The Nameless Survivor (Valkyrie) (32 page)

             
Immediately I picked up on the breast-milk as the hot broth washed over my tongue, it added an unusual sweetness. The canned-soup rendered a mild rancid yet nutty flavor, and in the back of the throat that fish in the sun too long taste. It was great, I think I even finished my bowl before the others. Yet Nova had hers gone well before any of us and desperately begged for more. After dinner we continued to sit by the fire and talk as the blanket of night swept over the barn, and an icy drop in temperature bared down upon us. Luckily the barn was good protection, I just pray we only need it for the cold.

             
“How far along is she?” Heather asked, looking down at Mia who was fast asleep on my lap.

             
“Seven, or eight months, I'm not too sure.” I answered.

             
“You both must be excited.”

             
“Her more than I.” She looked up at me in concern. “I’m scared more than anything.”

             
“Well, that's normal, having a child can be scary.” She reassured me.

             
“Yes. But this is the new age, and it is downright horrifying.”

             
“You will feel better once we reach Rockland.”

             
“I hope so.”

             
There was a moment of pause as our attention turned towards the fire. Marky had fallen asleep and Heather obsessively poked at the burning logs with a stick, listening to the chorus of crickets. The stars sparkled over us like angels watching from heaven, it was definitely a beautiful night. After a while Heather pulled out a small piece of paper from her pocket.                           

             
“We found this not long ago, on the outskirts of Bangor.” She said as she held out the same type of leaflet that was dropped down upon Mia and me. However this one was slightly different, more detailed. It spoke about how there are thousands of survivors who have reorganized and are now living and surviving together. It was a call for unity, a Global Federation of Survivors. Uplifting propaganda in the midst of a Zombie-Holocaust.

             
The leaflet also spoke briefly of human tests for a hopeful vaccination against the virus. “A Promising and Devastating Blow to this Global Plague.” it read. I doubted that any vaccine has been found, for which Heather seemed to agree. It was unlikely that any survivors, virologists at that, would still have the means and resources for such an endeavor.

             
Although Heather and I tried to keep a positive outlook, this new age has taught us to expect otherwise. Our positivity tends to be more for Mia and the boy, they above all others need something to look forward too. Mia may have already forgotten Christmas, and the boy has probably never experienced its joy. As commercial holiday’s go, it is one that I obviously miss.

             
We continued to chit-chat by the fire as the night drew on, but slowly Heather too began to drift off to sleep. But not me. I sit here with Mia fast asleep on my lap, stroking her golden hair through my fingers. It is so soft, like long strands of silk, so beautiful. She has the hair of an angel, and I feel peace just running my fingers through it. I could do this all night.

             
The moon was as dark as the night sky when my eyes snapped open well into the witching hour, the fire was now nothing more than a pile of glowing red-hot coals that gave off an unnatural shimmer underneath the blanket of night. Mia and I were too tired to carry ourselves up into the loft, so we simply drifted off with Heather and Marky beside us. A lone cricket, warding off the cold somewhere within the barn with a gentle chirp as his time slowly ended. But it was not the cricket that had awoken me, there was something else, something outside.

             
Gently I lifted Mia off my legs and slowly crept over to the fire-pit. Pausing for a moment, listening, trying to recall the noise that yank me out of my dreams. But, there was nothing, only a gentle and random pop from the fire. Carefully I tossed in a couple logs, not for warmth, but for light. It was most likely all in my imagination, but I had to be sure, I had to protect the group.

             
I tried to focus my eyes, to clear the watery murk that enveloped them and peer into the darkness through the recklessly unsealed barn-doors. Anxiously I waited, anticipating that any moment the fresh wood would take flame. Then, a single orange flare danced up between the edges of the logs. Not a large flame, but it was at least enough to see everyone’s face fast asleep around the fire-pit.

             
The anxiety of the unknown clasped down hard on my chest as I gaze back out into the darkness. The flames rose larger and hotter before me, casting more light upon us as it pushed back on the nights descending coldness. The earth just outside already blanketed with a layer of frost, and yet, it was still not enough to illuminate the desolate darkness that lay only a few feet further.

             
Slowly I began to cool my nerves, taking deep breath as I relaxed my tense muscles. It was all in my head, there was nothing out there but blackness. Just as I let down my guard, Nova’s head shot up from her own slumber, and there it was again. A faint but all too familiar, listless shuffle. Slowly and quietly I leaned back and grabbed my shot-gun that lay next to Mia, then gently I nudged Heather's leg with it. Two guns are always better than one.

             
She jumped up from her slumber, terribly startled yet completely alert.

             
“Shush.” I scoffed while pointing out into the blackness.

             
She quickly pulled her pistol from her coat and stared motionless out into the pitch-black murk. Another shuffle, and Heather heard it too. We needed more light, maybe it was just a skunk or raccoon looking for leftovers, I could only pray. I grabbed the unburnt end of a charred log out of the fire and chucked it into the blackness. The flaming wood illuminated the abyss for just a second before it was extinguished upon the dusty ground. Just enough light to make out the source of the mysterious shuffling.

             
A little old lady, still clad in her dirty nightgown, wobbled ghostly behind the blackness of night. Slowly I raised my shotgun up into her general direction as a precaution. However that one instance of light had burnt an image into my eyes like a spectral photograph. Leaving the faint and shadowy outline of her hanging desperately onto night’s ebony-canvas.

             
She had to be infected, Heather and I both knew it, but why did it not attack? Our hesitation was not without just cause, what if she was still alive? Lost or delirious, just a feeble old woman who had auspiciously wondered by every obstacle and threat she has come across over the years. Yearning for one night’s sleep next to a warm fire, before the winters cold would finally end all of her suffering. 

             
“Have you seen my kitty?” Arouse the sound of an old shrilly and decrepit voice from beneath darkness like a ghost lost in the land of the living.

             
“She's alive!” I exclaimed as I lowered the shotgun.

             
With imbecilic haste I moved to approach the confused old lady, only to be stopped by Heather's hand clasping down hard onto my shoulder. I instantly raised my gun, about to knock her back, an instinct one adapts in this world. But, I did not strike, instead I looked back into her eyes and could see the fear in them, the urgency for me to hold still.

             
“No, I've seen these before, shoot it!” She whispered, I looked at her in a moment of doubt, yet still raised my gun towards the shadow and pulled the trigger. Everyone jumped awake at the boom of the gun followed by the old wretch's thud to the ground. I took a deep breath as a sense of relief washed over me, relief which was short lived.

             
An ear piercing screech resonated angrily from the darkness and in a flash the old lady darted in through the barn doors and into the fire-light. One arm reached out for me, while her other arm was completely torn away at the shoulder by my shotgun blast. Everyone backed away from the old hag, except Heather, who with haste rose her pistol and fired a shot into its head. The wraith toppled back like a heavy corn-sack, falling directly into the fire, her nightgown and hair bursting almost instantly into flames.

             
Mia quickly rushed to my side, holding tight onto my waste for comfort as the black smoke of burning flesh rose from the fire-pit. Everyone remained silent for the moment, unable to look away from another close encounter of the infected kind. Too many times have we been woken in this horrific manner, and still one never gets use to it.

             
“Windbags,” Heather said as she gasped to catch her breath. I stared relentlessly at her awaiting an explanation, “I've only come across a few others before, somehow these – things, are different than most others. They're perceptive, even cunning. Able to mimic things they've seen or heard before.” She took another deep breath as we both looked down upon the burning corpse.

             
“I've even watched one pretend to read an old newspaper while sitting on a park bench.”

             
“Pretend?” I asked. “How is that possible?”

             
“I don't know, but he wasn't reading it, the paper was upside down. But do not hesitate to kill them, not for an instant.” She covered her nose as the stench of burning flesh filled the air.

             
We dragged the burning corpse out of the barn and shut the doors this time, being sure to secure the latch. Mia and Marky were back to sleep almost instantly, yet Heather and I could not. It would be hours before the pounding of our hearts subsided. All we could do is sit by the burning fire and talk away our fears.

             
“Windbags,” I chuckled. “I've met a few unique demons over the years as well.” I said, and so we began to tell each other of our encounters. I told her of Elmer, and the Slugs who she had become quite familiar with herself, however she referred to them as Specters. And she told me a rash of names that she had heard and even created on her own. Thrashers, Creepers, as well as carbs, and then there were the Shrieker’s, for which her description reminded me all too well of a Tweaker. Each name we had come up with was just our way of putting a face to the enemy, utilizing what little personality they still possessed to make them in some way more human. It was all just for our own conscious, to make this disease slightly more bearable.

             
By the time day came the temperature had dropped considerably. I'd guess five or even ten below zero with a nasty wind that made it feel ten times colder. The sun did not shine, instead a dark gray haze blanketed the sky. It felt like snow, something that I dread to think about. All and all, it is definitely too cold to travel. We decided to wait out this cold-spell inside my grandparent’s barn, we will continue are journey hopefully with warmer weather.

              Four days... Four damn days stuck in this barn. Thankfully the snow has not fallen, but it’s so fucking cold. Nature has held her icy bitter grip on this land for four god-damn days. I am not sure how much longer we can hold up here, and there is no chance we will survive a winter. Hopefully a scouting party from Fort Rockland will wonder by before long, or a horde envelopes the barn and ends this infinite torture.

             
Fortunately my grandparent’s old basement was accessible beneath the fallen structure above it. Although there wasn't much more than a pile of junk down there, we did find a few canned goods left over from before my grandparents had passed. Nothing special, a jar of green beans, now a more pasty gray color. And a couple jars of my grandma's famous blueberry-applesauce which still retained its vibrant purple hue, just as it was on the day she canned it.

             
The extra food had helped us get through the last four days, and the time has allowed us to get to know each other better. Mia has become quite fond of Marky, something that Nova is quite jealous of. And Heather and I have found more in common than one would have thought. In the old world she would have been quite the catch. Which does offer quite the dilemma, at least for me anyhow. Mia on the other hands has found comfort in this, and even encourages me and Heathers friendship. Mia see's opportunity before us, opportunity not for us, but for mankind itself. Something I had not ever considered before.

             
“Heather likes you.” She mentioned yesterday.

             
“And I like her.” I said, stroking Mia's hair.

             
“I mean she likes your more than a friend.”

             
“That's silly.”

             
“I see her look at you. It's okay, I understand.”

             
There was a moment’s pause as I pondered Mia's words. There was no way Heather was looking at me sexually, not knowing Mia and I were together. And definitely not after a mere four days.

             
“What are you saying, Mia?”

             
“Your both about the same age, almost everyone else is dead, and you are both attractive. You have needs. And I am okay with it, even if it is not for love.” She stopped and looked up at me with a smile.

             
I was baffled, shocked, angry and yet - relieved. Angry that she thought so little of my love for her, and angry that her observations were undoubtedly logical. But, relieved that my carnal glances at Heather were out in the open now, no longer did I need to shamefully bury them. I had attempted to hold back my urges, urges like I have with Mia. Watching Heather wash up in the back of the barn, even her squatting to relieve herself gave me an erection. And for the past few days I have beat myself up over it.

             
“No, Mia.” I stammered. “I only need you.” I said and kissed her softly on the lips.

             
“Well, if it happens, just know, I am okay with it. I will always love you.”

             
We didn't say any more. I just held her in my arms as we watched what little fire we had left flicker in the breezy barn. My thoughts lingered back on that conversation, and images of Heather's shapely figure repeatedly flashed in my mind. It has been a while since Mia and I had been sexually intimate, more out of fear for the baby than anything. And the lack of release had taken its toll on my old boys.

             
That evening I ventured back out into the frigid cold and back into the cellar. I hoped to find something else, more canned goods perhaps. However I knew there was nothing left, I did it just to get away. Even if it was only a hundred yards, my mind was racing with impure and confusing thoughts, and I needed a distraction from it all. As I sifted through the junk a soft and gentle hand clasped upon my shoulder. My first instinct was to turn and strike with lethal intent. But the gesture was too soft, too gentle. It had to be Mia I thought as I turned to see her beautiful face, eager to kiss her small chapped lips.

             
“Heather!” I exclaimed, trying to pull away only to have her pull me closer, our lips just barely touching.

             
“It's alright,” she said. “Mia told me you needed this – so do I.” Her lips planted firmly onto mine our tongues began to caress each other’s. Without thought, my hand slid down her back and gripped her ass tight as I pulled her in closer. Out breathing became heavy as I fumbled to remove her shirt without releasing the lock between our lips. My mind raced to and fro with the pros and cons of what we were doing. But passion overwhelmed me.

             
The sight of her full breasts, and frigid erect nipples only ignited a sexual hunger I had never felt before. Without question, I buried my face into them, sucking hard as my erection grew and burned painfully in my pants. At first there was nothing, and for a moment I was relieved. The idea of ingesting her milk till played on my appetite, but then, an explosion of warm and sweet liquid filled my mouth. It was amazing, and my aggression only grew with this new fetish as I squeezed her breast tightly and relished in sexual sustenance.

             
Heather did not protest, instead she pulled my head tighter against her chest and threw her head back as she moaned deeply in pleasure. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Mia, hiding just to the side of the stairwell, smiling as she watched. I didn't stop, Heather and I continued to fondle each other, and repeatedly she kissed the top of my head as I continued to suckle passionately while string into Mia's eyes. The sight of her watching us made it even more erotic, so much so that even the bitter cold could not hold back my erection.

             
However it wasn’t long before Mia turned and headed back up the stairs. Not before glancing back at me and mouthing the words, 'I love you.' Then she was gone, and so was my erection, which Heather instantly noticed as she pulled my head up and looked up into my eyes. But I was unable to look into hers. Instead I stared back the stairwell while trying to catch my breath.

             
“What’s wrong?” she asked.

             
“I'm sorry, Heather. I can't do this.”

             
“Why not?” She responded pitifully.

             
“Your great, but – Mia.” I said as I pulled away. Her disappointment hung like signs from her eyes, but yet she still smiled and planted a gentle kiss onto my furry cheek.

             
“I understand.” She responded. “She's a lucky girl.” And with that, Heather threw her shirt back on sullenly left the basement.

             
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, I was both proud of my response and yet still kicking myself in the ass. So close, so close to instant relief and I blew it. But, I blew it for a noble reason, right? For the woman of my dreams, the woman I have cared and pined for almost two year. For a moment I considered finishing myself off, but then came up with a better idea instead.

             
Briskly I heading back to the barn with one, and only one agenda. Heather was already curled up next to the fire with Marky, which she shot me a quick smile before glancing up into the hay loft. There Mia lay on a mound of golden straw, Nova sleeping silently to her side, and immediately my erection began to resurface. Without hesitation I marched up the stairs and threw myself too her. At first she was startled, but instantly dove into the moment as we ripped each other’s clothes away like animals. Nova immediately moved off to sulk by herself, she has come to respect our alone time.

             
Realizing our exposure I glance down towards the fire where Marky was fast asleep, and Heather watched with a big grin on her face. Like in the basement, her watching was just as intense as Mia. So much that I instantly came, but did not stop. In the old world, eyes upon us would have been Taboo and frowned upon, but now, it was just beautiful. It seemed as if Heather was getting off watching us, but I was unable to tell under the big wool blanket that covered her. I am unsure how long she watched, my attention was quickly drawn back to Mia where we indulged in each other for what seemed like hours.

             
Mia passed out next to me not too long ago, and Heather had long before drifted off. Although I am sure polygamy is going to be on the rise, it is just not for me. Not for us. She is all that I need, or want, and I am sure there will be plenty of suitors for Heather at Fort Rockland. It is almost dawn, the overcast is all but gone and the stars sparkle brighter than even before. The orange glow of the rising sun is barely bursting from the horizon is a most welcoming sight. Maybe, just maybe we will finish our journey today.