Wormwood Dawn (Episode VIII) (2 page)

Chapter Two

Toby was awakened by the sound of a door opening. He gasped as he awoke, terrified that his captor had come to finish him off. Instead, as he held his breath and watched the door, he saw something even more frightening.

He saw the dead eyes of a shuffler that was coming through the door. His heart thumped wildly when he realized it was looking at him. He struggled to break free, straining hard against the boards that were nailed across his lap, but they wouldn’t budge. Defeated, he closed his eyes, letting a full flood of tears free.

But the biting and growling never came. He only heard the scraping of the creature’s feet on the floor as it slowly came toward him. He peeked out of his right eye, watching the creature’s bare, moldy feet step toward him awkwardly. He dared an upward glance, and saw that the thing was female, dressed in nice clean clothing, and carrying a tray.

As the woman-thing knelt, its knees creaked and popped, and a slight moan came from its partially rotted mouth. Toby looked away, too terrified to look back. He felt the tray being placed on the floor in front of him, balanced on the two boards that imprisoned him. Then, he heard the popping of joints again, and looked up.

The shuffler was turning around to exit the room again. From behind, Toby could see that there was something attached to the back of its skull, something metallic with wires and a small blinking green light.

He watched her intently until she finally pulled the door closed behind her. Swallowing hard, he looked down at the tray. There was an apple, a small glass of water, and a few chunks of cheese. Starving, Toby picked up the apple and took a bite of it.

“That’s a good boy,” a voice said suddenly.

Toby was startled, and froze in place, not daring to chew the bite of apple that was in his mouth.

“Go ahead,” the voice continued. “Eat. You’re hungry, and you need your strength.”

Hesitantly, Toby finished chewing and swallowed. He could feel his strength returning almost immediately, but the fear remained. He looked around as he ate, unsure of where the voice originated. He could see nothing but the fireplace across from him, and a small rug that was placed on the floor in front of it.

“Who are you?” Toby said out loud.

“My name is Maynard,” the voice said. “What is your name?”

“T—Toby,” he said.

“Ah. Hello Toby. Welcome to my home. I want to assure you that you are safe. I would just like you to stay awhile.”

“You have monsters,” Toby said.

There was a slight chuckle, the same strangely frightening chuckle he had heard when he was taken. “Yes,” Maynard said. “But you need not worry about them. You see, the infected, like the one who brought you your dinner, are quite docile. They are harmless, really. It was only recently that they began to get hungry. But as long as their hunger is satiated, they are easy to control.”

Toby said nothing, but continued eating his apple.

“The other ones,” Maynard said, “are not so docile.”

“The shamblers?” Toby said.

Another chuckle. “I’m not sure what that means, but if you’re referring to the other types of infected, the mean ones, then yes. I call them ragers. They are quite dangerous, and cannot be controlled. But, I assure you, I’ve been working on that.”

Toby wasn’t sure what he meant, but he didn’t like the way it sounded. He was terrified and confused, but most of all, he had to pee. He wondered if he would be forced to piss himself, or if his captor would let him go long enough to use a bathroom.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” he said.

“Ah yes,” Maynard said. “I figured that would happen sooner or later.”

There was a clank, and the strap around his waist fell away.

“Reach behind you,” Maynard said.

Toby reached his arm around to the small of his back. There was a long metal object there. He grabbed it and worked it around to his front so he could see it. It was a pry bar.

“I just wanted to restrain you momentarily so that you wouldn’t harm yourself,” Maynard said. “You are very important to me.”

Toby wondered why, but didn’t ask. Instead, he wedged the pry bar underneath the board across his lap and pulled down on it. With a squeak, the nail began coming loose. Toby strained against it, grunting and gritting his teeth with the effort. Finally, it came loose, and the board could now be moved. Keeping it lifted, he swung it forward and pulled his knees up to his chest.

He moved his tray to the side and stood, stepping out of the hole. Where he was sitting were more hardwood boards. There was just enough space between the two layers to fit his legs.

“Go out the door,” Maynard said.

Toby pictured the monster standing outside, and was frightened.

“Don’t worry,” Maynard said. “It’s safe.”

Hesitantly, Toby went for the door. He grabbed the lever, slowly pulling it down. He pulled it open, staring into the dimly lit hallway. There were scratching and gurgling noises that made his skin crawl. Though he had to pee badly, he was reluctant to step out.

“Go ahead,” Maynard said. “Go to the right.”

Toby poked his head out the door, looking left and right. To the left, there was an archway on the opposite wall that led to a dark room. To the right, the hallway ended at a door about ten feet from where he was. There was a shuffler standing near it, the same one who had brought him the tray. She stood there, gurgling and swaying slightly.

“Don’t be afraid of her,” Maynard said. “She won’t harm you. Her name is Sarah.”

Sarah?
Toby thought. Who names a monster?

He stepped out, moving down the hallway pressed against the wall. He didn’t want to get too close to Sarah, regardless of what Maynard had said. As he passed her, she gazed at him with those dead eyes. They moved with him, as if she could see him, but didn’t care.

“She’ll last about another month or so before she becomes a rager,” Maynard said. “Until then, she’s harmless.”

That explained why the shufflers were becoming more aggressive. They were all the same—the moldy ones—they start out as shufflers, then evolve into… ragers, as Maynard called them. That made sense. But Toby wondered about the dead ones. Maybe he could ask Maynard.

Later.

He opened the door at the end of the hall. A lantern on the counter revealed a toilet, and sink, and a mirror. Everything seemed clean and tidy. Even the white porcelain toilet was spot-free and shiny.

He went over it and lifted the lid. Inside, it was spotless. Taking one last look around, he unzipped his pants and let loose. The tinkling was loud, and Maynard could evidently hear him.

“Teedly-dee-dee-deeeeee,” Maynard sang.

The little ditty gave Toby the creeps, but he kept peeing until he was empty.

“Don’t forget to flush,” Maynard said.

Toby reached out and flushed the toilet. Behind him, the shuffler moaned for a second, as if startled, but then settled down and continued her cooing.

“Now,” Maynard said. “Go down the hall and go into the room on the right.”

Toby squeezed by Sarah again, and then ran the rest of the way to the archway. The room inside was dark, except for a dimly lit lantern near the door. He turned the key at its base to lengthen the wick, and the room became brighter. There was a small couch, a rack of firewood, another fireplace, and a wooden desk and chair.

“The firewood is for you,” Maynard said. “Don’t let the fireplaces go out or you’ll freeze. On the couch you will find a blanket and a pillow. Use them as you need them. Until then, you should finish your dinner.”

Toby didn’t look forward to trying to sleep with a shuffler in the same space. Regardless of him knowing her name—if that even was her name—it still scared him. She smelled strange, too, like the black slimy mildew that grew in dirty showers. It was a very unpleasant smell that made him think of the locker room in gym class, or laundry that had been left in the washer, forgotten and stinking.

Nevertheless, Toby went back to the other room and grabbed his tray. He carried it back to the couch and sat down, placing the tray on his lap. Still spooked and confused, he finished the apple and the cheese, washing it down with the glass of water. He then set the tray on the floor and laid down on the couch. He lay still for a while, terrified and homesick.

He missed his mom. He missed Dan and the others. He wished his mom was here to tuck him in. But instead, he would have to do it himself, and he did. He reached down and pulled the blanket over him, laying his head on the pillow. The blanket smelled clean, like good, expensive fabric softener had been used on it. It reminded him of home.

Against his better judgment he closed his eyes, pulling the blanket over his head. It felt safe that way, but still he couldn’t hold back his tears. Underneath the blanket, in a dark and frightening room, Toby wept for his mother.

He wanted to go home.

A groaning sound awoke Toby an unknown amount of time later. He stayed underneath the blanket, afraid to look. He knew something was standing near him, and the thought terrified him. Maybe if he stayed covered up, the monsters wouldn’t see him. He could hear the floor creak, as if something nearby were shifting its balance from one foot to the other. Curious, yet still terrified, he peeked out.

Sarah stood in front of the couch. He saw her dress, and smelled her mildew scent. He lowered the blanket, slowly looking up at her horrid face. She was expressionless, but moaning louder than usual. She was, evidently, trying to wake him up.

“Toby,” Maynard’s voice sounded from nowhere, again. “I want to show you something. Follow Sarah.”

Sarah turned clumsily toward the dark corner on the left side of the fireplace and began shuffling her way over there. Toby sat up, slipped on his shoes, and followed. She went slowly, staggeringly, but managed to get there eventually. There was a sliding noise, and the shadows opened up into a well-lit hallway.

Toby followed her in, glancing around at the wall-mounted lanterns that lined the hall. She turned left after entering, and Toby stayed behind her, careful not to disturb her. He peeked around her, seeing several other shufflers standing motionless along either side. As Toby passed them, they glanced at him, uninterested. Still, their presence was disturbing, and he had to hold back the urge to shut his eyes.

Sarah stopped at the end and stepped aside. There was a door there, with a lever-type handle. Sarah stood motionless, swaying in place as usual. Toby was confused.

“Open the door, Toby,” Maynard said.

Toby reluctantly reached out and pushed the lever down. The door unlatched and squeaked open a ways. He pulled it open and stepped through. To his right, there was a stairway leading down. The area below was also well lit, and flickered with the light of several lanterns.

He took one look back at Sarah. She had nothing to offer.

“Go on down,” Maynard said. Toby still wondered where his voice was coming from.

He crept down the stairs, keeping his eyes to the right as the wall opened up and turned into a railing. Below, he could see what looked like a long, wide room with a vaulted ceiling. There were lanterns everywhere, and each wall was lined with three large, square containers made of brick, with curtains covering their fronts. Underneath, Toby could see the faint glow of white light, as if each container had a fluorescent light inside.

He stood motionless, unsure of what to do. He was frightened of what could be in the containers, or if whatever they contained could get out and eat him. Though Sarah seemed harmless, as Maynard said she was, he wasn’t sure about anything else.

“Go to the first container on your left,” Maynard said.

“What’s in there?” Toby asked.

“You’ll see,” Maynard replied. “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe.”

Toby timidly stepped forward, slowly making his way toward the container. The closer he got, the more terrified he was—and the more intense the sounds became inside the container. He stopped when he heard a sniffing sound, and the banging of flesh on glass. Something inside knew he was there. Scared as he was, Maynard said he would be safe, and Maynard had been truthful so far.

He continued toward it, stopping in front of it. His heart raced with anticipation and terror, but he trusted what Maynard had said.

“Open the curtains,” Maynard said.

Toby’s teeth chattered. He clenched and unclenched his fists. He didn’t want to see what was inside.

“Go ahead,” Maynard said. “It can’t hurt you.”

Scrunching up his face, Toby stepped forward and grabbed hold of both curtains. He closed his eyes and spread them, and was immediately jolted by a loud impact against the glass. He stepped back quickly, opening his eyes. Inside was a shambler, or rager as Maynard had called it.

It growled and gnashed its teeth, clawing at the glass that kept it inside. Toby glared at it as he froze. It was a horrible sight; covered in large clumps of fungus, blackened and lacerated skin, and with red eyes that burned blindly. Its teeth were yellow and cracked, and greenish mucus ran out of almost every orifice.

It lips were pressed against the glass and pulled back tight, revealing its horrid teeth, and its greenish tongue which licked the glass. Toby felt the bile build in his gut, but he held it back, not wanting to puke on the floor.