"Rebuild": A Zombie Survival RP

[dutchrain]

Ria

Behind the gates I relaxed somewhat. The whole time I had been asking myself if the ambushers had a second group waiting to attack us or the Kings somewhere.

"Looks like you had a tough time out there. Come on in and get your people settled in. We have rooms cleaned up for all of you and the showers are ready. You can get cleaned up and then we can have the feast we promised you." Troy said. I explained him what happened.

"I hope those were all they had, and that not a second group is coming here. We need a lot more Look-outs today and the next days, the noise will have attracted zombies from miles around. And as soon as the rain stops, we need to check the piles, to light them again I am afraid. They were burning quite well when we left, but I fear the rain (which had increased) puts them out before all are burned."

The rain was so heavy now, I hadn't been able to see my surroundings well, but it seemed as if some buildings were closer to the main fortifications as they were last time I was here. I peered into the direction of the sheds.

"Troy, are they closer, or is my mind playing tricks with me?" I sighed and stifled a moan, looking out over the compound I had stepped on a lose cobble and slipped. My leg hurt. There were still some splinters of glass in it. Lee had just cut my jeans open and, picked out the most prominent ones and put a bandage over the wounds to stop the bleeding, driving some smaller shards deeper into my flesh. "I need to pay a visit to the hospital before I can clean up. It might take a while before Lee sees to me, he counted me in as "sound enough to fuck" but I don't feel that way at all."

I was worrying about Bart too. The last days I hadn't been able to talk to him or Hunter, I had no idea if they were ready to move. I had sent them some messages -the last one this morning, telling them what time we would leave. My phone told me they were sent, but I had gotten no reaction fro them. I was worried. During the ambush I had hoped they would be behind us, and would help us. I was glad Vince had been able to push the tree behind us away a bit with the van. Bart and Hunter and whoever was with them would be able to pass the obstacles if they steered around them carefully, they would be able to do so even without getting off the asphalt.

"We need walkie-talkies or something like that, and radios, Troy. My phone now only connects me with my daughters in Holland, Karl in Germany and Peter here. Have you heard of Cramer and the others at his farm?"

 

[milkmaiden38]

Cassie

Tickling … is an evil weapon invented to torment me and thus control me! Cramer, the big grumpy poo, caught me. He had me on the floor and was straddling me … tickling me under my arms. Tickling is a weakness … and I was laughing so hard I could barely talk … no matter how I squirmed and wiggled he kept at it. “STOPPP” I gasp … It was a wonder Jerry and Derry did not try to rescue me … from all the noise I was making they must have thought I was have a seizure.

“Yer have to agree to stop with the puns!! Understand” Cramer said.

“I agree … I agree” I said and finally he stopped tickling me. I was gasping for breath

“I don’t want you to break your promise now … or more tickling” he warned.

“Got it … no more puns!” I said as I gulped in air. When I had more breath back I asked “But what about accidental puns … like double meaning words … that I didn’t mean to be a pun?”

“Nope … none of that!” He said.

“Ok… I agree … now get off me … you’re heavy” I said to him. He lean over and got close to my face … he looked me in the eyes and said quietly “Thanks … for the advice … on Kaitlyn” He whispered.

I whispered back “You had some fun … chasing me around the living room … acting like a teenager?” I asked

“Yep” he answered quietly “Thanks” he said and kissed my forehead. Then he got off of me.

“Yer are faster than you look … tomorrow morning when we load the food into the palettes to be forklifted into the truck … I hope you’re as fast!” He said.

I got up too .., straightening out my clothing. “I just don’t find loading food, very palatabl…” I stopped before I finished the pun … “I don’t find it very fun.” I said to him … correcting my almost pun error.

Cramer looked at me “Careful!” He warned me … wiggling his fingers.

The next morning the loading was completed and Cramer, Derry and I left the farm … and headed for the winery. Cramer drove one truck, Derry another… and I drove the race car. HE HE!!

I did have to drive in front as a Zombie guard vehicle … but it was a really short trip and we did not encounter any zombies. There was an extra heavy guard presents at the winery gate … but they let us in … and we drove to the drop off point.

 

[wombat9966]

Troy once again got a call from the front gate that vehicles were on their way up. There were three, Two laden trucks of fresh food and his 'Girlfriend' in her sports car. Grinning he told Scott to politely 'Shut the fuck up' then headed outside to show them where to go.

As they got closer he saw they would have room to park the trucks once they were unloaded but it was pointless trying to unload them through the rear door for now. Luckily they had planned for this. Troy began directing them right around the back to a large reinforced wooden bridge. A turn area had been cleared and the trucks could easily be maneuvered in it. As Cassie drove up he got her to stop near the gate.
"Just leave your car here and we will put it in last so if we need to run errands it's easy to get out."

Running around the back he saw that a few people had already removed the temporary gate and he told Cramer and Derry That they could reverse over but only one at a time.
"We have a lot of willing hands so it shouldn't take long to unload you, then drive round and someone will show you where to park."

True to his prediction it took less than an hour to unload both vehicles, then park them and Cassie's pride and joy behind the gate. It was now impossible to get another vehicle in and the only gaps were people sized but movement was still easy and quick.

Troy showed the three of them inside. "Welcome home guys. Most of the others got here yesterday but they were in a firefight. They suffered a couple of minor injuries but a guy called Max had a heart attack. He is ok now but is resting in our so called Hospital. Ria is in there too. She twisted her ankle and got some glass embedded in her leg but it has been all cleaned out now. She keeps wanting to get up but she has been ordered to stay in bed at least for today. Peter got grazed with a bullet and is ok, Vince was cut up pretty bad on his face and hands by flying glass and has also been ordered to take it easy but he is just walking around and the Doc himself got one in the leg but says it's nothing."

"Your stuff must have been brought along with the others but you will have to ask Ria or Peter about that. When you have it you basically have your choice of any unclaimed room. Some people are bunking up as they have got used to sleeping two to a room so there are plenty of single rooms left and every one has running showers and there own toilet. We are just asking people not to use the big suites and to stay on the first and second floors. The elevators are not in use so it's stairs only. All the kids are in the big suite on the first floor and the small conference center is now the playroom while the large one is going to be converted into the library/meeting room."

"Oh and if your hungry there should still be some breakfast left out in the dining hall. Now if you will excuse me I have to go check on the front gate and see if the firefight yesterday has stirred up our resident Zombie neighbors. We may have to light some bonfires later but after last nights downpour and the constant on and off drizzle today that might be easier said than done."

Whistling he waited for a second then Anubis came bounding up. With a smile for Cassie and a wave for the other two, he slung the sniper rifle he had commandeered from the store the Knights had brought with them over his shoulder. He already had his bow across his back and his quiver on his spine. Turning he jogged out the kitchen door and then out the gate as he gave the signal to close it.

 

[dutchrain]

Ria

In the sickbay

I had a feeling Lee had me confined to a bed here since yesterday because he wanted company for Max. Max was weak, frightened and angry. Angry with his body. He slept quite a lot (which I did too) put up a show when someone was around and slumped when we were alone.

We had long, almost whispered talks. About life in general, his and mine in particular and sometimes he talked about his life as a soldier.

Edna, Mrs Ashtuli or Lee had spent quite some time with us, brought us very tasty tidbits from the feast but during the night Lee had bunked down on a mattress on the floor and filled the place with heavy, probably wine-induced snoring.

Carla had brought me some paper and a pencil on my request and instead of making to-do lists which was what I had wanted to do, I found myself writing down Max' life story when he joined Lee in sleeping and the snoring kept me awake. "His pitiful heritage" he had called it at some point and I thought that remark was had made me write it down.

A small lamp filled he room with a soft light. My ankle throbbed a little too -especially when the ice-pack warmed- but I didn't feel the need to change it for a new one or call someone to do it for me. A room, Troy had called it but it was more like an apartment with two big rooms and a smaller one which I had found out when I had to make a stumbling search for the toilet.

Close to the morning I felt very vulnerable. Texted my daughters. Sent Karl a message.

"Twenty relatives on my uncle's farm, about hundred people on nearby farms and the old manor-house," I wrote down somewhere between a tale about Max' childhood and one about his time in Vietnam. "All that is left from a thriving village populated by around three thousand humans." Despite the warning time Europe had had, not much had been done, or could have been done by the local governments to save people from the plague or from being eaten or from being killed while trying to escape.

In the bunker in Germany Karl and Vera were in the company of twenty other scientists, fifty-one civilians -the families of some of them and some soldiers- and hundred-twenty-six soldiers. Karl knew of five other military places with a total of two-thousand four hundred and thirty-seven people. He also told me the commander of his bunker and three others were trying to protect around five thousand people living close by. We were less than a hundred. I was sure there were some other groups of people surviving, but only of this pathetic seven thousand out of billions and billions I was sure. It seemed those radicals who had proclaimed earth would heal herself if the humans would be stopped to ravish her would be proven right or wrong on a very short notice. If we would survive to witness.

"Ria" a hoarse whisper from Max draw me out of my somber thoughts. "Water?"

"At once," I told him, "as soon as I can get out off my bed."

I stumbled through the room to Max' kingsized bed. Poured him some water and helped him sit up. After he had taken a few sips I wanted to lower him down again but he shook his head. A little while later I had him propped up against all the cushions I could find, mine included. Lee's snoring had stopped while I stumbled around, but started again when I sat down beside Max.

"Just a little while Max, I have to rest my leg a bit," I whispered.

He shook his head again.

"Stay a while, I haven't had such nice company for a while."

I smiled, leaned my head against the wall over the headboard and swung my legs aboard. Offered Max the glass. He laid his hand over mine and took a sip.

"You now know more about me than any other living soul." A little while he said nothing. "Sometimes life sucks, Ria. But it is still life. Your life, and you own your life to live it through." I nodded.

"I think that is what kept me going, Max. My life wasn't finished and the lives of those in the Knight were neither, so I 'devoted' myself to keeping me and them alive."

We talked a bit about the small numbers of survivors. About governments.

"I once heard people didn't have countries as we know them now in early history," he sighed.

I nodded, told him about city-states of Greece and other countries. About medieval kings who 'ruled' countries filled with independent duchies, filled with independent baronies, filled with more or less independent knighthoods.

"That's us now," he said aloud. "We are independent. We have to take care of ourselves." He almost sounded angry and I tried to shush him.

"No, I am okay. We are the Kings and Knights of the winery and we have to take care of ourselves." He took a deep breath and then none.

"Lee!" I panicked, jumped out off the bed, pulled the cushions away, threw them behind me and tried to hold Max up with one arm.

"LEE!"

 

[milkmaiden38]

Cassie ... she is such a big winer!

Ahhhh love! Someone had once said … “falling in love … is really the closest most of us come to seeing life in its spiritual form” I did not know if I was infatuated, in lust, or in love. But it did not matter. I liked being in the state I was in. As soon as I saw Troy … my heart rate went up. He was looking extra sexy today. I was glad I had worn a different outfit. My sun outfit. Anyhow, Troy seemed to like it … and so did Scott. He had a shit eating grin on his face from just looking at me. That kind of made me feel good!

Anyhow, I got the car parked and moving my stuff in. I had my own room on the top floor. It had a nice view too. I was pretty happy but I want to spend more time with Troy. I went down and checked on Ria, Max, Vince, and Peter … banged up … but they were looking better. So I headed over to the kitchen area and grabbed some left over “breakfast pizza”. It looked kind of weird … with eggs on top. I asked someone what was on it.

“Its prosciutto, fresh basil and sunny side up eggs pizza.” Someone said. “SHIT” I whispered under my breath … at the knight we would eat snicker bars for breakfast. Anyhow I grabbed a bottle of “Roserock Pinot Noir” and two glasses. I head down to the main gate. It was a nice day and it had warmed up … so it was a nice walk. I made a left at the vineyard pavilion and headed for the maingate. There was Troy … so I walked up to him.

“I brought you some breakfast pizza … and some wine! Do you mind if I join you on watch duty?” I ask him.

 

[wombat9966]

Troy had already done a perimeter check with Anubis and had relieved Scott here at the main gate. He had sent the boy back to get some chow and sleep. He had been watching back down the road both ways and listening for Anubis's warning. He had come to rely on him a lot in the past week so was a little surprised when Cassie spoke from behind him. He glanced down but he was just looking at him with a 'what' sort of expression on his face. Leaning his rifle against the front wall of the bunker he turned around and smiled.

"Hi Cassie, sorry to run out on you earlier but we were kind of in the middle of something. I would love some pizza but no wine for me at the moment. I would love to share some later though. I managed to find a copy of Fast and Furious 6 for us to watch whenever you are ready."

He grabbed a slice of the pizza and grinned at her taking a big bite of it. Even while he was eating it he still scanned the roads every thirty seconds or so.

"I hope you found a nice room for yourself and are settling in ok. If you need anything Just ask Mrs Brady or Maddy. They will probably be able to help you out. Still what brings you down here in weather like this? I would have thought you would have been enjoying a nice hot bubble bath," he grinned.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Cloudy with a chance of bubble baths

“The rooms are great” I said as I took a bite of the breakfast pizza. I looked at the sky, which were overcast and threating to rain … but there was no rain yet. “The weather is not so bad … at least not bad enough to keep me away from you” I said looking into his eyes.

He took another bit of pizza and looked right back into my eyes and asked “how bad would the weather need to be … before you would not come down here?”

I held up both my hands “Ok whoa … I need to slow this down … I’m not really sure how to answer that question” I explained “I’m not sure how I feel about our relationship … I mean … we have been only on one date. I like you a lot … and we have had a good time … but I’m not ready to quantify our relationships to weather events yet!” I said smiling. It was an honest answer … I was confused about my feels towards troy. Was I infatuated? in lust? or in love? I needed more time.

“MMM” Troy answered sounding a bit disappointed. As he finished his slice of pizza.

I felt bad about what I had said. I needed to say something to fix it “Well … I think we just need to let this subject “blow” over. I mean … I feel foggy and cloudy about this subject.” I joked.

Troy smiled and joked “Are you rain on my parade? I think you are trying to snow me … I find your whole argument a bit flaky!”

We both laughed at all the puns. “Cramer has me on a “no” pun vow … but I figure … what happens out here at the main gate … stays out here at the main gate” I giggled and finished my slice of pizza.

“It will be our little secret” Troy confirmed. “Hey, you are not drinking any of the wine” He stated.

I lean closer to him and whispered “I’m saving it for the movie … and our after movie bubble bath!”

I kissed him on his cheek. I may not have known how I really felt about Troy … but I definitely knew I wanted to go to bed with him! So I figured I needed to make that clear. As I finished the little kiss I said “see you tonight” and I walked back towards the main house.

 

[wombat9966]

Troy watched Cassie walk back towards the main entry. Well that sort of cleared a few things up. Looking down at Anubis I rubbed behind his ears. "Looks like your dad might be getting a little tonight buddy. Remind me to not eat to much." Of course he just looked up and panted at him but Troy grinned at him just the same. "Good boy, Now let's get back on duty."

Troy spent the rest of the day until lunch watching over the road. He thought he spotted movement a few times, but by the time he had his rifle up and his scope on it, it had moved off and did not return. He was assuming the zombies were still hanging around the site of the firefight. They might return towards the town or head their way, they would have to be careful for the next few days. He would order some Molotov's sent down so they would prepared. It rained at a steady drizzle for an hour before he was relieved by one of the guys from the knights just after lunch.

"Boy you guys sure know how to eat. I think I am really going to like it here. Anything I should know."
"Not much to the right but you never know. Some movement in the trees from the way you guys came. Figure there might be some zombies wondering around in there but which way they go is anybodies guess. I will send down some Molotov's when I get back just in case. The bells there and Anubis is a good early warning system. He starts growling start looking, Hard. Oh let me introduce you. Hold out your hand. Anubis, Friend."
Anubis sniffed the hand then looked up and went back to walking across the gate.
"Your good, he will do that then sit in here for awhile then pace again. Just let him do his thing. See ya in a bit."

Troy set off for the dining room. He was ready for some lunch.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Cassie and Troy are all wet!

The day really went by slowly. I could not wait for the night to arrive … and my date with Troy. But in my experience … the waiting only made the date even better. Anyhow, I helped Peter unpack some of the stuff that was brought over from the library. I visited the people recovering in the hospital room. Max was seem in a talkative mood … chatting to Ria … so I did not bug them too much.

I was headed back to my room when Peter found me again.

“Hey … could you find a good spot for Deacon stuff. Anywhere I pick … is going to get me another knuckle sandwich!” Peter joked … but there was a little bit of truth in it. Deacon and Peter had not gotten along. Well, I pretty much knew where ever I picked … Deacon was not going to like it either. But I was pretty sure he was not going to hit me. Anyhow … he could always move his stuff to some other place.

I needed to pick somewhere far away from everyone else … so he could secure it and if one of his explosive went up … well … only he would be hurt. Anyhow, I found a pretty neat spot, The Orchard House!

It was far away from the main winery … had lots of room and could be secured. You even needed to walk past the bee hives to get there. Always a creepy thing to do. I really did not like bees. They were good for puns though … Like “I hope Deacon does not get stung by a bee. The next day he could have hives!! HA HA”

Anyhow … I drove the truck with his stuff and Robert helped me unload it. We placed most of it in the garage. I locked it up to make sure no one else could get into the place.

Anyhow finally evening arrived and Troy showed up to my room. He looked good and smelled great. He was holding the movie in one hand … and two bags in the other hand.

“Hi … I'm so excited about this date tonight … I could not wait for it to get here!” I said like a love sick teenager.

Troy laughed “Me too!” He said

I needed to calm down … and play it cool, so I straighten up and said “What’s in the bags?”

“Dinner and dessert!” Troy said. Dinner turned out to be very simple … as we were going to be watching the movie. It was just a few nice cheeses, bread, and some fruit. Dessert was two pieces of Dark Chocolate Tart with salted caramel ice cream, milk chocolate caramel popcorn, Jacobsen sea salt! WOW … it was awesome. Troy had placed it in ice ... so the ice cream did not melt.

We open the bottle of wine, watched the movie and ate … I missed some of the movie as Troy and I just could not keep our hands off each other … we kissed … and then kissed again … and then kissed some more.

Anyhow by the time the movie was over … I was in the mood! I headed for the tub … and filled it with hot water and bubbles. Troy soon came to the door way in the bathroom with a funny look on his face.

“Cassie, are you sure about this … I mean once we do this, there is no going back” He said.

I pull up my blue t-shirt and slipped off my shorts and stood naked in front of him, my hands ran along side my hips.

“Mr. Troy Hunter … I’m just asking you to join me in this nice warm bubble bath … nothing more! Now please keep your hands to yourself.” I said as I climbed into the bath.

 

[wombat9966]

Troy smiled at Cassie's playful nature. He had enjoyed the movie with her. Well the little he had seen of it. He had really enjoyed the time they had spent in each others arms kissing. It had indeed been awhile since he had done anything like that and it had been a most enjoyable experience.

Finally she invited me to join her in the spa bath she had filled with bubbles as well. I made sure she was comfortable were this was going and she just teased me. I laughed as I stripped off and joined her in the warm water.

Cuddling up to her I ran my hands up and down her sides tickling her lightly as I did. She giggled as I did and leaned back into me. I scooped some water onto her neck to clear it of bubbles then began to kiss and nibble at it as my hands began to massage her ample breasts. My hands moved across her breasts kneading and pressing into her flesh while my tongue and lips moved across her neck leaving light kisses and trails across her flesh. I moved down to her shoulders and nibbled on them leaving small marks and love bites. My hands moved to her nipples teasing them by rubbing them in circles then grabbing them between my finger and thumb and twisting and teasing them, pulling them lightly and pinching them slightly.

She moaned in my arms and I grinned into her shoulder. "Well now Cassie. It seems I was not able to keep my hands to myself, but I really don't hear you complaining all that much. Perhaps I could use them elsewhere as well, but that is only if you are ready for me."

 

[milkmaiden38]

Cassie really blows it

Troy was teasing me right back, that evil Aussie! He found my weak spot … or should I say spots. I loved having my nipples played with … it really turned me on! I was like butter in his hand.

I could describe all the fun we had … and let me tell you … we did lots of things! However, Troy and I will keep that to ourselves … unless you, the readers, really beg us to reveal them. Let me just say … that we made love for hours that night until we fell asleep. But that only last for a short time … I was awaken by a pair of lips wrapped around my right nipple.

“Mmmmm” I moaned …as my dream and the reality of his sucking had mixed. I had been moaning in my dream and I think I must have been moaning in my sleep too. He released my excited, hard and sensitive nipple.

“Good Morning” he whispered.

“Good Morning” I said back, my eyes opening more. “You are still feeling frisky after everything we did?” I asked.

He just gave me that shy smile of his.

“Well … I’d love a nice warm morning snack” I suggested as I glanced toward his crotch. My eyes begging him to comply.

“One coming right up” He said.

I laughed “Don’t let Cramer catch you saying a pun like that!!” I said as I grabbed his big erect cock … and started to stroke it. Troy definitely had all the right equipment! Yummy!

I really love sucking on cocks. They are just fun to play with and I like the way they look. So when I’m giving a man pleasure … I think they can sense my excitement and joy … and as a result they have fun too.

Anyhow, I soon had his cock in my mouth as my lips caught on the back of his swollen head. I licked all the way around the cockhead, and then I pressed the tip of my tongue against the slit in the tip of his cock and licked away the pre-cum. “MMMMMMM” I moaned … my mouth slowly took in his entire cock, inch-by-inch, as if I was a sword swallower. Then I pull my mouth back to his cockhead and I placed my hands on his shaft … stroking up and down the length of his shaft, as my mouth sucked on his cockhead. My tongue attacking the sensitive head, licking it, teasing it … loving it. It was not long before my mouth and my smooth strokes caused his cock to twitch in anticipation.

I started to stroke him faster and faster and soon Troy’s hips began to move forward and back, fucking into my mouth. It was not long before I felt a surge in Troy’s balls followed by a grunt of pleasure … my mouth filled up with his love, which I swallowed joyfully.

It was a great way to wake up in the morning. I think sex is one of the wonders of the world. Sex between willing adults … is a magical experience, whether it lasts for a few minutes or all night. An intimate act between two people … for the purpose of creation. Sometimes it created life … sometimes love ... sometimes both! Anyhow it was wonderful.

“That was magnificent” Troy said “now it is my turn …”

I smiled at him … when all of a sudden Troy and I heard a yell from Ria “LEEEEEE” We could hear the panic in her voice … the fear. We both knew we needed to act … Both of us jumped out of bed … Troy pulled on some shorts, and burst out of the room. I was a bit slower … I grabbed a white hotel bath robe … and my 9 mm and raced after him.

We found Ria holding Max’s hand as Lee was preforming CPR. Troy was already helping by doing the breathing part. “What is going on?” I asked stupidly.

Ria looked at me … worry written on her face “I think it is another heart attack.” More people were coming in the room, I told them the folks need room to work and got them to leave … closing the door. After Lee got tried … Troy took over … and I did the breathing part ... then after a while Lee took over again with the chest compressions … but it became clear … Max was not going to make it. Lee finally stopped and looked over to me and said “It’s no use … we have lost him”

I was crying … more like balling …at this point. I walked out of the room and saw most of the people from the library and winery. All of them were awake hoping Max would make it. I did not need to say anything, I just hugged the first person by the door … it was Peter and then I hugged Cramer and then Derry …

They all knew. Max was gone. All the library people were crying or very sad. He had saved most of us that first few days ... by protecting us with the building and providing the food. He would be missed.

After a great start to the morning with a celebration of the joys of life … It was all ruined by the really awful part of life. That life had to end. I could make a horrible pun here about “life sucks” … but I was not in the mood. I was in a different mood, had the zombie not “F”ed up the world … Max could have gotten real care, at a real hospital. Max’s heart attack had been caused by virus infected humans. What the world needed was a good purging of zombies … as I thought harder about that … I realized that is what I needed to do. I wiped the tears from my eyes. I released Derry from my hug.

I looked into her eyes “I’m going for a drive … want to come along?” I asked her.

 

[dutchrain]

Ria

Max ...

I dismissed myself from hospital care and walked slowly through the people blocking the corridor. Sitting beside Max, watching Lee and Troy perform CPR, checking the time on my watch, had been an ordeal. The only thing I could do was to keep Lee and Troy in a rhythm by counting slowly from one to five over and over again. Max hand hung limp in mine; I knew he wouldn't make it. Too much time passed.

I stopped counting after a quarter of an hour. The boys didn't relent in their efforts though. They kept going for nearly another quarter of an hour before Lee announced we had lost Max. I had to bite my lip to not say the time aloud. We wouldn't need it for a dead certificate. But I would note it underneath the names of the people we had lost during the attack on the Knight on the empty page in the little bible I had found. At that time it had seemed a good idea to restart this old tradition.

"I'll get his nice clothes," I said to Lee while I got to my feet warily. "Will you, do you need help ..."

Lee nodded.

"I know what to do. He'll be ready to be dressed in fifteen minutes. Don't forget his glasses!"

The first one I walked into outside the door was Peter. He sent me back in and said he would get Max' clothes. I closed the door and Lee and I undressed Max and washed him.

"Where is the cotton wool?" I asked Lee.

He pointed to a cupboard and I got a handful.

"More" he said as I handed it him. "And a small bandage." I nodded.

Silently I watched Lee pushing some cotton wool in Max nose and mouth, and a lot in his rectum. With the bandage he bound Max mouth closed and over the small knot on the top of Max' head he combed his hair. A knock on the door announced Peter with Max' clothes. He just peeked around the door, glimpsed at the naked, shrunken body and almost dropped the clothes to the floor.

I laid out the clothes, shoes, socks, jacket, pants, shirt, undershirt and boxers.

"Put those away," Lee nodded at the underwear. "No-one will see it anyway."

"But I would know it!" I protested. Lee sighed and took the boxers from the neat pile I had made and shoved them over Max' feet.

Dressing Max wasn't easy, the limpness made his arms and legs heavy. At first I had imagined it would be a bit like dressing a little baby, only bigger, but it wasn't like that at all. I understood why Lee had wanted to skip the underwear. The way we had to jostle Max around to dress him wasn't very respectful.

At one time a smile crossed my face: Lee had started to curse again.

Finally we had Max dressed and I placed his old, colored glasses on his nose, Lee combed his hair and folded his hands over his stomach, entwining Max' fingers neatly in prayer fashion.

"It is that or lay his arms along his body," Lee said when I remarked Max hadn't made a very religious impression on me at all. "Or you need to bind his wrists in the position you want his hands and arms in."

I stood silent beside Max for a minute and kissed him on his cheek.

"I won't be back," I told Lee.

"Just take care of your fucking ankle, you are limping. Without an X-ray I can't tell if it is just sprained or if a ligament is ruptured or whatever."

Someone had told me the number of the room they had put my luggage in, but I didn't remember. Walking through the people, answering their questions or gazes with nods or shakes of my head, my mind on what had happened, angry Max hadn't had the time to enjoy the safety of the King's, I kept an eye open for Peter.

John, his right arm in a sling, laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Put your arm around me, I'll help you up the stairs," he offered. Grateful I did what he had said and close together like lovers, his left arm around my waist, my right hand on his shoulder, he walked and I staggered through the corridor, through a hallway, up two flights of stairs and along another corridor.

"I put you in a small suite, between the one I share with Skip and the one Thomas and Norah share. That alright?"

"That Norah and Thomas share a room?"

John grinned. "Nope, they share two rooms with one bathroom in between. You between us I mean, that alright?"

"I am delighted." I smiled.

John took a key out off his pocket and handed it me.

"We have privacy!" He laughed. "Never could have imagined I would be that happy with a room with a door with a lock."

He opened my door for me. A small hallway, a door at one side, he pushed it open.

"Bathroom all for yourself!"

He opened another door in the hallway. A very big closet, already filled with clothes and things, some bags still packed.

We stumbled through the hallway, it was almost too small to walk side by side, and found ourselves in a small sitting room with a sofa (an extra double bed, he said) two fauteuils, a small club table, a desk with a chair against the wall, a TV on an open sideboard nearly filled with the books I had selected for me, and a table with three chairs in front of the window.

He sat me down on the sofa, and grinned when I giggled because I almost felt down when he turned me sideways as he lifted my legs up onto it.

A satisfied grin on his face he opened a sliding door. My eyes fell on a double bed. I strained my neck to see more.

"French doors, small balcony, two bedside tables, sideboard and a small wardrobe. No TV but place enough you can have bookshelves. The prints on the wall aren't my taste, the curtains and bed throw are a bit very country, almost Laura Ashley, the pictures ... Well, lets say they are easily removed, but all together not bad."

I laughed and leaned back.

"Could you grope me a pillow from the bed, please? Not bad? I love it, John! It is a real room!"

He wanted to push the pillow behind my back, but I had already stuffed the cushions from the sofa behind it and lifted my sore foot.

"How is your hand?" I asked softly while he put the pillow down under my foot.

"Alright!" He smiled. Insincerely.

"I haven't asked once, John. How is your hand?"

"The arm is healing well. Lee doesn't want me to use the hand yet. I can move the fingers somewhat. No force in them, or in the arm. I hope," his voice trailed away. "I am using my left hand a lot. Drawing and writing, well, Norah says she can read what I write. If I read it aloud first."

 

[blackpenman]

Daniel

A night had passed since they had left me. I was all alone, waiting for Deacon to return so I could tell him the others had moved to the Winery. It was a little creepy, being all by myself in such a massive building, but it gave me time to think. I thought a lot, that's for sure.

I thought about how I had acted around Peter the other day. I had calmed down a little bit, but what I had said made sense a little. At least to me. But it was conflicting, my emotions and thoughts. Ria had been so kind to me before they had left. Was she trying to lull me into a false sense of security? Was my staying behind just an effort to ditch me? Or was she truly being sincere? It was annoying, having all these questions and no one to talk to.

You don't have no one to talk to. You have me. I heard. I immediately jumped up, off my seat, and whipped around, gun in hand. I saw no one, and looked around a little bit before speaking.

"Who is there?" I asked, my heart pounding. All the horror movies I had seen before all hell had broken loose flashed through my mind. I saw Jason from Friday the Thirteenth, Chuckie, It, all the serial killers that had terrified me as a child. But no one was there. I was all alone.

Daniel, you are not alone! I'm here! I heard, the same voice as before. I started to freak out. How could this be happening? The voice sounded like they were right next to me, but there was no one in sight! Shaking yet again, I once more spoke.

"Who are you?" I asked. I heard a chuckle behind me, and I whipped around, my gun pointing at nothing. I heard more chuckling before this voice spoke.

I am you, Daniel. At least, a part of you. If you want, I can show myself to you, and prove I am real. the voice said. I nodded, just wishing to see if I was crazy or not. I looked around, and something caught my eye. I saw a faint outline, the shape of a body, and it grew more clear. Eventually, I saw the person, clear as day, standing in front of me. I pointed my gun at them, trigger finger ready, but they raised their hands.

Don't shoot! You'll only waste bullets. You can't kill me. And besides, it would be hardly fair. I am completely unarmed. the Voice reasoned, it's mouth not moving. I slowly lowered my gun, eyes not moving from the person before me. I cleared my throat.

"What exactly are you?" I asked. They shook their head in exasperation, as if they were amazed at my slowness. I told you, I am a part of you. You can just call me the Voice, as you just thought. Kind of like the Doctor from Doctor Who! they said, or mind spoke, or whatever, while their body gave a grin. I was still a little confused, but before I could continue the Voice spoke first.

You must be wondering what I am doing here. I am here to warn you of a few things that you will discover. And don't worry, I am not leaving anytime soon! You're stuck with me, baby! they said to me, giving another grin. I looked at him, puzzled. If he was a part of me, how could he know things I didn't already know?

I know this because as much as I am a part of you, I am also a Voice in another persons head, and they have this information, that I thought you might be interested in. they explained showing once more their ability to read my mind. I am here to warn you about your girlfriend, Cassie. they said.

Despite my having hated her a few days ago, I had rethought and realized that I really did like Cassie, despite everything she may have done. And I wanted to make things right. If the Voice had any information about her that could be helpful, I was all ears. I crossed my arms, putting my gun down and listening attentively.

Cassie is a cheating whore, and is sucking another guys cock right now, Daniel. She has ditched you for a bigger dick. the Voice said so matter-of-factly. At first, the message hadn't sunk in, so I just stood there, but once it did, my mind completely froze for a half second. Cassie, cheating on me? Unthinkable! We had only had one fight, she couldn't have dumped me just for that? But the more I thought of it, the more likely it seemed.

"You must be lying to me, Voice. She wouldn't have that to me." I said, uncertainty creeping into my voice. The body of the Voice just shook his head, and began to disappear. I began to panic, not wanting him to leave without giving me my answers.

"Don't leave, Voice! Explain yourself!" I cried. But it was too late. He had already vanished.

 

[Iscaa]

Derry and Cassie

I woke up in a real bed....a real bed!. I sat up and looked around my room again. I had found this room shortly after we arrived at the winery. It suited me perfectly, large enough to have a double sized bed, two end tables at the sides. There was even a pretty wooden storage trunk at the foot of the bed. The closet was plenty big enough for my things, and there was a matching dresser and bureau. I had put what cloths I had away last night. The bed had a matching set of sheets and pillows that I put on, and a lovely warm quilt to top it off.

I even had a large sunny window facing to the south, and there was a wide ledge with cushions on so one could read as well as look at the countryside. A small love seat to one side completed my room. I was well satisfied with my new accommodations. It was a wonderfully pretty room. After the library I felt like I was living in a palace. Well this place was like a palace....I had to chuckle to myself.

As I slowly woke up I went over the details of yesterday's move and our near disaster with those wackos. Sighing I smiled thinking,

"Well, I am glad we are now here, in a safe place. We can now begin our new lives, not just trying to survive each day. I just hope Deacon gets here soon, or I just might have to go looking for him. Darn his hide!"

Sighing again, I decided to get dressed and see about some breakfast. I went over to my private bathroom...yes I had my own bathroom with a shower. Once I got washed up and presentable I pulled on my usual cloths when I heard Ria or someone that sounded like Ria cry out. Quickly grabbing my bow and arrows I left my room and headed towards the voices. That is when I found some people in the hallway...and heard whispers about Max.

I wanted to rush into the room, but knew that I would only be in the way, soon enough Cassie came out, crying. I knew the worst had happened as she put her arms around me. We cried for what seemed like a long time, but was only a few minutes. Finally she pulled away looking into my eyes. I knew what she was going to say and more importantly why;

“I’m going for a drive … want to come along?”

I just nodded my head and said;

"Yes..."

We went to get some weapons.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Derry and Cassie ... just love killing

I was back in my “rambina” outfit … and ready for some serious payback. Derry joined me and had all her weapons too and she was holding five molotov cocktails.

I looked her in the eyes and nodded.

“Good thinking!’ I whispered. We were going to kill as many of those zombie fuckers as possible. We slipped out the side door of the estate and headed over to the parking area. Scott, the young man, who seemed to always be on watch, was by the cars. He saw us coming … well more accurately he saw two sexy women approaching … the fact we were loaded with enough weapons for a small war did not seem to register.

“Max died … We are going to blow off some stream.” I told him in my “don’t fuck with me” voice.

He said something that was pretty wise for a kid his age. “Ahhh don’t do anything you’ll regret in the morning.”

Derry and I climbed up and into the APC. Scott opened the gate … I was driving… Derry was manning the turret. We drove off down the main road.

“Where are we headed?” Derry asked.

“Where ever there are A LOT of zombies!” I answered.

Derry thought for a second and suggested “A medical center … how about the place we dropped off Deacon … that PeaceHealth Medical Group/Center.” Derry suggested.

“Good thinking …” I said as I increased the speed of the APC. “Ahh Peacehealth … and we are going to fricking mow down as many zombies as possible … the place’s name doesn’t match our actions … kind of ironic don’t you think?” I said.

“We are going to make them … Rest in a healthy peace” Derry said serenely as we came up to the fallen down log area. The road was cluttered with debris and rotting corpses. There were about 10 zombies moving about …

"One thing I really HATE" I said as I jerked the APC over and crushed a zombie, "Are all these damn j-walkers!!"

Derry giggled “you missed two … back there …”

I placed the APC in reverse and backed over the two I missed. The APC jostled from the tracks crushing the zombie bodies. Derry laughed some more.

“I feeling better already …” She said as I roar the APC forward and smashed into some more zombies … the green blood spraying across my view port.

“Extra points for the spray?” I asked.

“NOPE …” Derry said.

We continue on down the highway which ran through some very beautiful farms and wooded areas. My hatred had calmed a bit … I was still feeling pretty f’ing pissed that Max died. He was a nice guy, a good guy. Why was it always the good people that died? Why not some asshole … like that little shit … Lex … Lex should have died from a heart attack, before he fucked up the knight library. Well, at least Lex was dead … Cramer or Deacon or someone had shot him.

That made me think of Deacon. “Derry … we are not going to the PeaceHealth Medical Group/Center just to check up on your boyfriend are we?”

“No” Derry said … but I could hear in her voice that if we saw him there that would be fine with her. I did not want to tease her too much about it. I was worried about Deacon too. I pulled the APC into the parking lot of the medical center. Derry was right about one thing. There were some zombies here. I honked the silly back up horn a few times, trying to draw out more of them. Zombies from all around the area were approach the APC … this was going to be fun! Derry decided to change the topic on me and pushed just the right button.

“Speaking of boyfriends …” Derry asked. “How was last night?”

I started the APC up … honking the horn again. At the right moment I started driving in ever increasing circles … smashing and crushing the zombies all around us. It was great fun … as I thought about Derry’s question.

Truth be told … I had some of the best sex in my life and I really wanted to share the good news with everyone at the winery. You know … kind of a brag session … maybe send out an email a few of my closest pals, or update my Facebook status (“Attention, America … as you fight the zombie hordes … just wanted to let you know Cassie got fucked by Troy last night … and Troy has a big cock … and know how to use it!!!”)

I smashed into a big group of zombies scattering them like bowling pins!

“That is a STRIKE” I said to Derry. She laughed “Nope you left the head pin standing.” She turned the turret and produced a short burst of fire. The zombies I missed were torn apart by the large caliber rounds. “Now … stop avoiding my question … how was last night?”

I have been around the block a few time (I’m talking figuratively here … still in the parking lots rolling over zombies). So before you tell everyone about the sex you had … really needed to check with your partner first. Because stories like that spread like wildfire. But I thought I could confide in my trusted friend, Derry.

“Derry … ground rule here … please promise not to repeat this to anyone. I’m confiding in you because I know I can trust you.” I told her.

“Yes, you can” Derry confirmed and added “… there is a big group of zombies on the right side.”

I turned the APC in that direction … and plowed into them... this devastated the group

“Last night’s romp in the hay … was marvelous … I mean out of this world! Troy is such a nice guy … and he has a great body … and … we fucked so many times I lost count … and we even cuddled afterwards.” I said.

“Wow … you sound happy … tell me more?” Derry asked as she opened up on a few more zombies. The 25mm chain gun producing a nice “thud, thud, thud” rhythm.

“I think that is enough on the details” I said “I’m just not sure where this is all going.” I confessed to her.

“Yes … I know … and what about Daniel?” She asked.

“I know, I feel a little guilt about that … but we were just dating … it was not an exclusive relationship or arrangement … I mean he could be see someone too you know.” I said.

“I think he is more likely dating himself these days. He never seemed to recover from the virus … and he had always been a bit of a loner.” Derry pointed out.

“You know, his last girlfriend, Julia ... had three other boyfriends. He moved all the way down here from Canada … to find her already involved. It broke his heart” I explained.

“Now you are doing the same thing!” Derry pointed out.

“CAN WE JUST KILL ZOMBIES … and not talk about this … you are ruining all my FUN!” I told her. But we both knew … we were done killing zombies. She popped the top hatch and tossed 2 of the fire bombs out. “Ok … let’s go” Derry said closing the hatch. As I drove away from the medical center, the parking lot was awash in green blood and squashed zombies. Derry and I must have killed 70 or 80 of them. It was one of the more surreal experiences of my life. Killing zombies, while talking about my love life … weird!

 

[wombat9966]

Troy

Troy felt lousy.He had been having fun all night and the morning and then someone had died. He had done all he could to save the old guy but in this new age, Basic first aide just wasn't going to help with heart attacks. Sure he was qualified as a combat medic, well a basic one, but without the right stuff he was pretty useless. He could tell a break from a sprain and knew a little trick for checking to see if a bone was fractured but it was not infallible. That reminded him he had to do that on Ria's ankle. Of course then they had to have the right stuff to fix it if it was broken or fractured. He knew they had some plaster of paris but after that was gone what then? Dry wall plaster he supposed. It was about the same.

Of course then there was the rationing of antibiotics. Everyone was used to getting a sniffle and reaching for an aspirin. That would have to stop. They would have to be used for severe cases now along with all medications. Cough syrup, pain killers, sticking plasters everyday things that were never thought about were now going to be precious.

First things first though. He had to arrange for a hole to be dug for Max. He gathered up some volunteers and took the dogs and headed out the back to the old tractor with the back hoe attachment on it. It had been left on the other side of the moat near the rear store room entrance. If they got too full he was thinking about digging an underground storehouse. It was fired up and driven up to the cemetery and a grave dug for him. Nothing turned up and he was not surprised given what he was told Cassie was off doing. Still he would wait until everyone was ready and then they could bury him up here. They made there way back to the Castle as it was now being called and were just in time for lunch.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Jerry

He had watched the group as they left, it was quite a strange thing to watch them leave, on one side he was happy to be alone once again and on the other hand he was upset with himself for not taking the time to talk with either one of the people who had been here. Of course having nothing much in common with any of them was just a poor excuse. He was often chastised for not talking with other people, not even their neighbors, but he never had the need for...

Three of the perimeter lights went off, followed by a loud fog horn blowing outside the house. By the lack of warning he knew exactly what was coming, the horn kept blaring, drawing all the attention to the house. He rushed to the window facing the side where the perimeter was breached, looking through his binoculars he saw the zombies making their way towards the house. They must have been following the scent of the group, no matter. He rushed to fetch two more boxes of ammunition, threw open the windows and waited for the zombies to come into firing range.

With a loud rebel-yell he cocked the gun and depressed the trigger, 5.56 high velocity rounds streaked towards the approaching zombies, the thunder of the gun drowning out the horn, pretty soon he had to reload, he depressed the remote button to shut off the horn, aiming at the approaching zombies he realized that in the background more approached, looking further he now realized that he had a proper fight on his hands, it seemed like a mass of zombies were heading towards the house, it was what he would call a proper horde.

"Well...shit."

He mowed down the first group and in the back of his mind a question started to bother him, why were the zombies attacking in waves? He rushed to his radio set, when he switched it on, he could hear that all over hordes of zombies were pressing down on farms. Luckily the house was locked and secured, he even had a few surprises for these undead fuckers. Taking his position once again, he started to wage a one-man battle against the shambling horde.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Deacon

I stepped up to the zombie, it just stood there, unseeing and unmoving, like it was dead, yet standing upright. A few paces off stood another one, practically in the same state, yet it seemed like the flesh was starting to rot off of it. I took in the stadium, this was ground zero, or ground zombie which ever way you wanted to look at it. All around there stood or lay zombies, these were the first and it seemed like they were now the first to decompose as well. I had found my truck, using the spare key which I kept hidden in a hubcap, I had been able to get my survival bag, it only carried a pistol, water and food, but it would be enough to see me through. I locked the truck again and have explored further...which was a bad idea.

I came across her two feet from the exit, she had not been killed by the zombies, but more like the frantic rush of people trying to get away crushed her lithe body against the railings, she had fallen and I could see that that was what killed her, the going down under all those feet. I took a breath, there was nothing I could do for her now...there was so much I should have done for her before. I knew that blaming myself for her death was a walk down a road which I was not really supposed to go. I was stronger than this, I was raised to survive...

And I was just human after all.

I stuck the cross into the fresh mound of dirt, it had taken me an hour to find a spot and to find the right tools, but she was now buried. The biggest difference between humans and zombies are that we bury our dead...the biggest difference between me and the rest of the humans? I took revenge for my dead. I looked down at the mound of dirt, took off my hat and bowed my head,

"I am not one to pray, nor ask favors. But I know that she believed and tried to live as right as possible. If she's with You right now, tell her to not look and if she's not up there right now...You made one helluva mistake not to take her."

I looked up to find a zombie staring at me, I placed my cap onto my head just as it gave a gurgling cry and came stumbling towards me. It's left foot had twisted and broken at the ankle, the foot flopped about as it came forward, I took two steps towards it, my hand flashing up and the zombie's head rolled away as I sheathed the machete into the new holster I had made for it. I took a deep breath and turned my back on the impromptu grave behind me, leaving a bit of my humanity behind, setting my sights on the very center of town. Clean up in aisle zombie was about to start...

 

[dutchrain]

Ria

After a little while John left to see to other things. The Knights were settling in well, he had told me, the children were a bit disillusioned Robert, Louise and Lola had the school running already, but otherwise things were just fine, except Max dying of course. He asked me, when and who would go on the next scavenge.

"I would like to go," he said, "but maybe I wouldn't be much of a help. Skip and Thomas really want to go. They feel we need to keep up with the schedule we had: A day out, one or two in. Too many shops we haven't been too, too many food rotting in houses, they feel we really need to get the stuff which is still okay before freezers and fridges break down. There was some power failure in the city already when we left, you know that. We would have gone out days ago if we hadn't been packing up and moving here!"

I had nodded. I wanted to go too. Quickly we developed a plan, he and I would guard the truck while Thomas, Skip and maybe TD, Paul and or Andrea would join too. Just four or five people, the next day. We would leave early in the morning and simply start in a street and salvage what we could.

Left to my thoughts I looked my new rooms over. It really felt good to have a place to myself which was a real room and not a remodeled classroom. I thought a bout Bart. I still didn't understand why he had changed his behavior towards me. I was wondering if he, Hunter and the others of Frank's people would be arriving at all.

Shortly before lunch Troy came to my room. On his arm I stumbled down the stairs. He told me he had dug a grave for Max at the old cemetery. We decided we would ask who would want to attend and who would want to speak at the burial during lunch. I also told him John, Skip, Thomas and I and maybe some others would go scavenging the next day.

"Something else, Troy: I have written down the names and some other information about most of the Knights in a bible I found, but shouldn't we start to keep proper records? It might be a good idea to start a kind of chronic too?"

Lunch was a sad feast. Almost a proper goodbye to Max already since a lot of people shared what little they knew about him and tried to tell about the few conversations they had with him, and Peter narrated in length about how Max had killed the first zombie as he and Thea tried to close the door just an hour after the outbreak.

People speculated about what happened to Thea when she ran away as we started out to our first scavenging tour.

We talked about Daniel who stayed behind in the Knight, about Deacon, wondering what had happened to them.

We really needed ways to communicate with people who were elsewhere.

After lunch I went to the kitchen. Washing up would be difficult to help with for me, but I certainly could help with cleaning potatoes or vegetables for dinner, or I could clean fruits to preserve.

In a corner of the kitchen were big piles of caskets, with grapes -a very sweet type which they used to make grape jam with, told Mrs Bradley- apples and plums.

An elderly man brought several very big sacks of sugar. He whispered with Mrs Bradley who looked worried.

"The last sugar," she announced. "Barely enough for todays lot, we will have to freeze the rest of the fruits, which is a big risk, if the freezers strike, it will all spoil."

"Without using any of the sugar we could simply boil the fruits and fill into glasses. That would preserve them quite well too," I said. "Or ... We could keep them simmering for hours or days until the mass has reduced to just about a third. Then the fruit sugars would concentrate and conserve the fruit as well as adding lots of sugar would."

Mrs Bradley looked doubtful, to put it politely.

"We will have to find means to conserve fruit and other food without using sugar or salt anyway. And we need those means soon, and the more sugar we use now, the sooner we will need them. So why not start now?" I asked. "If this is the last sugar you have, and I suppose the sugar we brought is a part of it, we won't have any until we go scavenging again, and we are not sure what we will find. I am afraid we won't find any quite soon. Next year we might have to do without if we don't make it ourselves. We also could use honey, put fruits in a sirup until they are satiated and then fill them in glasses and fill them with more honey. Or we could dry fruit in the oven. Or we could make things like apple sauce with plums and grapes and other fruits too, that would work well also without adding sugar. Or we could cook them in wine, drain them and pour stronger alcohol over them when we fill them in glasses or other containers."

"We always add sugar!" Mrs Bradley said a bit indignant. "It tastes better and it preserves better."

"In the middle ages and before people conserved fruit and vegetables too. Without sugar. Just with honey, salt, cooking or drying them," I persisted. "Why not start today? An old nun told once me they always simmered plums for ages and she presented me with an eight years old glass. It tasted wonderful over pudding and in yoghurt."

"So you mean we should keep this sugar for coffee and tea?" an older lady who had stood silently in the door asked me.

"Maybe, or for special occasions. We will scavenge as much as possible in the next days, in fact if you have wishes, hand them to me later today, but flour, sugar, salt, oil, vinegar and candles are on top of the list already." I explained her we would 'do' a street and then a shop or maybe the pancake house or an other restaurant to get some bulk.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Crazy is … as Crazy does!

What does it mean to be human? We think of ourselves as an animal that has evolved. But we are not one animal … we are a group of 1,000s of animals or maybe millions/billions of them, if you count the viruses within our bodies. I was told once there are 500 to 1,000 species of bacteria alone which live inside our bodies. The weight of these microorganisms was estimated to account for 3% of our total body mass!

I have only one virus inside of me now … one parasite … and I think that makes me as human as those that have millions of viruses.

I remember back to that day, when the virus changed me. I had been fighting the zombies, until my mind snapped. I ran. The zombies chased me, but inside me moving through my body, I felt a power in my blood. Every breath I took things started to change. I heard a voice.

"You must relax," it whispered. "You are changing." The voice explained. It was a calm voice like a mother caring for a child who had fallen ill. I stopped running and the zombies came at me. I closed my eyes waiting to be torn apart but nothing happened. For some reason the zombie had no interest in me anymore when I stopped running.

I opened my eyes and stared at a glowing figure standing before me … it looked like a ghost with glowing eyes. I was so happy I wanted to cry. I felt like I had done something amazing, like I had achieved something no one else could. The ghost smiled, the warm, gentle smile of a goddess, it made my eyes fill with tears.

"There, there," it said "You are amazing."

The words of praise felt great.

"What is happening inside of me?" I asked.

"You are becoming a human goddess!" It said. My body seemed to be in a state of flux, everything felt like it was vibrating. My skin tingled. My muscles felt like clay. My head filled with questions. What does it mean to be a human goddess? What will happen?

“You will change...” the words from the ghost whispered through my thoughts.

I stared into the glowing eyes. There was so much I didn't know or understand.

"We are human goddesses; there is nothing we cannot do." The voice said. “We can control our children.”

I stared in amazement at the ghost, hovering in front of me. It was thrilling. As my body absorbed the power and changes the virus made. I thought of books and stories I had read, movies I had seen, everything I knew about every religion and history I had studied. But how much of what I knew was truth? It was all wrong; the virus was making me a human god!

I fell to my knees gasping as my power grew "Will you teach me?" I asked the ghost.

"Of course," it said

Suddenly, I reached out with my mind and told a zombie to walk towards me. The zombie did as I commanded. I felt more connections with more of my children.

The ghost smiled and said “You are a quick learner!”

That seemed so long ago. But my mind wanders as it does often these days. I return to the original question. What does it mean to be human? We think of ourselves as an animal that has evolved. But we kill pigs to eat. Sometimes we kill other animals because they are dangerous. Like wolves or lions. They are evolved animals just like us. So when I kill other humans I think nothing of it. They are a danger to us and must be removed.

I have heard their screams … their pleas to their fake god as my zombie children consume them. They think they have souls that go to heaven once they are dead. I know now that the only true soul is the virus in me. It is a soul that talks to me. Those humans without the virus have no soul. They are dangerous and I must bring about their destruction.

I am … Thea … Human Goddess of the Zombies!

 

[Wolfias]

Cramer

I was weary from the struggle of surviving this world gone insane, as the image of a lone cowboy riding off into the sunset came to my mind. Certainly not the caliber of the characters straight out of western epics, but for me it was time to move on and let others survive without me. The Knights now being combined with the Kings, they really didn't need me now. I missed my Kaitlyn and there was nobody here to fill the emptiness within my soul, Max would receive a honorable funeral soon as I was leaving I wouldn't go. Stepping into the room I'd been given I packed, there wasn't much as of belongings anyway. Right about the time my weapons were gathered together, the distinct sound of a Claxton could be heard from the direction of my farm. ''Shit!...so much fer ridin off into the sunset like ol' John Wayne.'' Strapping my weapons on I grab my AR-15, heading to the designed assembly area I found Troy. ''What's the sitrep?'' Lighting up a cigar I listen to what the Aussie had to say, tugging my Braves cap down tight I was ready to rock...again.

 

[wombat9966]

Troy

Troy was waiting for a few stragglers to come in. He had taken Ria's suggestion to heart and had Dave rig up a radio set out of an old CB radio and a few other parts. It worked fine for their purposes and although Cramer had not been able to remember any frequencies, a quick few scans had picked up a lot of chatter and they soon had established contact with a lot of the outlying farms around them and had gotten his farms frequency from them.

Now he was glad he had. Every farm was screaming out for help. The Zombies were suddenly acting strangely organized and attacking in waves. Those closest to the base of operations were being told that reinforcements would be coming swiftly. Others that they would have to hold out. Troy knew that they could help out at Cramers farm and maybe one or two others. They were all close to the winery but if the Zombies were headed here as well then it would be a big risk. They were better prepared than the farmers but they needed them to survive. Damn what a time for Cassie and Derry to be out in the Tank. We could really use it's fire power now. Hell it could probably help one farm all by itself.

"Cramer I need you to try to get a hold of Cassie and Derry and see where they are. You know the area so direct them to the nearest farm in need of assistance but tell them not to risk themselves too much. If possible save the farm, but if not get the defender out and get out of there. I will get people organized to save your farm. Same rules though and we have to leave enough people here to defend the place in case they turn up here. Sounds like something is going on and the Zombies are learning or something."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Jerry

Normally a farm had loads of hard work to get done, but there was also a lot of down-time, in this down-time most farmers relaxed, tinkered on the house or planned. Since Jerry was no farmer and only carried the basic knowledge of farming, he had spent that down-time loading rounds, those rounds was now spent on destroying the green blooded zombies, they just kept coming and Jerry kept killing them. By now he had run out of ammo for the LMG, but the .50 cal still had a shitload of ammo and on it's motion sensor setting, it was blasting anything that moved. That freed Jerry up to check the rest of the yard, there was nothing, just the full assault...

THOOOOM!!

He frowned and ran back upstairs, the RPG had fired it's only round, because the Browning had jammed, Jerry quickly sorted the jam, loaded the machine gun and it started blasting away again. He grabbed his microphone,

"Mac, it seems like a huge amount of zombies have struck here, I am holding them off, but I doubt that I will have ammo left. If you can manage an ammo-drop of some sort I'd be mighty grateful. Over"

"Roger that Jer, if you had friends in that convoy that left earlier, you better get a warning to them, I can see a huge group making their way up the road. Over"

"Roger that Mac, over and out."

He picked up the M-16s he had in his room and joined the window where the browning was blasting away, it was doing a good job, so he took the time to get the message through to the Winery. Mac was a helicopter pilot who had an old Huey, it was fitted with long-range tanks and could stay up for a much longer period. Usually when trouble started, he was sent up if things looked a bit hairy and right now things looked particularly fucked up. Jerry made his way back to the window, lifted the first rifle and opened fire.

 

[Iscaa]

Derry and Cassie

As we drove back to Kings, we were silent. I kept glancing at Cassie...wondering what she was thinking. My thoughts were on Max and our first real funeral, it had been some time since I had been to a proper one. At least I hope this one would be proper. I sighed looked over at Cassie...wondering what was going through her mind now.

Sighing deeply I asked;

"Cassie are you alright? I know killing all those zombies did me a world of good, but it doesn't change the fact that we have lost Max. "

She looked over at me and smiled sadly,

"Derry lets just try and get thru this day OK?"

I nodded my head in agreement. As we got closer and closer to Kings, I noticed there seemed to be more then a few zombies around. I frowned and asked,

"Cassie....am I seeing things or is there more zombies as we get closer to Kings? I don't like this...don't like this one little bit. I think we better get our weapons ready."

 

[blackpenman]

Daniel

After the Voice had appeared to me, leaving me with more questions than before, I decided a nice walk would clear my head. Get my mind off of the Voice, and Cassie. Get the image of Cassie sucking some guy off, like the Voice had described, out of my head...

I jerked myself out of my thoughts. That was what I did not want to think about. I took a deep breath, looking out the window. It was a nice day, the last remnants of fall keeping the air nice and cool. I looked around, not really focusing all that much. That is, not until I saw a large, mass of shadows in the distance.

I looked closer, squinting my eyes to get a better look. It was a large group of zombies. I had seen my fair share of large groups of zombies, but this group was really large. It was like a small army. At least fifty zombies, and that was what I could see. There were definitely more undead behind them.

Suddenly, I heard a noise behind me. On edge from the sight I had just witnessed, I whipped around, trigger finger ready, only to see the Voice standing there. His hands were up above his head, showing he was weaponless. He flashed a grin, looking amused and not at all worried.

I am unarmed here. Besides, I couldn't hurt you physically even if I wanted to. the Voice thought-spoke to me. I slowly lowered my gun, still unsure whether or not this was a good idea. A sense of déjà vu suddenly overtook me. Whether or not the Voice affected this, I clearly remembered that this was the way the Voice and I had first met.

You just love to point your gun at unarmed, defenseless people, don't you Daniel? Voice thought-spoke to me. Once my gun was at my side, Voice relaxed, lowering his arms. He gave an invisible sigh, my only knowing it even happened by the sound I heard in my head.

"Do you know anything about all those zombies out there?" I asked, pointing out the window. Voice gave a quick look outside, and, seeing what I meant, gave a quick nod before he responded to my question.

Yes, I do. All I can tell you is that you won't be harmed by them, I will ensure it. In fact, I can turn them around if you want. he offered to me. I gave a nod, and he faced the window, eyes closed, hands crossed behind his back. He concentrated for a moment, and after a little bit he faced me.

You are safe. The zombies will turn around momentarily. I must warn you, however, that your safety will mean even more danger for others. These zombies will leave you alone, but will attack others. If you want me to change that, I can do it. Or would you rather save yourself and let others be hurt? he asked. I was momentarily speechless. Should I save my own skin, like a coward, and let others potentially die, or take on the horde of zombies myself, letting others live? It was a moral dilemma alright.

If it helps at all, Cassie is amongst the people that would be in danger if you saved yourself. Voice informed me. After that tidbit of information, my choice was obvious. There was no doubt about it.

"Don't turn them around, Voice. I'm saving myself for once."