Love Prevails: A Zombie Nightmare (4 page)

"It’s a . . . it’s a long story. But Steve and I agree that tonight’s not the best time to leave. You should give some serious thought about staying here."

"Do you think I haven’t?"

"I know, I didn’t mean it that way. Think about staying a week, or a month. We can always pack up and leave when we want to."

"I guess you’re right. Let’s get some sleep now." Kara took Keith by the hand and the two nestled inside the sleeping bags.

Steve was already lying next to Jill, who snored into the night.

*

The morning brought new energy to the two couples. They had awakened in a village thriving with activity. People were stirring about preparing for the communal breakfast. Several of the men wore the ill effects of drinking too much beer on their faces. They performed assigned tasks anyway under the disapproving glare of their angry wives.    

The four sat down to a breakfast of oatmeal and canned peaches. Plenty of clean water was available to wash it down.          

"If we’re planning to stay, we’re going to have to start pulling our weight," Keith said.
   

"Agreed. We need to get into the routine so we don’t have to be constantly told what to do. You and I can start with perimeter watch, unless you would rather help with the farming," Steve said.

"Jill and I will help with meals. We’ll see how our talents are needed as time goes by," Kara said.

“I’ll keep some distance between me and Bronson. There’s something I don’t trust about that man,” Jill said.

Steve chewed a peach slice and chased it with a swig of water. “Don’t worry about him. Keith and I have already decided that if things get uncomfortable, we’ll pull up stakes and leave. He’s not going to bother you with me around.”

“You sound so sure. How could you know that?”

“Because he doesn’t just take what he wants. The others wouldn’t allow it if he tried. These people honor the code. We’ll play by the rules, and there won’t be any problems. Besides, all I need to do is get you pregnant, and he’ll lose eyes for you in no time.”

“Oh, no. I don’t know when I’ll be ready to think like that.”

“This might just be the place to start a family. I don’t even know if we could consider it if we were trying to make it on our own. There’re at least three nurses and two doctors here, so I’m told.”

“I won’t be comfortable until the military wipes the monsters off the face of the Earth. I want to go back home. As scared as I am to find out, I want to know about our friends and family,” Kara said, staring blankly at the table.

“Looks like we’re finished here. Let’s go back to the cabin so Steve and I can get our guns. We’ll come with you two to find out what you’ll be doing before going off on our own,” Keith said, and stood up.

On the way back, Pete and two others waited to greet them. The men were armed, but weren’t brandishing the weapons. Keith realized that he and Steve should be carrying their weapons at all times too.     

"Mornin’, folks. You’re lookin’ rested," Pete said, politely smiling.
           

"Thanks to your wonderful hospitality," Jill said. "The cabin, the food—we truly are in your debt."
     

"Everyone has a part to play here. We all pitch in so that we can get along. In fact, Bronson would like to meet with you to find out if you are stayin’ or leavin’."     

"When?" Keith asked.
           

"How’s about now?"
  

Keith looked at Steve and the women. A quick nod of approval was given by all. Keith nodded his head yes, and the four followed the three men.

The entourage took the same route as the day before and met Bronson giving orders to a small group.

Keith looked down the valley and was relieved to see the body of the man and the ‘dead’ zombies were no longer there.

 
Bronson greeted the couples with a broad smile. "Friends! Good to see you here this fine day."
   

"We’re glad to be here, and our thanks for your hospitality," Steve said, stepping in front of Keith.

"Good, good, glad to have you with us." Bronson turned down his welcoming voice. "Yesterday you wanted to leave. I admit, I did use my authority to force you to stay. I thought it would be for your own good. I was right. Wasn’t I?"

"Yes . . . yes you were," Steve said with the others nodding.           

"Well then, you see there is a need for force sometimes, as long as it’s given out with fairness at the core. So now, I leave your future in your own hands. You’re welcome to stay and become part of our family, or leave and take your chances on your own."

"We’ve decide to stay. And while we’re here, we’ll follow the rules and your leadership," Steve said.      

"You all agree?"
        

Each responded with an affirmation.

"Fine! Fine! Then it is settled. I welcome you as members of New Paradise." Bronson turned his attention back to Steve. "Now that you are part of the village, as I am now your leader, I will take your lovely wife for my own."       

Steve’s facade of pride melted. "What do you mean?"
        

"Your wife, Jill, is to be mine now."
 

"Oh, no, we’re not going to play that game," Keith interjected. Jill and Kara froze.
          

"This doesn’t concern you." Bronson raised an open hand.

“Pete said that you don’t take women. He said you earn them. You can’t just take Jill.”

"When I became Chief, I earned any woman I want who belongs to this village. My word is law. The girl is mine."

"No, she’s mine. We’re leaving now," Steve said, his voice shaking.
           

"You won’t be leaving, and I accept your challenge," Bronson said.
           

"Challenge? What challenge? All I said was ‘we’re leaving now.’" Steve and the other three huddled together for protection. Several men standing by Bronson lowered their guns toward the two couples. A gun barrel shoved in Steve’s back pushed him toward Bronson. Bronson separated from his men and stepped forward.          

"I give an order. You do not obey. That is a challenge. Defend yourself! If you want to make the laws you must defeat me." Bronson slammed two open palms into Steve’s chest, knocking him down on his backside. Bronson outweighed Steve by fifty pounds. "Stay down . . . if you know what’s good for you."  

“Leave him alone, you bastard!” Keith yelled.

Steve searched for something nearby to use as a weapon to even the match and came up empty. He lifted himself off the ground, brushed the dirt from his hands, and slowly walked toward Bronson. "We don’t want any trouble. Please, just let us leave."     

With that, Steve took a quick step and a half forward and delivered a roundhouse kick square to Bronson’s solar plexus, bending him over and heaving for air. Steve connected again with a jump kick to the left side of Bronson’s face.

Bronson spun around and landed on his hands and knees, spitting blood. Steve ran up and slammed his foot down on Bronson’s rear, forcing him down flat on his chest. He then hurried to Bronson’s side and began kicking his ribs.         

Bronson made a quick turn, and caught Steve’s foot. He twisted it sideways, sending Steve crashing to the ground. Then the larger man fell on top of him so they were face-to-face and smashed his left forearm down on Steve’s throat.            

"You son of a bitch. You are going to die."
 

“Leave him alone!” Jill cried.

Steve’s face turned deep purple. His eyelids started to flutter.

Bronson gritted his teeth as spittle, and blood dripped out of his mouth.

Steve jutted his head forward and bit down hard on Bronson’s left ear.

Bronson yelled like an animal, and pushed down harder on Steve’s throat, which only caused his ear to tear. His scream shot up an octave in pitch and several decibels in volume.           

Bronson twisted himself off Steve and towered over him.

Steve could do nothing more than lie on the ground and gasp for air.

Half of Bronson’s ear remained attached by a thin bit of flesh. Blood dripped down to his chin. With an expression of madness, he placed his foot on Steve’s knee, and lifted Steve’s foot until the knee snapped.

Steve screamed, but his body didn’t have any fight left.

 
Bronson started taking his revenge with a barrage of kicks to Steve’s side.

 
Steve moaned weakly with each kick. His life force ebbed with each blow.

Kara buried her head in Keith’s shoulder. Jill had her face in her hands.

Keith knew that there was only time left for one last act of desperation.

The nearest man was distracted by the fray, and just two steps away. Keith lunged, snatched the shotgun from his hand, and then rolled forward, ending upright on one knee.

Bronson was just about to deliver the deathblow with a kick to the head when the gunshot rang out.       

The buckshot hit Bronson near the heart and sent him reeling backward. The shock from the blast, and the shock of Bronson’s death, gave Keith just enough time to maneuver behind Pete.

"Nobody moves! I’ll kill him too!"   

Before anyone could react, a horn sounded one long continuous blow of warning.     

"Oh, my God," Pete said.

As if the two couples no longer existed, Bronson’s men ran toward the main village.
        

"What the hell’s going on?” Keith demanded.
         

"They’re comin’, and it’s a bunch of ‘em. Get the damned gun out my back!"
      

Jill ran over to Steve, who was lying unconscious with his eyes closed and swollen. She felt his neck for a pulse, and then checked for any sign of life. She glanced up, and saw that the horror had arrived.

Down in the valley, climbing up the ridge, were scores of the walking dead. Jill slapped Steve on the cheek and begged for him to wake up.      

"Damn it, boy, the war is on. That was the immediate perimeter alarm. Let’s go!" Pete yelled.

"Why didn’t we get an advanced warning?" Keith asked.
   

"Hell, I don’t know. I guess the sentry got eaten first. Let’s move it!" Pete raced toward the village without Keith’s consent.       

"Keith!" Kara screamed. Two members of the undead stumbled toward Steve and Jill. Keith started to shoot, but was afraid of hitting Jill. Kara yelled for her to run. She was still trying to get Steve up on his feet.

More of the undead had arrived by the time the two ghouls grabbed Jill in their wretched hands. Her death cries electrified the nape of Keith’s neck.  

"Keith, save me! You said you would save me!" Kara cried.

"I will, I will, I promise! Let’s get back to the village!" Keith’s last memory of his friends was of a rotting zombie with its head buried in Jill’s neck, and another feeding out of Steve’s stomach.

The men took strategic positions around the perimeter, making sure each shot was sure. The women and children aided in reloading spare guns, exchanging them for the empties. Keith pushed his way to the firing line and unloaded his gun by taking down six of the walking dead. A fresh gun was shoved into his hands, and he took out five more.

Dead body after dead body fell to the ground. Shots rang without end. The dead kept coming, unending, and the mob grew thicker in number. Tens, hundreds, perhaps thousands were on the march. An ocean of savage carnivores loomed on the horizon. A virtual tsunami of rotting corpses prepared to invade.