Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse (Book 1): Sanctuary (22 page)

Adding
to my concerns about this group was their lack of interest in exploring. After
their one abortive attempt to get help, they decided to remain where they were.
They took all the food from a nearby house and had been tending its large
garden. They checked abandoned cars and those belonging to the departed for
supplies. But that was it. That was all they did. They just placed their faith
in God and the government and waited for someone to come to the rescue. Not
once did they venture out of sight of their tiny lake. Useless.

Julie
didn’t seem to care about the lack of sense, or understanding, that was
prevalent among this bunch. She was ecstatic about finding someone other than
me to latch onto. During dinner she, Michael, and Simon sat well away from the
rest of us. Their minds had been made up. In contrast, Lizzy stayed next to
Briana and me, with Mary and Lois hanging close as well. When morning came our
little group would fragment. Julie would be gone, staying with the pastor. Good
riddance to her, and thank God that she had solved one of my biggest problems
for me. Lizzy, Lois, and Mary would remain with Briana and myself. As to
Cherie, I had no idea. She flitted about talking to everyone. The woman was
hard to read.

Interlude – Briana’s Story

I’ve
already related the story of how Briana barricaded herself in a bedroom and
eventually escaped her zombified family. Now I’m going to add what happened
between that moment in time and our first meeting, something she did not share
with me until after we reached the
Nebraska
National Forest. I’d always thought
there was more to her tale than she let on, simply because she made it out of
her house early on the second day but didn’t reach my door until nightfall.
There were many, many unaccounted for hours, and I never believed, or assumed,
that she had been running about the entire time.

After
escaping, Briana headed for Jennifer’s house. Her long time friend and
classmate lived only two blocks over, and Briana managed to get there without
too much difficulty. Some zombies did spot her, but she quickly outdistanced
them – she really is in exceptional physical condition, far better than me.
Running up to the door, she banged on it, screaming for Jennifer to let her in.
Moments later she heard the lock flip, and it swung open.

“Briana!”
Jennifer pulled her friend inside and slammed the door shut, locking it once
more. Then she peered out the window apprehensively. “Any of those things
follow you?”

“Some
tried.” She was breathing heavily. “But, they’re slow.”

“Did
they see you come to the door?”

“Don’t
think so. Why?”

Jennifer
relaxed. “Thank goodness.” She threw her arms about Briana, holding her tight.
“I’m so glad to see you. After all that happened…”

She
began to cry, and Briana found she couldn’t restrain the sobs either.

“My mom
and brother.”

“Oh,
that’s horrible.”

Briana
nodded. “What about your dad?”

Jennifer
lived with her father. Her parents were divorced with her mother off in
California
desperately, and without success,
trying to become a movie star. Her lack of talent, alcoholism, and abusive
tendencies were likely to keep that from ever happening. Jennifer didn’t
particularly care if she ever saw the woman again or not.

“He,”
she began, letting go of Briana and plopping herself on the sofa. “He went
outside yesterday. We saw Mrs. Johnson pulling up early in the morning. She’d
been out of town – we were watering her plants for her – and we didn’t know if
she knew what was going on. Dad and I had been watching the news, so we knew
some of it. I know it sounds weird that she wouldn’t, but it was still really,
really early.”

“How
early?”

Jennifer
shrugged. “Maybe 5:30 or so. My dad had gotten up for work, and he saw it on
the television and woke me. It was still dark out. Well, he hurried out when
Mrs. Johnson got home, and some asshole came flying around the corner and hit
him with his car.” She was crying hard now. “The bastard didn’t stop or even
slow down, just drove off. Mrs. Johnson saw what happened, and she tried to
help, but then some zombies appeared. She ran into her house.”

“They’re
zombies? Like in movies?” This was the first time Briana had heard the term
used, but it did match up with what she’d seen and experienced. She began to
feel sick to her stomach.

“That’s
what they said on the TV. They’re definitely dead. Anyway, the zombies, they,
um, they…”

“They
bit him,” finished Briana, thinking of her brother.

“He
screamed for so long. I couldn’t go outside – there were so many of them – and
he told me to stay indoors and keep the door locked.” Jennifer wiped away her
tears with the back of one hand. “He got up later, one of them. I almost opened
the door when I saw him move, but Mrs. Johnson did that first. She must’ve been
watching too.”

“My dad
started staggering toward her. There were other zombies as well, in the street.
They all went and started hitting her door, pounding it with their fists. Then
one saw her looking out a window. It walked right over her flowers and broke
through the glass, just sort of falling inside. A bunch went after it. I could
hear her screaming. She came outside a while later, after the other zombies had
wandered away. She had bites all over, just like my…”

“Mom bit
my brother,” said Briana suddenly. She didn’t want to talk about it, but as
with Jennifer something was forcing the words out. “He was in bed sleeping when
she did that. I woke up when he screamed.”

“What
happened?” Jennifer had a hand over her mouth.

“I ran
to my room and piled everything I had in front of the door. I stayed there all
day while they tried to get inside. Finally went out the window and ran here.”

“What
are we going to do Briana?”

“I don’t
know. Were you able to call anyone?”

“Phones
are dead, even my cell. I can’t get anything to work. I have food, if you’re
hungry.”

“I am,
but… I don’t really feel like it. Know what I mean?”

Jennifer
nodded, though she didn’t really. She tended to eat during times of stress. “I
have chips and salsa if you want something light,” she offered.

“I
guess,” said Briana, noncommittally.

Her
friend went into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with the snack.
It was dark and dreary in the living room with the blinds closed, but neither
thought to move.

“Do you
think,” began Jennifer, “that it’s like this everywhere? Like us I mean, with
people hiding in their houses.”

“I don’t
know. Maybe. Why? Do you know of some place we could go? Did you hear something
on the news? My TV was busted, so I really don’t know what’s happening.”

“Oh, I
didn’t even think to ask what you knew.” Jennifer sighed. “No safe spots that I
know of. The reporters said it was everywhere, all over the planet, hit all at
the same time.”

Briana
felt the slight glimmer of hope that was building vanish. “Figures.”

“I’m
sorry.”

“No, no,
not your fault. I just wish I knew what to do. I can’t spend another night
hiding in a room while they try to break in and get me.”

“They
don’t know we’re here, so I think we’re okay.”

*
* *

Following
a quick summary of what Jennifer knew about current events, the pair fell into
an uneasy silence, neither eating nor drinking, as both teenagers thought about
what was happening, what had been lost, what they might do. And each found
strength in the company of the other. This period of reflection lasted several
hours – Briana later stated that she’d never thought the two of them could be
together and quiet for so long – until they heard a sound outside.

“What’s
that?”

“No
idea,” replied Jennifer. “Sounds like a motorcycle.” She moved to peek out a
window. “It is. It’s Harry!” She jerked the door open and ran out to the
street. “Harry! Stop!”

“What
are you doing!” shouted Briana. She got off the couch and started after her
friend.

“Harry!”
screamed Jennifer. “Come back!”

The boy,
a soon to be senior at the high school they both attended, never saw her. He
roared down the street, deftly avoiding the walking corpses, and soon vanished
from view.

“Jennifer!
They’re coming! Get back in here!” Briana felt her pulse quicken.

Noticing
the zombies shambling toward her from all directions, Jennifer tried to do just
that. She took two steps before her foot caught the edge of the concrete
walkway leading from the street to her front door. Losing her balance, she
stumbled and fell.

“Get
inside!”

The
things were nearly on her, coming from several directions. In a panic, Jennifer
forgot how slow and awkwardly they moved. Rising to her feet, she sprinted for
the large oak tree resting in the middle of her front yard.

“Where
are you going?” called Briana. “Inside, not out there.”

Jennifer
skillfully grabbed a branch and pulled herself up. She’d been climbing that
particular tree since she was little and was quickly out of reach of the
zombies. They milled about beneath her, arms outstretched. A few even tried to
pull themselves up after her, but none had the coordination necessary. She was
safe, although there was no way she was going to get down again.

“Briana!
I need help. Try to get them to move away or something.”

From the
doorway, Briana looked at the sight and pondered what to do. There were seven
of them, all around that tree. But maybe, maybe if she could get a few to move
toward her, Jennifer might have a chance.

“Over
here!” She began to throw things. The pillows from the sofa didn’t come close,
but the vase she hurled struck one zombie in the back. “Get away from her!”

Two of
them turned toward Briana and lurched in her direction, but it wasn’t enough to
clear a space for Jennifer.

“I’m
stuck!”

“They’re
coming for me too!” shrieked Briana. “Stay there.”

She
slammed the door, and the zombies soon began to pound on it. Unlike with her
bedroom, Briana had neither the time nor the means to secure it, and one of the
monsters was a huge, burly man. His massive fists hammered against the cheap
wood causing it to vibrate wildly. Then the doorframe shattered, and they were
inside.

Screaming,
Briana ran for the kitchen. She grabbed a knife, saw the zombie enter the room,
and promptly dropped it on the floor. Reaching the back door, she tried to open
it, pulling as hard as she could. It wouldn’t budge. Then she flipped the bolt
lock and darted into the backyard. She felt grasping fingers brush against her
hair. Moving quickly, she ran around the house to the fence near the front.
There was no gate on that side, but she clambered over and found herself facing
the street.

“Briana!”
shouted Jennifer. For a minute, she’d feared the worst.

How to
help her friend? She had to do something, but Briana had no clue. The zombies
by the tree hadn’t noticed her yet, but they would. A bang sounded behind her.
The ones in the yard definitely knew she was there, and they were hitting the
fence in an attempt to reach her.

“I have
an idea,” said Jennifer. She twisted about, trying to find a better position.
“We can…”

The
teenager screamed as she suddenly lost her grip. She fell twelve feet and hit a
branch, taking the blow in her ribs. Briana heard something crunch. Then she
bounced to the side and landed heavily on the ground. The zombies were on her
immediately and wasted no time in taking bites, ripping off large chunks of
flesh. Briana didn’t wait to see what happened next. She ran off, as fast as
she could, trying to get far enough away that she wouldn’t be able to hear
Jennifer crying out her name.

Chapter VII

The
morning of the twenty second day found us sitting in our respective vehicles,
well, not all of us. Julie and her family had accepted an unused tent. Due to
the number of campers who’d died or vanished, there was no shortage, and their
use had been offered to all. Briana was unequivocal in stating that she
preferred sleeping lying down as opposed to sitting upright in the Jeep. I have
to agree with her on that one. Even so, neither of us wanted to take the risk.
If zombies approached while we were in a locked car, we had a good chance of
waking and driving off before they sank their teeth into us. If we were in the
open, even in a tent, we might be killed or infected before we could react.

So,
stiff and sore, we filed out to get cleaned up as best we could and eat some
breakfast. The church folk prepared a group meal, apparently their norm,
supplemented by food Simon and Julie had contributed. I briefly thought of
adding to their stores, but since we weren’t staying, I discarded that notion.
We’d keep what we found for our own use. If they were too lazy or cowardly to
go out and look for more, let em starve. A bit brutal, I know, but I wasn’t
feeling overly sympathetic. We joined them however, at Pastor Wills’s
invitation.

“We’ll
be staying here,” said Simon, as I approached.

I
nodded. “You have to do what you think is best.”

“Are you
going to join us Cherie?” he asked.

Briana’s
eyes narrowed, and she looked about. Julie was a good ways off with Michael and
some other children.

“I don’t
think so,” she replied. “I want to see what else is around here. Since Jacob
and Lizzy want to explore, I’ll tag along for a while. I have my radio though,
so we can keep in touch as usual.”

I had
never heard them carry on any sort of communications. Maybe they had decided to
use a certain channel, different from the default. I considered mentioning that
possibility to Briana, but then she’d be flipping channels constantly, and we’d
probably miss any important messages directed our way. Besides, it was none of
my business.

“Do keep
in touch Simon,” I added. “We might drift in and out of range, but I think
we’ll be able to hear you most of the time. We’ll keep you apprised of what we
find.”

“That is
an excellent idea,” agreed the pastor, “and it will be good to get additional
information. Do let us know immediately if you encounter anyone coming to
help.”

“There
won’t be any damn help,” snapped Lizzy. She rubbed her eyes. “I fucking hate
mornings.”

“Please
my dear, there are children nearby. Do try to watch your language.”

“You
sound just like Julie with her whining, and there aren’t any damn kids around.
They’re all way over there. Too far off for me to warp.”

“What
about Mary?” I asked.

“I’m not
a kid,” she protested. “I’m a very mature teenager.”

“You’re
thirteen. Thirteen and maturity do not go together, ever, and it doesn’t matter
how much you think it does.” I was smiling as I said it, although the words are
completely true.

She
tried to glare at me, but Mary wasn’t angry. Nor was she good at pretending to
be.

“I’m
going to mingle a bit,” said Cherie suddenly. “I’d like to at least learn some
more names before we leave.”

I didn’t
pay much attention to her, but Briana kept an eye out – she really did not
trust the woman – and later told me that Cherie spent most of her time talking
to men, generally those who appeared single. She didn’t linger with any one
fellow, but she did speak with quite a few.

“Will
you be returning after you search the rest of the area?”

“I don’t
think so,” I replied. “I want to find a good spot to set up a permanent
settlement, a place with easy access to water and food but that can still be
well fortified in case of attack. This area is too open and way too vulnerable.
I think it might be prone to flooding as well, with the lake so close.”

“We are
only staying here until help comes.”

“Help is
not going to come,” snarled Lizzy. “Can’t you get that through your head? There
is no help. Most of the world is dead. Those who aren’t dead are busy trying to
stay alive or trying to get out of the cities, if they’re smart.”

“I must
disagree with you,” said Pastor Wills, quite calmly. “We have placed our faith
in God and in our fellow man. We will not be disappointed.”

He was
delusional. I looked over at Simon, but he dropped his gaze. Julie was
responsible for him staying. I could understand it well enough. She hated me,
absolutely, and would never consent to follow me now that there was an
alternative. Poor Simon was unable, unwilling, to leave her. I hoped he would
be okay.

“Faith
is a good thing,” I said, “but take precautions nevertheless.”

“And
what would you advise?”

I looked
about the area. “I’d move the tents closer together. You’re too spread out. I
would post watches at all times, day and night, to alert people if any zombies
approach.”

“We have
seen none here,” protested the pastor. “They do not come to this place. God has
declared it safe.”

“None
yet,” I corrected. “Watch the lake as well. I’m sure Julie has mentioned how
zombies can walk across the bottom of bodies of water.”

He
nodded gravely. “Yes, she did share that with us, among other things.”

“I’ve
already corrected her… misjudgments,” interrupted Simon.

“We are
grateful for that,” said the preacher. “It has helped prevent some misunderstandings.”

I could
only imagine what Julie was saying about me.

“And,”
he continued, “we are grateful for the information about zombies and the water.
We were unaware of that particular trait. We had thought water to be completely
safe.”

“Really
deep water probably is,” interjected Briana, “since they sink to the bottom. I
don’t think they can swim.”

“The
lake is never more than ten feet deep,” said Simon. “I was told that last
night.”

“Maybe
you need a bigger lake,” suggested Lizzy, sarcastically.

“There
are none,” replied the pastor.

He was
unperturbed. The man might be nutty, but he did have excellent control over his
emotions.

“Anyway,”
I said, “we’ll take my Jeep, Lizzy’s pretend Jeep…”

“Hey!”

“…and
Cherie’s pickup. Simon, we’ll drop the spare tires for your SUV in case you
need them.”

He
nodded.

“Then
we’ll explore and hopefully find a better spot. When we do, we’ll tell you
where we are. That way we’ll be able to help each other out if need be.”

“Hopefully
we won’t,” said Lizzy. She wanted away from these fools. That had been made
clear last night, once we were alone.

“As I
have said,” remarked Pastor Thomas Wills, “I believe it unnecessary, but you
have my blessings in your endeavor. May God go with you.”

Lizzy
opened her mouth to say something, but Lois grabbed her arm. Reluctantly, she
bit back whatever her reply was going to be, and the two of them walked off.

“Lizzy’s
in trouble,” sang Mary softly.

“Happens
a lot, doesn’t it?” asked Briana.

“Oh,
yeah. Lois is forever calming her down, making her apologize, telling her to
behave. Lizzy really is a bad influence on me, you know. Good at killing
zombies, so I tolerate her.”

Briana
laughed and then went off with Mary. I asked where they were going, slightly
curious, but dropped the matter when Briana replied it was girl talk. There was
simply too great a chance it involved feminine hygiene or some other topic I
wanted to avoid.

The
pastor, Simon, and I spent some more time speaking, mostly about nothing, while
I waited for everyone to finish what they were doing so we could get going.
Things were never that simple though. Cherie soon returned with a young couple
in tow, along with quite a few annoyed and angry looking folk trailing close
behind.

“What’s
going on?” asked the pastor.

“These
two charming people want to come with us,” replied Cherie.

“They
can’t leave Thomas,” declared a woman. It was the same whiny hag from the
previous night.

“Of
course Susan and Timothy can leave,” he said, honestly surprised. “This is not
a prison, and we are not some foul cult that keeps our members isolated and
locked up. Nor do we make them drink Kool-Aid when things go bad.”

Her face
fell. The preacher clearly knew exactly how to deal with this woman.

“But,”
she continued, “you know what happened last time some of us left.”

“Oh?” I
asked.

Pastor
Wills turned to me, his eyes sad. “As we told you before, a group was sent out
after it began to see if they could find help or to offer any needed
assistance, as the case might be. They went north to
Chadron, it being
the closest town.
Things did not go well, and none made it in the end. Every last one perished.
Since then we have remained here, completely safe from harm.”

That was
worse than I’d assumed, and I wondered how many had died.

“I would
like to know your reasons however,” he continued, shifting his attention to the
couple before him.

“We,”
began Susan, “don’t feel safe just sitting here doing nothing. Looking around
the area makes more sense. There might really be something nearby that’s better
or at least more comfortable.”

“And we
won’t be going far,” added Timothy. “We can always return if it proves too
dangerous.”

“Of
course you can,” said the pastor, reassuringly. “Your going may serve an
additional purpose as well. You will be in an excellent position to preach
God’s message to our new friends.”

I was so
glad Lizzy was out of earshot.

That
seemed to mollify many of the others, whom I assumed were fellow church members
from
Illinois
. They were definitely dedicated to
their faith, but then, I think only the most devout would take two weeks each
year to go on a retreat like this.

“We have
extra radios,” I said. “We’ll show you how to use them. That way you can stay
in touch with us and Simon here at the lake camp. By the way, do you have a
car?”

“Yes,”
replied Timothy, “a minivan.”

I
repressed a groan. “That’s not going to work. We’ll be going off road on
occasion. You need a Jeep, preferably, or at least a truck with four wheel
drive.”

“We do
have several pickups,” said the pastor, “that are now without owners. You may
take one of those.”

“You
have guns?” I asked.

Susan
shook her head. “We do not believe in violence.”

“That
wasn’t my question, but I’m taking that as a no.” She was annoying me, but then
I always was quick to judge others. “I’ll give you each a pistol and a shotgun.
We have some we took from a police van we found south of here.”

“I am
not carrying a gun,” she said stubbornly.

“I’ll
take it,” said Timothy.

“You
will not!” exclaimed Susan, as she rounded on her husband.

“Each
vehicle carries some weapons,” I said. “That’s the rule. You don’t have to wave
it about or anything, better if you don’t really, but if zombies get too close,
you need to have the means to defend yourself. Hopefully that won’t happen.
Even if it does, it’s usually me and Lizzy who drop them.”

“That’s
true,” said Simon. “I carried a gun the entire time, but I never used it. They
did the shooting, and it wasn’t necessary too often. Jacob is good at planning.
We were even able to stop on the road in places to eat or siphon gas and not
even see one of them.”

“If you
go away from this area,” said the pastor, “you may need such a weapon.”

“Well,”
conceded Susan, reluctantly, “I suppose, as a precaution. I don’t like it, and
I’m not carrying one myself.”

That
settled that. Timothy would have the gun. It’d be better if both did, but I
wasn’t going force it. Too much trouble, and it probably wouldn’t accomplish
anything.

“Get
your stuff together, and we’ll head out,” I said. “I’ll tell the others you’ll
be joining us.”

*
* *

We
didn’t leave the camp until nearly ten that morning. Part of the delay was
getting the pickup Susan and Timothy took started. It had simply been sitting
unused for too long. Such problems were going to get worse as time went by.
Fortunately, there were some mechanics among the pastor’s
little flock
, and they got whatever the problem was
corrected. Additional time was spent showing Timothy how to use the 9mm I
loaned him. He picked up on the shotgun quick enough, which was admittedly much
simpler. Susan’s disdain of guns was repeatedly made clear during the
abbreviated lessons, and she threw a fit when she realized Mary, at the
precious and innocent age of thirteen, carried one.