Revealed: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction (3 page)

The Lost Girl

"Hold up, boy.  Reload now, while we have a chance.  Things are going to get pretty nasty between here and the end of the bridge.  Once we get there, we can head straight for cover in the woods.  First, we're gonna have to fight like hell."

They both reloaded as quickly as possible.  Christa stirred, and her eyes opened.  She took a deep breath, then let out a whimper as she realized where they were, and where they were heading.  She started squirming and struggling to get her hands free.  Alex couldn't calm her.

"Put her down, put her down," Chaz said.

Alex knelt, set Christa on the ground, and lifted her hands over his head.  Chaz flicked his knife between her arms, cutting the rag holding her hands.  Alex unsheathed his knife and place it in her hands.  She dropped it, and backed away. Alex picked it up and wrapped her hands around it, holding her hands within his.

"Christa, you have to do this.  We have no choice.  You need to fight, for all of us.  We're stronger as a group.  There's less than a hundred yards from here to the end, to the safety of the woods.  But you need to be strong now.  You can do this.  Just stay between us, close to the guardrail, and keep moving up the bridge.  You can do this.  OK?"

It wasn't really a question, but Christa nodded her head anyways.  She took a deep breath, and stood up.  Their momentary reprieve was over.  They moved quickly down the bridge, with Chaz and Alex leading the way.  Christa followed behind.  The main threat was directly in front of them.  With Alex's hands free, they were killing zombies faster than ever.  They were also drawing more attention to themselves.  They were halfway to the woods when the zombie attacks increased.  They were fighting more, and advancing less.  More of the zombies picked up their scent and more shooting and slashing ensued.

Twenty yards to go from the edge of the woods, and their pace came to a standstill.   They found themselves totally surrounded.  With their bullets depleted, their guns became clubs.

"I'm out, Colonel.  Can't reload."

"Me too, no time. Keep pushing."

Christa stayed huddled in behind them, barely able to move.  Alex could feel her pressing up against his back.  The knife remained in her hands, but no blood tarnished its silver blade.  Alex and Chaz were able to make a few feet more progress, but the mob was increasing.  Eventually, the mob began forcing them back from where they had come.  Then Alex noticed Christa was no longer pressing on his back.  He stole a quick glance behind him.  She was gone, nowhere in view. 

"Colonel, she's gone.  Christa's gone, I can't see her."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"What do you mean 'Yeah'?  You noticed and didn't say anything? What the ..."

"I'm a little busy here, boy; in case you haven't noticed, we're getting our asses handed to us.  We can't keep retreating; eventually we're going to run out of room."

"I've gotta find her, she's gonna get ripped to shreds on her own. Maybe they don't have her yet."

"You didn't even see her leave.  We've got to save ourselves first, before we can worry about her.  Have you forgotten what we're trying to accomplish here?  Think bigger picture, boy!  We need to get off this bridge."

Looking around, Alex saw an opportunity.  "Colonel, look back and over to your right ... there seems to be a gap in the crowd.  If we fall back a bit we may be able to fight our way in that direction."

Favorite Weapon

Christa opened her eyes, and found herself lying on the ground, staring at mangled feet and legs shuffling around her.  She remembered being with the colonel and Alex.  She missed Alex.  He’d carried her, she remembered it as if she’d dreamed it.  He was going to rescue her from all those horrible creatures.  Then she’d woken, and he’d untied her. 
Why was I tied?  Why would Alex tie me? 
Then he’d put a knife in her hands, and there was all that shooting and slashing and clubbing of zombies.  Those horrible beasts.  She remembered wandering off.  The blood and guts were too much.  She couldn't take all the blood.  What to do with the knife in her hands?  It was clean, and heavy.  She wasn't a killer; what could she do with a knife? She was only 12.  Then she remembered those horrible faces, and bloody, dirty hands reaching for her as their teeth came closer.  Slobbering, dirty, blood-soaked teeth with bits of skin and soft tissue hanging from them.  They came so close. Some reached for her throat, but then they were gone, and she fell to the ground.  Barely conscious.  She could hear them fighting.  The zombies were in a frenzy, fighting each other.  Some hungry, desperate ones lunged towards her with frantic eyes.  But not all were moaning and desperate.  Some attacked and shredded the desperate ones apart.  Literally ripping their hands, fingers and legs.  Whatever they could get a hold of.  Eventually, the desperate ones fell away.  The protectors?  Is that what they were?  Zombies fighting and protecting her?  Finally she gained her feet.  She felt a bit wobbly at first, like she was still in a dream.  Things were blurry and the ground wasn't quite where it should be.  But the zombies were keeping their distance.  All of them.  Where did the desperate ones go?

"Alex, this way."  The colonel fended off a few more zombies with expert knife work.  "I can see a break in the mob."

Alex followed the colonel.  Along the way, he picked up an old pipe with spikes screwed into one end.  Better to use this, he thought, than risk damaging his semi-automatic by clubbing zombies.

"I'm right behind you, Colonel.  Keep going, don't worry about me, I'll keep up.  I can see the clearing ahead.  The zombies have something surrounded up there.  I thought I saw a few of them tearing at each other.  It's too hard to tell with all the bodies though."  Alex impaled a big one through the left ear with the spiked pipe.  It stuck for a moment, but some leverage sprang it loose.

"Freaks don't fight each other.  It's like some stupid code burned into them.  I've never seen it happen.  They'll starve to death staring at each other before resorting to cannibalism."

"I think I see Christa, Colonel.  She's surrounded by all those zombies.  How can that be?"  Alex doubled his efforts, and pushed recklessly ahead of the colonel.  Separating himself from the colonel, Alex moved into the clearing and sprinted towards Christa.

"Alex! Alex, damn it!  We've got to stick together.  Can't get separated.  Not now."  But Alex wasn't listening. He knelt to talk with Christa, sitting on the ground.

"Christa, where did you get to?  We thought we’d lost you for sure. How did you get over here?"

"I don't know, I don't know what's happening.  I remember wandering off.  Then there was all this fighting around me.  First they wanted to eat me, then some wanted to save me ... I think.  The zombies, they were actually fighting with each other.  Like little kids in the schoolyard, only really mean like, and serious.  They ripped each other apart.  I fell and hit the ground pretty hard.  I think I passed out for a while.  Maybe I just closed my eyes and hoped they'd stop.  Then, they did.  They did stop.  I don't know why.  They're scared of me now I think.  They just keep their distance, like there's something wrong with me.  They're staying away, but now I'm still really scared."

"It's OK, Christa.  Don't worry, I'm here now, and we're going to get out of this somehow."

Chaz finally broke into the clearing, running up to Alex, out of breath and bloodied.  He shoved Alex hard from behind, then reached around and grabbed the front of his jacket.

"If you ever desert me in the middle of hell like that again, you're not going to live long enough to regret it!  I'll end you myself.  What the hell were you thinking?  We should both be dead from that stunt of yours."

Knocking Chaz's hands away and backing up, Alex stared at the ground.  "I know, sir.  Sorry, but I had to get to her.  You're right, I don't know how we managed to make it this far, but we're not dead.  And for some reason the zombies won't come near us around Christa."

"Really?  You figured that out all by yourself, did you?  Here we are, surrounded by a horde of zombies, and for some reason there's a friggin’ neutral zone around the kid. And you think 'Gee, maybe it's something to do with the kid'?"

Alex didn't reply.  He just stared blankly at the colonel, then at Christa.  Christa took hold of Alex's hand.

"Of course it's the girl.  What else could it be?  It ain't you they're scared of, that's for damn sure.  We need to get out of here.  Pick her up.  She looks too scared to even move.  And keep her out of my reach. I'm not very forgiving right now."

Alex pulled Christa closer. "So, what's the plan?  We can't just walk out of here."

"Walking out of here is exactly what we're going to do.  So long as you hold on to little Princess Zombie there, I'm guessing this mob will part like the Red Sea, and we can head for the promised land."

"She's not a zombie.  She's just a kid."

"I don't know what the hell she is.  She may not be a zombie, but she sure as hell isn't just a kid either.  Zombies aren't scared of kids.  Those things are staying away like she's got the bubonic plague.  Pick her up, and let's get going."

Alex bent down, grabbed Christa under the arms, and swung her up onto his shoulders.  Chaz headed towards the end of the bridge.  Alex followed with Christa towering above them, visible to all. 

Chaz returned his pistol to his holster. "Give me that pipe of yours.  Keep both hands on the princess, where everyone can see her."

Alex handed him the pipe, and left his semi to hang off his back.  It felt unnerving walking this close to a zombie horde with no weapons in his hand. Christa could see the end of the bridge from her vantage point, which lightened her mood.

As they walked to the end of the bridge, the crowd of zombies did indeed part before them.  Just like the colonel had said.  The zombies were aware of them.  They turned and watched them, but kept their distance as they got onto the main road. The horde was more interested in the few remaining pigs.  It was like they were strangers in a crowd.

"In all my years fighting these damn creatures, I've never seen anything like this before.  I don't know if I'm relieved, or scared shitless of that thing perched on your shoulders."

"She's fine, Colonel.  You worry too much."

"Yeah, too much worry for sure.  That's why I'm still alive.  Just to relieve my worry a bit, why don't you and Princess Zombie there take the lead.  I'll keep an eye on her from behind."

Alex smiled.  He reached up, grabbed Christa, and set her down feet first.  The two of them led the way, with Chaz following safely behind.

I'm Not Having Kids

There was no need to head into the woods or back roads for cover.  Instead, they continued marching down the middle of the road in plain sight.  Whenever the odd zombie wandered into view, they kept their distance.  For several hours, Alex and Christa led the way and Chaz continued following.

Alex turned his head to the side. "It's great, the zombies aren't interested, but walking on foot is taking us forever."

"I don't mind walking," Christa replied.  "It's nice here, outside the city."

Chaz caught up with them, and joined in. "I suppose we'll come across a vehicle at some point.  With the number of zombies passing this way, we're bound to come across some wreckage of a life. And maybe they abandoned their vehicle for us.  Not everyone has their own lucky Princess Zombie to charm their way through the onslaught."

"I'm not a zombie!  I'm just a kid.  I don't know why those things left us alone.  Maybe it's just because you smell so bad.  And you're ugly.  I bet that's what it is.  They just think you're too ugly and smelly to eat."

"Yeah right, kid, you go on believing that."

"C'mon, Colonel, give her a break.  It's not her fault, what happened."

"It's not our fault either, but we’re the ones dealing with it.  We're the adults here, and as it often turns out, it doesn't matter who or what makes the mess. It's always us that get stuck with the dirty job of making things right."

"That's pretty pessimistic, don't you think, sir?  It's really just a matter of perspective."

"Things are what they are, regardless of what I think.  That's just reality.  Wearing rose-colored glasses won't make me feel peachy or change anything.  Freak killing machines are still killing machines.  They're coming after me regardless of how I feel about it."

"I suppose, but how we react to things is part of being human.  It separates us from them.  I mean, just think what would have happened if we left Christa behind at the bus.  Where would we be now?  It's not just about what's real, but more about the decisions we make.  And those decisions are entirely based upon our beliefs.  Don't ya think?"

Chaz remained silent, and walked faster to separate himself from the other two.  He'd had enough talk for one day.

Alex and Christa trudged along together silently, but Alex could see that something was on her mind.  She wrapped her hair around her finger, let it uncurl, then wrapped it again, over and over.  Every once in a while, she'd look up at Alex, start to open her mouth, then just stare down at her feet.  Alex didn't say anything, he just waited.  Finally, the silence was too much.  Christa stopped playing with her hair, and looked directly up at Alex.

"Why doesn't he like me?  What did I do?  I didn't caused any trouble.   Not really.  I wanted to let you guys on the bus earlier, but the other kids were scared.  I don't understand.  I've been really good."

"Ahh, don't let him get to you.  He's not all that bad, he's just being careful.  He's not a trusting person.  Fighting wars for years makes you hard.  It shakes your faith in people.  At least he still trusts himself. Believe me, if that ever stops we're in trouble.  He's a good soldier, and he'll get us where we need to be one way or the other."

"I don't understand what I was before, or how I changed, but I'm not evil.  I feel sad when people are mad at me."

Alex smiled, and tousled her hair.  She straightened it, and returned his smile. 

"Don't worry, I like you.  I'm not mad at you.  The colonel isn't either.  Trust me.  That's just how he is.  I mean look, he's even walking in front of us now.  At least he trusts you enough to turn his back on you.  That's progress, wouldn't you say?"

"I suppose."  Christa displayed a sneaky smile.  "Now it'd be easier for me to sneak up and give him a good scare.  What do you think?  Should I sneak up from behind and pounce?  That'd be funny!"

"Ahhh, I wouldn't do that quite yet.  I don't think he likes surprises.  Plus, he may look old, but his reflexes are surprisingly fast."

"Ha! I was just kiddin' around.  He probably hates all kids anyways."

"I'm pretty sure that's not the case.  He has kids of his own."

"I find that hard to believe.  Did he hate them too?"

"I don't think he hates his kids.  He doesn't like to talk about them.  I heard him say a few things in his sleep.  Nothing too coherent, mostly just sad things.  Like how he misses them."

"Are they dead?"

"Not really sure.  They were pretty young when he left, and his wife never approved.  I think they left the country."

"She left, and took his kids?  I wouldn't like that.  I'd miss my dad."

"War has a way of separating people.  He probably didn't want to leave them, but when you've been a soldier for as long as he has, you don't know how to do anything else."

"Wow, that's so sad.  His kids probably miss him a lot.  I bet they're still alive.  Somewhere."

"Maybe.  That would be the best case, I suppose."

"He'll find them someday."

"I think he's stopped looking.  Who knows if they're still looking for him?"

"I bet they are.  Kids wouldn't give up on finding their parents.  They're kids! I'd keep looking."

"I think you're probably about the same age as his kids.  That's gotta stir up memories for him.  Maybe that's why he's hard on you."

"Nah, that would be good for him.  I'd bring back good memories.  He needs me, he just doesn't know it yet.  Once he gets used to me, he'll like me more.  Then he'll start looking for his kids again.  Once we get done with this trip.  Right?"

"Yeah, sure, that could happen."