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  73

  JOHN EDWARDS

  “Let’s keep the money, just in case. We might need it for trade”.

  Elise poked Nika in the shoulder, I guess that’s one way of disciplining a person. Elise’s pokes were not to be messed with. After all that, I still had to decide a winner. They were taking this whole race thing a little too seriously, but I had to satisfy them in some way. I turned my back on them and paced forward, then hummed, then spun back to face them. They were both eager to hear the results. And I had come up with one.

  I clapped my hands two times and made a trumpet noise with my hands.

  “You’ve both shown true talent out there, both contestants proved to be equally strong, but I’ve made my decision...and the winner to the 300th Walmart biker race is...” I paused, for a more dramatic effect. I swung around and pointed, “MISS ELISE STANFORD CONGRAGULATIONS”! She screamed and jumped up and down.

  “Yus”! She fist pumped the air.

  “NO! I gave you money, that’s not fair...you’re choosing over favorites”. Nika stomped her foot, then the other one. I allowed her to do that a couple more times; allowing her to release all the tension before I spoke back,

  “Nope, it was indeed a close cut, but Elise was ahead by a nose”. Elise froze in place, her left hand in a fist, halfway in the air. Ah, Lord

  “What do you mean, she was close by a nose”? Nika asked, she huffed.

  “A nose, as in; she won...” I really didn’t want to finish that sentence. The look on Elise’s face was literally a warning. I saw something register in Nikas expression. I think she got it now.

  “Oh”! She exclaimed, then she turned to Elise and snickered.

  “Don’t even...” I pointed a finger at her.

  “its cause her nose is so big, that’s how she won right”? I rubbed my face with a hand, covering my oncoming laugh, inching a finger so I can peek at Elise. I was surprised to find her totally calm. I guess that’s to be expected, she knew I wasn’t making fun of her. But still, I knew that the whole nose thing was a sensitive

  74

  STAYING ALIVE

  subject for her. The thing about Elise is that she has a bit of a complex about it. I keep telling her not to mind it, “Don’t let it bother you”, I remember continuously telling her that. Heck, I think my nose is pretty freaking weird too. It ain’t as big though, but I won’t mention that

  She breathed in and out, and settled herself down.

  “Jade, did you finish making those Molotov’s I told you about”?

  Her voice was strained. She was ready to explode, all it would need is a trigger. And that would be Nika “Yes...we’ve got 10 I put them along with the rest of the stuff in the truck”. She nodded at me. I don’t know, it was still a little unsettling, she’s too calm... way too calm. Her eyes were wide and bright, the brightest I’ve ever seen them, then she began to smile and it was towards me. I would have found it cute in a different situation but right now, it’s just freakin me the heck out.

  “Thank you, I’m sure that took a long time to do”. Her voice settled to a low tempo, I could almost hear the vibrato in her words.

  “Yeah well, they could be put to good use, when we need’em”.

  I scratched the back of my head, the air around use was starting to feel uncomfortable. I knew Elise when she gets pissed, and this was way, way beyond that point. I’m gonna evacuate before the bomb detonates

  “You guys have your walkie’s on ya”? I asked them both, they nodded. “I’m gonna head over to the front, check the barricades, keep your walkie’s to station 7, I’ll report anything I find...suspicious”.

  They both nodded again, I kept my mouth shut and walked towards the front. The store settled around me, a quiet that both relaxed and disturbed me. Nothing but the light squeaking of my boots against the floor, to help put me at ease. I tightened the straps of my katana holder, the clip nearly pinching my skin. I stood in front of the sliding door, tousling my loose strands of hair before curling it back behind my ears.

  75

  JOHN EDWARDS

  “I need a blasted shower”. And a new tank too. It took me a good three hours to pick out a new tank top. The one I wore was covered in blood, it dried to an unearthly deep brown color. It made my insides cringe at the very sight. I picked off a white cotton spaghetti strapped tank and stripped out of the old one. It smelled of synthetic downy wash. And that “New shirt” smell. Taking no mind in the fact that the fabric was a little too sheer, that my black bra was totally viewable. Aside from that it was flexible and thick.

  “It’ll do”. I untied my hair and slowly combed through the knotted strands, making sure to double tie it back in place.

  I looked down, and wondered if I should change my shorts as well. They weren’t as blood splattered as my shirt, but I spotted a few holes in the cloth, they should be fine...for a while. But just as a precaution I grabbed a clean pair of jean shorts and tossed it over my shoulder. Then I eyed a dark blue and white ombre’ button collar shirt. It was crinkled and in need of an iron. My fingers itched to fold the discarded clothing piled on a display counter.

  Some habits are hard to break.

  I walked back to the sliding doors and jumped. Blood, there was fresh blood on the glass. I noticed it was on the other side, I ignored that small detail, the blood appeared to be smeared across the glass, ending on the far side of the doors, and you could almost make out finger prints. What scared me the most was that the tires we so painstakingly rolled one by one were pushed aside. I leaned in closer, and found the bottom of the right sliding door was shattered, leaving a gapping crawl through hole. Blood tracks smeared the floor, leading towards the store’s bathrooms.

  In a moment I was on full alert. I took in my surroundings.

  How could we have not heard the glass shatter? I might have happened when we were distracted with that stupid bike race. With Nika screaming like a howler monkey, I almost socked her right then and there.

  I fumbled for the walkie on my belt. Tuning it to station 7, “Nika, Elise...you hear me”? White noise, then a few seconds later.

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  STAYING ALIVE

  “Yeah, what’s up”? Elise sounded fine...better than fine, she sounded like her old self.

  “Yes Alpha, this is Charlie...what’s the situation, over”? And there goes Nika. I chuckled and pressed the speaker button.

  “You don’t need to say ‘over’ Nika”. I said. White noise.

  “It sounds more official that way, over”. She chirped. A rustling noise sounded from inside the bathroom. The sound made my right ear tickle.

  “What is it”? Elise asked. I sighed and pressed the walkie closer to my lips.

  “There’s been a...breach in our defenses”. Some more shuffling, it seemed to grow louder the longer I stand here.

  “Breach? Why what’s happened”. Elise sounded concerned. I took a deep breath and pressed again, “I noticed one of the tire stacks slanting, I checked; there’s a giant arsehole in one of the doors, and I think one of them is inside. I need you both in the front, now”! I flexed my fingers.

  “Rodger”. Nika said.

  “I’m on my way”. Elise cut off before I could reply. I slid the walkie back on my belt and stepped slowly towards the bathrooms. My heart thundered against my chest, I pounded my fist at it, thinking that it would somehow calm it down.

  Someone tapped my shoulder gently, I spun around, a katana halfway out of its sheath.

  “It’s just us”. Elise whispered behind me. She nodded behind her, Nika was inspecting the shattered hole.

  “Situation”? I turned my head towards the bathrooms, and Elise nodded with understanding.

  “Found blood tracks, it ain’t human...too dark, it lead...” I traced the marks ahead of us straight into the woman’s bathroom. “Right in there”. She nodded again and took out two long kitchen knives. I grinned at the knives sharpness and looked at Elise.

  “German steal, very light but
cuts through almost everything...

  great choice”. She looked down at the twins and looked up, she nudged my shoulder.

  77

  JOHN EDWARDS

  “Only you would know”. Once she said that, her face automatically turned to stone, straight, very much poker faced. A woman on a mission.

  I trailed behind her, as she walked silently on her toes. We crept closer to the bathroom door. The light above us momentarily flickered, giving off an eerie vibe. My breathing slowed, with each step, I unsheathed the katana on my left and held it secured to my side. I gripped the red twine that wrapped around the handle, my thumb caressing the tough mahogany leather.

  Elise paused, and pointed a thumb at the door. It was slightly ajar. The ground below the door was covered in blood. Darkest blood color I’ve ever seen,

  We waited there, waited for something to happen. I don’t know what it was we were looking for, I’m not a patient woman, just standing here without doing anything is making me nervous.

  It then occurred to me that, Elise was probably waiting for my permission to proceed. Oh, was I put in charge without my knowledge again?

  “On my go”. I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth, just like my instructor showed me. I saw a lone bead of sweat dribble down Elise’s neck line. Nika paced behind me, I knew that she was getting excited. But it could only be one of them. I sighed,

  “Go”. We charged in, as quietly as our heavy combat boots could let us, door swung soundlessly on its hinges. I nodded for Nika to bare the door open, in case we need to run out, Elise was positioned to my right her back against the few faucets in the room, a dirt speckled mirror reflecting us, and the thing in the first stall. I swallowed the lump that made its way into my throat. Relax, just breath.

  Elise looked at me for confirmation. I couldn’t take my eyes off the only door that separated us from the undead carcass on the other side. I nodded once, and Elise kicked open the door, it slammed inwardly, the sound echoed against the blue tiled walls.

  78

  STAYING ALIVE

  “Holy...” Nika squeaked from the doorway.

  I wanted to look away, but my eyes stayed glued to the thing in front of me. She was covered in blood. From head to toe, I could hardly make out the dirty blond streaks that used to be her hair, I mean...all I saw was black blood. In some places it dried and crusted around the tips of her hair and her face. She was crying, but normally tears would be clear liquid right?

  Not thick bloody streaks streaming down her reddened cheeks.

  Her eyes were blood shot, her pupils were dilated so much that you couldn’t tell the iris from the pupil. I stared at her, and she stared back. Empty...black eyes She made no move for me other or the others. I just held onto the katana tightly. I wasn’t aware that I was trembling as much as she was, when I heard the sword rattle in my hands.

  That’s when she looked at the sword, her eyes widened in horror. I flinched when she put up her hands, to cover her face, she crouched low on the ground.

  “P-p-please...don-don’t”. It stuttered. And I found it hard to breath, the air suddenly became too heavy for me. She...it spoke.

  “What”. When I finally found my voice, it didn’t really come out as a question.

  “D-don’t...p-please, help-”. She coughed, and just doing that little task made her whole body tremble. Even the wall of the stall against her back shook. Blood splattered in front of her, spraying the wall in front and the floor around her. I instinctively took a step back, while Elise and Nika stood still as statues.

  “He-help”. She croaked, her voice barely a whisper. I waited for her to talk more but, her attitude changed, she stilled for a moment, and her breathing sped up.

  “Are you...” Her head snapped up, and I knew then that... she was gone for good. She stood up, and growled in my direction.

  She started out slow, but then lunged from the stall, towards me.

  Everything went into motion.

  I jumped out of the way before she could claim me. Her body smashed into the mirror, shards fell to the ground and some stuck

  79

  JOHN EDWARDS

  to her face. My skin shivered from the sight. She lost her footing but regained it back by trying to swipe at my head with her claw like hands. I ducked out of reach. I motioned for Elise to standby.

  Just this little one I could handle by myself.

  “Get out”. I said to her sternly. She complied by nodding jerk-ily and rushed out the door, with Nika right behind her.

  80

  Chapter 11

  I was getting another headache.

  “Now it’s just you and me”. It cocked its head to the side, as if trying to understand me. It snarled and lunged for me again, only this time I reacted. I blocked her hands with the dull edge of the sword, I moved out of the way, switching to the sharp edge I hit the top of her head with the butt of the handle. She stumbled forward, landing on her knees. If it was me in that situation, I would have cried out from the pain. Before she could get up again, I whipped the blade across the air, slicing her head right clean off its shoulders. Blood sprayed from the open cavity. Raining down black blood. After the thing stopped bleeding I stood there in silence. The entire room was covered in blood. You get the day off Mr. Janitor

  I was the only one not covered in blood, only specks had made its way onto my shirt but that didn’t seem like a problem. Good thing I wasn’t in clear range or I would have been caked in blood, I’d hate to change clothes again. I wiped the remaining blood using a disposable paper towel off the blade. There was blood on both my hands, I turned around and rinsed them in the sink, rins-ing them until the water ran clear. I looked back at the body, she lay in a large puddle of blood. Her head must be...

  “Oh, there you are”. Her head was in the far corner of the room. Her eyes wide open, and blank. I calmed myself down before walking out the door. Elise and Nika were leaning against the wall.

  JOHN EDWARDS

  “All done”. My voice was clipped, and husky. No idea why it was husky.

  “That fast”? Nika skipped up to me. Orange speckled green eyes staring into mine.

  “Yes”. I answered her.

  “That’s wha-”. I turned to Elise sharply.

  “Don’t even start with that gibberish”. I pointed a finger at her, jamming the katana back into the sheath.

  “Aheesh, okay calm down”. She put her hands up as if to surrender.

  “Why you so grumpy”? Nika poked my arm, which by the way still stung like heck from the sun.

  “I’m not”. Yet again...whys my voice so blasted husky? “Yes...you so are”. She said again.

  “Maybe you just need to eat”. Elise said, she kicked off the wall and walked over to us.

  “Maybe...” Or maybe I just witnessed a person change before my very eyes, then had to decapitate the poor girl.

  “I’ll go get ya some chocolate...I managed to save some”. She winked at me and strode off.

  Nika was still poking my arm. I don’t know why people like doing that to me. They just don’t care about how I feel. She stopped and looked over my shoulder, “Can I see”? She asked.

  “See what”? I glanced in the direction she was staring at. I saw the bathroom door and shook my head.

  “No”. Flat, straight, no-nonsense tone. “No”.

  “Huh? Why not, it’s not like I’ll be freaked out by it. I’ve had my fair share of killings”. It still doesn’t make it right for you to see, besides I doubt she’s ever seen something like that scene in there. Right out of a slasher flick.

  “When I mean no...I mean NO”. I’ll lock the blasted door if I have to.

  “Fine”! She shouted in my face and stomped away. I might have to lock and brace the door later, I know she’ll try to sneak by without me noticing.

  82

  STAYING ALIVE

  We got together duck tape and cardboard to patch the hole in the door. It’ll have to do for now, we’
ve nothing thicker than the cardboard so, in case things go wrong at least it’ll keep them out long enough for us to escape.

  I think we’ve been staying here for two weeks now, the lights would blink on and off some days but, Nika’s assured us we’d have a week left of power. We tried the radio stations, looking out for an emergency alerts, anything information about the military.

  So far we’ve had nothing. I mentioned that maybe, they gave up on us.

  A report was made about the rest of the country, having the same problem as us. With the population higher in some countries, the bite rates increased. I’d get glances from Nika and Elise when a new alert sounded from the radio, we slept less every day. I was always telling them that they should rest, that I’ll keep watch.

  “You can’t keep watch all the time”. Elise bellowed from the men’s bathroom. We had to use the alternative since the woman’s was quarantined.

  “Yeah, I can’t really sleep well at night when I hear you stalk-ing the place. It’s kinda freaky you know”? Nika was cutting up a white t-shirt to use for make-shift gauzes.

  “Well, one: I go by a different sleep pattern, and two: I can stay awake as long as I need to, so stop arguing about it”. I dropped the notepad I was drawing on. This subject keeps getting brought up, eventually they give up and let me guard them.

  In the three weeks we’ve sheltered here, the power finally turned off. And we’ve started to ration our food supply.

  “You think we should move on, then”? I asked during lunch.

  We lit lanterns around the main areas of the store, since the surveillance cameras are down we’ve tightened our lock downs and changed our shifts. I’d usually, make rounds three times around the store, checking the front and back doors, checking the few medicines we’ve dug up in the pharmacy. Elise would double