Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse (Book 3): Salvation (45 page)

“Free
from…” Mary grew very pale.

“Get some
chairs and lift him up high, toward the ceiling.”

The
prophet apparently figured out what I was going to do because a new flurry of
struggles erupted. It was so bad that a disgusted Tara finally pulled a stun
gun from her pack and gave him several shocks. After that it was easier.

Renee
ushered the militia members out of the room before I drove the first nail
through his wrist. Then Mary left. By the time I had his bare feet placed
against the wood, I was alone save for the twins. My two militia captains were in
no way alarmed or distressed. Lizzy had just infected seven people so they would
die a slow, agonizing death as punishment for their crimes. Renee had tortured
others earlier in the year and was ready to do so again. Rather, they were
leaving this final act to me. I was more grateful than I could express.

“Anything
to say now?”

The
effect of the stun gun had worn off, and the prophet hung by his hands until it
grew too painful. Then he pushed up with his legs until that likewise became
unbearable.

“Are you
sure you don’t want to tell me anything? Nothing? That’s okay. I can wait for
you to change your mind.”

I exited
the room, Tara and Dale following close behind.

“You
done?”

“Not yet,
Lizzy. Take everyone home. I’ll be staying here for the next few days, shouldn’t
take more than two or three, four at the most.”

“Dad,
Briana will be mad if you don’t come home.”

I shook
my head. “She understands. You tell her I’ll radio for a helicopter pickup as
soon as it’s over. Have Xavier or Ronnie or someone on standby. Oh, have
whoever gets you to fly around some and lead the zombies away. I don’t want to
be listening to them banging on the walls and doors. The twins will keep me
company.”

As if
they would ever consent to leave me alone.

“But
why?” My daughter was almost pleading.

“He
never said a word after we captured him, not one. He’s determined to keep
silent, to not give me the satisfaction. I want to see if he changes his mind.”

“What
the fuck could that piece of shit possibly say that would matter?” demanded
Lizzy.

“That
would matter? Nothing, nothing at all.”

Appendix – Timeline (Year One)

August 22

At 3:15 AM (Central Time),
a quarter of the Earth’s population goes
into unexplained convulsions, dies, and returns seven minutes later as zombies.

September 12

Jacob, Briana, Lizzy, and Mary reach the
Nebraska National Forest, establishing a settlement to house themselves and
other survivors they encountered along the way.

November 20

The raiders launch an unprovoked assault
on the castle (the name given to the primary structure). They are thwarted and
slain when an unusually large horde of zombies arrives, attracted by the sound
of battle. Only Jacob and a handful of his friends survive.

>>The first narrative, Sanctuary:
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse, comes to a close<<

May 23

Asher is born.

Appendix – Timeline (Year Two)

August 22

One year since it all began.

The prophet and his forces launch an
assault on Casper, Wyoming and are repelled.

August 29

The castle is abandoned as the final
convoy leaves for the Black Hills.

October 17

Jacob and Briana are married.

>>The second narrative, Conflict:
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse, comes to a close<<

Appendix – Timeline (Year Three)

October 17

Jacob and Briana celebrate their first
wedding anniversary and a year of unexpected peace.

Appendix – Timeline (Year Four)

December 17

Briana turns twenty one.

April 24

Traveling to Yellowstone National Park,
Jacob begins construction on a forward supply base.

May 16

Following several weeks of quiet, war
erupts between the combined Yellowstone / Black Hills militias and the raiders.

May 24

During an offensive, the cave where the
raiders have hidden their families is attacked. The entrance collapses, and all
within perish.

Marcus escapes from The Brotherhood’s
island stronghold and begins to make his way south, home to the Black Hills.

June 4

Following a long pursuit, Jacob locates
the final band of raiders who escaped the slaughter in Yellowstone National
Park. Most are killed in the fight, but the prophet manages to escape.

June 7

Unable to pursue any further, Jacob returns
to the Black Hills.

June 10

Marcus is encountered by a patrol near
the northern edge of the Black Hills and taken to the valley hospital.

July 4

The people vote on a name for their town
hidden deep within the Black Hills and select Baltis. The smaller, companion
settlement placed near the valley wall becomes Venusville.

July 13

The Black Hills militia under the
leadership of Jacob and Renee departs to deal with The Brotherhood.

July 15

The island settlement on Lake Sakakawea
is assaulted. The Brotherhood is destroyed, the town set aflame, and all
prisoners loaded into a truck for eventual transfer to Hawaii.

July 30

Jacob and family arrive in Hawaii to
meet with President James Lawson and the United States Senate.

August 2

A fire begins in Baltis during the night
destroying seven cabins, two storehouses, and one barn. No lives are lost,
aside from three dairy cows and a few dozen chickens.

August 7

Jacob and Mary put Senator Alfred Mons
in the hospital after he gropes Mary at a dinner party, creating a diplomatic
crisis and beginning a feud with the senator’s family.

August 16

An election is held and nine
representatives are selected to sit on the Black Hills Council, an advisory
group created to assist the consuls in the governance of the Black Hills
settlement.

Appendix – Timeline (Year Five)

August 22

Four years have passed since the change
marked the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.

August 30

Following a raid in Rapid City, South
Dakota, the settlement obtains an operating x-ray machine, which goes nicely
with the x-ray technician who flew in from Hawaii.

September 13

The Caliphate launches an unprovoked,
surprise attack against Israel.

September 14

Israel declares war, destroys the
Caliphate, and declares peace, all in the same day.

September 18

Jacob finds the prophet and puts an end
to his evil once and for all.

Appendix – Zombie Laws

Reanimation Process

Approximately three days after being
bitten, the individual will die. Bites become infected almost immediately,
regardless of any medical treatment given. This will steadily grow worse,
mimicking the symptoms of gangrene. A high fever will also develop, and
eventually delirium will set in.

Physical contact with zombie blood,
fluids, or tissue does not result in infection. Only actual bites that pierce
the skin are known to be dangerous.

Seven minutes after death, the infected
will reanimate. Those dying without having first been bitten will rise again as
zombies in roughly twenty six hours.

Appearance &
Behavior

All zombies have a gray film, similar to
mucus, covering their eyes. This is distinct and easily noticeable.

They are silent. They do not moan. They
do not groan. They do not breathe.

The dead walk with short, shambling steps.
Their maximum speed is comparable to the walking speed of a typical, healthy
adult.

Zombies never stop moving and
immediately target any human they sense. This includes mechanical devices
associated with people, such as moving cars. While wandering about they
generally favor flat, easy to traverse surfaces such as roads. Being denser
than water, they are capable of crossing the bottom of lakes and rivers.

All animals, save humans, are ignored.
In return, all creatures, even insects, avoid the zombies. After a zombie is
killed, animals will treat it like any other dead body.

The shambling dead have an intense
desire to feed. However, after one or two bites they become sated and
non-violent. This lasts for approximately twenty minutes, after which the hunger
returns. While sated they are completely unaware of their surroundings and will
not recall anything that happens during this period.

Upon discovering prey, zombies will not
cease in their efforts to reach it. If a person is hiding inside a house or
room, the zombie will beat on the door until it gains entrance or is
distracted. If distracted, the creature will completely forget about the
original prey.

Durability &
Strength

The only way to kill a zombie is to
destroy the brain. Severing the spinal column will cause paralysis, much as it
would with a human being.

Zombies rot for roughly two days. At
that point decomposition ceases. However, if the brain is damaged sufficiently
to destroy the zombie, the body will then deteriorate normally.

They do not suffer physical injury from
regular activities. A barefoot zombie walking over rough ground will sustain no
damage to its feet. The exact nature of this is unknown with the primary
theories being: 1) zombies have skin more durable than the living and 2)
zombies steadily heal minor injuries (major wounds never heal).

The dead are weaker than when they were
alive, although the difference is slight. They have unlimited endurance.

Cold temperatures, even below freezing,
do not affect or hinder a zombie in any way.

Intellect & Senses

Zombies have no memory of their past and
are unable to reason normally. However, they can perform basic functions such
as unlocking doors.

Vision is limited to approximately a
half mile. If blind during life, they are also blind following reanimation.

Their hearing is unchanged, and this
sense is often used to locate prey.