”

              The men took turns digging through the day until the hole was almost six feet deep. “I think that will do it,” commented Vick.

              “Ok.”

              The day evolved into evening as the group surrounded the burial spot. Everyone was waiting for the others to speak first. Finally Cade stepped to the front of the grave and began.

              “Like the rest of you, I only knew Keiko for a few short days. We were supposed to have dinner after the plane landed. You all know how that ended. We had begun getting close, even made love once.” His eyes began to leak down his cheeks. “I pictured a future with this woman. Stupid huh? In a world like we live in now, the future is days, not years for most of us unless we can reach Canada.” Cade wiped the tears, “I cannot say I loved her, but I think I would have if things had gone a different way in the world. All I can promise you Keiko is that I will find that man and end him. He took one of our own from us for some stupid supplies. Rest in peace Keiko, I will miss you.”

              The other threw daisies from the meadow into the grave and said their silent goodbyes. Finally Vick and Cade again shared the duty of filling in the hole. It seemed easier to fill it in than dig it, and before long Keiko was resting inside the earth.

              “Everyone let’s sleep here tonight. But tomorrow, we get back on the road. I promise you all we will get to Canada, and if the lord above exists, we will run into the foreman and his men on the way.”

              Cade stood guard through the night. He couldn’t sleep anyway and didn’t need any. Fury and thoughts of vengeance fueled his body. He sat upon the roof of the camper looking at the stars hoping one of them was Keiko looking down on him and the others.