Beware the Night (3 page)

  “I’m not falling for that friendly act anymore. I know you and Tom wish I wasn’t here. The two of you want this place for yourself. Well, I can assure you that won’t happen. I’ve been setting up traps around my place in case the zombies ever come, but they can be used against anyone else who might try to get me to leave this place as well.”

  “You’re not thinking straight, George. You need to be around other people. You need to come stay with us before you totally lose it.”

  “I’m not going to lose anything.” There was something about the way George said it that sent shivers down Nancy’s spine. “Now go back to your boyfriend and enjoy your dinner.”

  “Please, George. Don’t be this way,” she pleaded.

  “And tell Tom it is better if he avoids me. I didn’t ask for a big brother and I sure don’t need him trying to give me advice. Now it’s getting dark, so go home.”

  Nancy almost ran the entire way back to her cabin. She saw Tom standing there on the porch as she rushed into his waiting arms. He stroked her hair and hugged her tightly as she found herself so thankful that he was there. He said nothing, giving her time to clear her thoughts before she spoke.

  “Can we leave tonight? George is worse than I thought. He has become totally delusional. He really needs some mental help.”

  “Maybe I can go talk to him,” Tom started.

  Nancy cut him off. “He really hates you. He sent a warning for you to keep away from him. I just think the best thing for us to do would be to leave.”

  “But right now?”

  “George is afraid of the dark. It’s the best time to make our escape. He would never come after us at night.”

***

  George heard the sound of a cycle starting up in the distance. He glanced out the window of his cabin just in time to see Tom and Nancy riding away on his bike. They’d stolen it right out from under him. He quickly grabbed the rifle and a flashlight, as well as the keys to the motor-boat he kept ready to go down at the docks. Throwing open the door, he found a note stuck to it. He took it in his hand and wadded it up, thrusting it into the front pocket of his jeans. There was no need for him to read it to know what it said - they were leaving him behind.

  He ran quickly down to the dock and got the speed boat started. Through the trees he could see the cycle lights. George knew the road wound around and over a few hills before reaching the turn-off to the old logging road. He could easily be across the lake before they got half way there. He decided not to turn on the lights of the boat as he headed straight across the dark waters. No sense letting them know he was heading their way.

  As the boat approached the small group of houses and the store that made up the small community he and the others had been avoiding, he turned the boat and ran it straight for the shore. What he hadn’t counted on was the rocks beneath the water. The boat lurched to one side as it ripped open the hull. Luckily for George, it was only a few feet from the shore as it came to a screeching stop. But he did realize the wrecked boat would be useless to get back across the lake.

  He jumped into the shallow water and ran up onto the beach, looking around to get his bearings. He realized he was directly below the main road and the turn-off to the logging road. Swiftly climbing up the embankment, he reached the paved road in no time. There was still no sound of the cycle. He only glanced at the nearby buildings for a moment to see if there were any signs of the zombies. He saw and heard nothing. George started up the steep gravel road into the darkness of the forest.

  He felt much safer away from the buildings below. He ran at a steady pace, climbing higher and higher as the road curved and made its way up the mountain. Then he heard a distant hum. As it grew louder, he knew it was the cycle. They were coming. He swiftly got off the road and hid in some dark foliage. Waiting. And waiting. And waiting.

  As the cycle lights came around a bend, George aimed his rifle and pulled the trigger. The shot hit Tom squarely in the chest, causing him to jerk backwards, which in turn, caused the cycle to spin to one side, hitting a boulder. It truly seemed like it happened in slow motion as George watched the vehicle flip up into the air, sending both occupants flying off the road and down the ravine. There was suddenly sheer silence.

  George rushed over to where the machine had left the road. He could see the crumbled bodies about fifty feet below. Somehow the lights from the cycle had stayed on, shining like a beacon from the shattered vehicle. George made his way down. There was no need to check on Tom. George knew he was dead. But his intention had never been to harm Nancy.

  He saw the broken body and bent down beside her. Frantically checking for a pulse, there wasn’t one. By the bruise on her neck he knew it had probably been broken instantly when she crashed. George cradled the lifeless body in his arms, tears rolling down his face.

  “What have I done?” He cried out.

  For hours he sat there holding Nancy in his arms. Now he was truly alone. Some unknown reason caused him to recall the note he’d stuck in his pocket. He slowly pulled it out, straightening it to read. As he turned on the flashlight the first words to catch his attention were
:
We promise we’ll be back to get you. We are heading to California to see if there really are other survivors. We love you and will be back for you.      

   There was more, but he saw no reason to read it. He tossed the note aside.

  George began to think long and hard. The realization came that because of him, two people who had cared for him were dead. He had killed them both in cold blood. No matter how he tried to justify it, George knew there was no excuse for his actions. It wasn’t zombies that had killed his friends - it was him. George realized he had become the source of their demise. He had become the monster.

  A hideous groan echoed from the road above. George turned off the flashlight, realizing the weak beam from the wrecked cycle was still shining through the trees. There was another moan. George froze in terror, too afraid to move. The howls of the dead suddenly rose all around him from the dark forest. The zombies had followed the light. But it no longer mattered to George. For he had already succumbed to the darkness within. As the cycle light went out, the night rushed in on his soul. George’s screams echoed across the lake.

***

Sonny Collins is the author of several Teen & Y/A books. Having decided not to be boxed into any certain genre, his books are varied, with something for everyone.

The ZOMBIE BATS series follows a group of teens as they battle deadly creatures numerous times in their small town.

SUMMER OF THE STRANGER is a western as seen through the eyes of a young man on the cusp of manhood.

THE OCEAN ROAD is a fantasy that finds a group of teens being led by a wizard on a quest across a magical and dangerous land.

COMANCHE GARDEN is the scary tale of four teens on a camping trip who get more than they bargained for when they take off into a forbidden area of wilderness.

MOON STATION SEVEN is the story of two teens visiting their grandparents on the moon when disaster strikes.

DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS is a collection of short stories which includes ‘Comanche Garden’ and ‘Moon Station Seven’, as well as many others, most with a twist of an ending.

MOUSE TAILS is a Christian Christmas fable about two orphans lost in a blizzard who are taken in by an old man that tells them several stories concerning mice.

There are also three books of poetry DISTANT DREAMS - ILLUMINATION - BENEATH A WESTERN SKY - and a play PLEASE TAKE A SEAT, as well as the one big novel that defies any genre.

ANASAZI DREAMS:IN SEARCH OF COYOTE PEOPLE is the story of one man’s search for creatures that roam the night in the Four Corner’s region of the American southwest. His journey is traveled with an ancient Native American spirit and the ghost of his best friend in this supernatural adventure.