Dead of Knight: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale (7 page)

“Thanks for that, Sam.  Plus, the one that got made.  Anyway, the fence definitely could not hold 30 zombies in the same place.”

“So, what do we do?” asked Sam.

“I want to board up the windows like we would for a hurricane.  At least the bottom floor anyway.”

“What about the garage door?”

“The roll up one?  I think we could lock it and that might be all.  We’ll think about it.”

“When do you want to do the windows?”

“Right now, while there’s still light.  We can get the back done because the fence will keep us safe for a bit longer.  Everything we need is in the garage.  Out front, if we attract some unwanted attention we’ll have to come inside until it goes away.  So, it’ll take longer.  I’ll go out to the garage now and gather what we need.”

When I was finished in the garage, I went back in and found Sam and the kids in the living room watching a movie.  Normal.  Normal is good.

“Okay, I have gathered all the wood for the back of the house.  It’s at the garage back door.  Be careful when you carry the wood, I’ve started the screws to make it go faster.  I’ve got the drill with the wood and extra screws in my pocket.  Mal, I want you to be upstairs lookout again.  You did such a great job before.”  He nodded and headed upstairs.  “Tabby if you would carry one of the smaller pieces of plywood and then keep watch please.  Sam, I’ll need your help to hold the wood while I drill.”

Out back was eerily quiet again except for the noise that we made.  Tabby dragged the smaller of the plywood pieces over to the far side window then went to the middle of the yard and started scanning for trouble.

“Tab, remember, no need to yell.  We don’t want to attract any more than we will with the drill.”  She nodded to indicate she heard me.

Sam managed to carry two pieces of plywood and I got the other two.  Three windows and the sliding door.  We started with the sliding door first.  I hefted the wood into place and held it there while Sam got the screws in.  God, the drill sounded like a jet engine with the neighborhood so quiet.  The boarding job was messy but we were stressed and in a hurry.  From what we’ve seen with the zombies, there won’t try to pull the wood off anyway.  I was screwing in the top piece for the sliding door when I heard Tabby.

“Dad, zombies. Two of them coming from the Thompsons yard.”

“Okay, Tab.  Got it.”

I finished what I was doing and looked into the yard.  It was the two from earlier.  They were almost up to the fence.  Sam and I got the smaller bathroom window covered before we heard Tabby again.

“Two more Dad.  Coming from the other side this time.”

“Okay, Tab good job.  You alright?”

“For now…  I don’t like being this close to them.”

“I don’t blame you one bit Tab.  For the record, they get worse the closer they get.”

By the time Sam and I finished getting the wood on the last window there were nine zombies up against the fence trying to get at us.  And Tabby was not happy.

“Can we be done now?”

“Yeah, Tabby.  Thanks for hanging in there.  Go check on your brother, please.”

She was gone and Sam and I stepped closer to the door to be safe.  But even though there were five zombies in one place on the fence, it seemed to be holding good.  It moved a little in that one spot but otherwise held.

“So, know we know the fence will hold five.  At least for a bit,”  Said Sam.

“Not bad.  Let’s not push our luck though.  C’mon inside.”

An hour later they were gone.

At dinner the talk was of Tabby being up close to one and Mal couldn’t hear enough about how horrible they were.  Of course, Tabitha was egging him on and exaggerating a bit.  She was enjoying the taste of fear from the relative safety of home.

“I want showers again for everyone tonight while we still can,” I said.

“Can I have a bath instead?” asked Mal.

“Yes, but only if you wash yourself first.  That’s the point remember?  Not just hanging out in the tub.”  Sam pointed out.

“And you have to go last.  Everyone needs to get a shower and that way you won’t be in the way.”

“Yes sir.”

Sam went first while the kids and I cleaned up after dinner.  Tabby got her shower, then me.  It was nice having a tank less water heater.  Everybody had plenty of hot water.  I was glad I made that switch a few years back. 

Mal was splashing around in the tub when the power went off.

“Mom!  Dad!”  Came the cry from the bathroom.

“I’m coming buddy.  You’re alright.  I’ll be right there.”  I grabbed a flashlight and headed into the bathroom.  Mal was still in the tub.

“The lights went out.”

“Yep, they sure did didn’t they, Mal?  Why don’t you get out carefully and dry off?”

As Mal dried off and we got him dressed by flashlight in his room, the girls were getting candles out and lighting them.  When we got downstairs to join them the house looked very romantic.  There just wasn’t anything else romantic about the situation.

“I thought you said three days?”  Sam said.

“Hey, I’m not in charge of anything.  Besides, this could just be a downed power pole somewhere nearby.  But the result is the same cause nobody’s coming to fix it.”

“My phone still has a signal,” said Tabby.

“Okay, so it’s probably not widespread.  Again, that doesn’t really matter because our power is out.  Sam, have you looked at your news app on your phone?”

“No, let me take a look.”

“It might be the last time.”

“CNN says that the government’s declared Martial Law.  Dusk to dawn curfew everywhere in the country.”

“That’s alright, I wasn’t planning on going anywhere in the dark.”

“They’re not coming out and saying it but it looks like most of the major cities have been lost.  They’re trying to put a ring around some of them to contain the threat of the zombies, keep them inside.  But the Guard units keep getting overrun.”

“Poor bastards.  They should be home with their families if they have any left.”

“What are we going to do about my mother?” asked Sam.

“What’s her situation?”

“Well, she called again while you were in the shower.  She might have a week’s worth of supplies and she’s scared.  There are zombies in the street and she thinks she hears them in the house next door.  I think we need to go get her.”  I thought about this for a minute.  I knew what was coming but…

“No, I’m not leaving you guys here while I run down there.  I need to be here to keep you safe.  That’s my job, remember?  We talked about that.”

“Then we all go, stay together.”

“Think about that for a minute, Sam.  Even if we take the Land Cruiser, we’ll have the four of us, plus supplies or a few days just in case.  Plus the dog.  Where are we going to put your mother and her stuff?”

“Why would we take Thor?  We’d only be gone half the day.”

“If he starts barking out back, he’ll attract every zombie for a mile.  They’d overwhelm the fence and eat him.”

“Couldn’t we just leave him inside?”

“We’ve tried that.  He gets stressed and chews on stuff.  Plus, if we did get held up, and we have no idea what’s going on out there, he’ll make himself sick trying to figure out where to potty.  Or he’ll hold it in and that’s not fair.  I intend to get him through this, too.”

“So, that just means that mom couldn’t bring much with her.”

“She’s not going to like that,” said Tabby.

“No, Tabby she isn’t.  How you holding up with all this going on?”

“I’m okay.  Scared, but okay.  Still haven’t heard from Justin.  I really don’t want to leave the house though.  Sorry, mom.”

“It’s okay, honey.  Your dad and I want you to feel safe.  How about you, Mal?  How are you doing?”

“Sad that he power went out.”   I had to laugh at that.

“But are you scared?”

“No,” said Mal.  “Not when I’m with you guys.”

“You did great at the lookout again today, buddy.  Thanks.”

“Welcome.”

“It’s been a stressful day.  And it won’t be the last.  Whatever we decide about Grandma, we are going to need to board up the front of the house first thing in the morning.  You kids run off to bed.”

“What about you, Ryan?  Heading off to bed?”

“No, I want a little drink.  I’m a little on edge and it calls for a little drink.”

“I’ll join you.”

A few moments later Sam and I were on the sofa next to each other.  If you could forget that the world was coming to an end it was almost romantic.  We were going to need more candles.

“Ryan…”

“I know.  We really do need to get your mother somehow.  The family needs to stick together and the kids should have her around.  Hell, it’ll be great to have the extra help in case we need it.  I just don’t want to leave you guys to do it.”

“I was just going to say ‘I love you’.”  She smiled and I smiled back.

“Sorry.”

“No, I’m glad you know that she needs to be here.  And I’m glad that you want to be here to protect us.  You just can’t have it both ways.”

“I know.  The best option is to finish boarding up the windows.  That’ll give you some level of protection.  Then I grab what I need and head out.  The sun comes up fairly early.  We can get an early start out front.  But, in case we run into some problems tell your mother that I’ll be there by noon.  She can bring two bags of personal items.  But, she’s got to pack smart.  Only what she needs.  And anything we can use; water, canned and dried food, toilet paper, batteries, all that stuff.  Don’t forget to remind her about any meds she’s on.”

“Thank you, my love.  It means a lot to me.”

“Don’t thank me yet, we’ll all be living in very close quarters under stressful circumstances.”

“We’ll make it work.”

“We don’t have a choice.”

“Why can’t she pack more if you’re going by yourself?”

“Because we need supplies and there are a few things that I can get down there that I can’t get up here.”

“What’s down there?”

“Bass Pro Shops.”

Friday, December 19, 2014

My eyes popped open as the sky outside lightened.  It was going to be a long day.  I got the rest of the family moving.  Everyone had a bowl of cereal.  Sam had put the milk in the freezer after the power failed last night.  It would be the last use.  Tabby asked an obvious question.

“How are we going to cook now that we don’t have power?”

“Well, Tabby.  Your father is brilliant,” I said.  “He has it all figured out.  You’ll see.”  This was good for a laugh.  I figured the mood needed lightening before we went outside.  “We all need to get dressed.  It’s colder this morning than it has been so bundle up.  Meet back down here when you’re done.”

Everyone was pretty quick.

“Alright, let’s go over the plan.  I need to know that you guys are all okay with what we’re doing.  Mal, you’re my lookout again.  But, you’re gonna be out front with us.  Is that good?”

“Ryan, why can’t he look from upstairs like he has been?”

“I’ll be okay mom.  I want to help,” said Mal.

“You’ve been a big help buddy.  You’ve been great.”  I turned to Sam.  “He has a limited view down the street from that window.  We can’t be blindsided.  We’ve got no protection out front.”

“That’s why I don’t want him out front, Ryan.”

“Mal, if a zombie is coming for you, what do you do?”

“Run back into the house.”

“Excellent.  Sam, are you satisfied?”

“No, but I’m not going to win this.  Go on.”

“I think I can do the smaller bedroom windows by myself with the screwdriver.  Tab, help your mother with the picture window.  You hold and let her use the drill.  Then move on to another window.  You guys go right to the picture window.  I’m going to place the wood for the other windows.  There are 5 windows plus the picture window.  That’s 7 pieces of plywood.  We have got to work quickly.  Any questions?”

“What do we do if we see a zombie coming?  Other than run?” asked Tabby.

“No, that’s really what you do.  Head for the garage.  Last person closes the garage door.”

“Are the screws started like yesterday?” asked Sam.

“Yep, I did them all yesterday.  I have extras in my pocket.  But, in the other pocket I have some nails and I want to take a hammer.  That might be necessary.  Sam, where’s your gun?”

Sam just looked me with that ‘really?’ look.

“Yeah, Sam, really.  Go get it now.  Please.  Meet us in the garage.”

By the time she got back we were ready to go.

“Is it loaded, Sam?  Did you check?”

“Yes, I know how to shoot.”

“That’s at the range.  This is different.”  She opened the cylinder of the revolver and showed me the rounds.  “Okay, let’s go.”

I opened the garage roll up door as quietly as I could and we looked outside.  Nothing.

“Okay, it’s clear.  Team Knight, let’s get this done quickly.”

As planned, Sam and Tabby took their wood and went right to work on the picture window.  Mal went out into the driveway a little and kept watch.  I grabbed the other pieces of plywood and went window to window, dropping them off where they were supposed to go.  The last two windows were around the side of the house and I did not want to be out of sight of the family for long.  Even around the side of the house, the cordless drill still sounded like a jet engine.  We wouldn’t have long. 

The first window around the side went well but my hand was screaming at me by the last screw.  I just didn’t do this kind of stuff very often.  As I finished, Sam came around the side of the house holding her drill.

“Let me help,” she said.

“No, stick to the plan.  Get another one done.  Go.”

She retreated around the corner.  The screwdriver was a disaster and I barely got through the next window.  I could hear the cordless drill dying from where I was.  As I came around the side of the house, Sam looked up and shook her head.  The drill was a goner.

“Dad, zombie.”  It was Mal.

Damn, so close.  Only two more windows and we already had visitors.  I looked up to see where the zombie was and my heart sank.  It was Mrs. Thompson.  And she was already at the foot of the driveway.  She must’ve been close already when Mal spotted her.  No matter.  He was doing great.

“Oh, my God,” Tabby exclaimed.  “It’s Mrs. Thompson from next door.”

“I know honey.  I’m sorry.  You guys’ almost done?”

“Yeah,” said Sam.  “But the drill is done.”

It would’ve been hard to tell who the zombie was if we hadn’t known her as well as we did.  There was blood and gore running down her face and the front of her nightgown.  She still had the hole in her chest from Eddie’s shot.  Christ.  Was that just yesterday?  Her legs were torn up from the knee down from whatever the hell she had walked through in the last 24 hours.

I turned quickly and pulled the nails from my pocket.  Throwing the next piece of plywood on the ground I started the nails in the corners next to the screws.

“Sam, take the kids and get inside.  Go, now.”

I could sense them moving as I hefted the plywood up to the window and drove the nails in with the hammer from my belt.  I drove the screws in too just because they were in the way.  One window left.  I looked over my shoulder again and she was too close for me to get the next window.  The closer she got the louder that unnatural moaning became.  I didn’t dare fire my gun.  The moaning was loud but not as loud as the 9mm would be. 

My body was stepping towards her before I knew what was happening.  My arm came up with the hammer in my hand.  And, then swung down with all the force I had.  I was at least a foot taller and probably had that much on her in reach.  My arm came crashing down and the hammer connected with her head.  It sank several inches into her skull and brain.  She collapsed like someone had turned off a switch.  Her body twitched momentarily then lay still. 

I turned back to the window and the task at hand.  In a few moments I was finished with the last window.  Behind me I could hear that unnatural moaning again.  There were three more zombies coming up the street near the bottom of the driveway.  One was in front of the other two by about 20 feet.  Without really thinking, I started toward the first zombie.  Angry, I guess, at the zombies.  At the situation.  At the fact that I had just smashed my neighbors head in with a hammer.  The hammer came down on the head of the closer zombie before I even realized it was Eddie from across the street.  Down he went.  Off to heaven or hell or wherever zombies went.

The remaining two zombies were staggering next to each other and I decided they were too close for me to mess with.  Too many ways to screw that up.  I turned and retreated back into the garage and lowered the roll up door.  After locking it, I reached in my pocket for my car keys.  Not there, of course.  Doesn’t take long to break habits, I guess.  So, I opened the door to the big SUV and put the vehicle in neutral.  Pushing hard, I managed to move it right up against the garage roll up door and put the parking brake on.

Inside, I found Sam on the couch with her arms around the kids.  They were all crying.  Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were like surrogate grandparents to the kids.  They went to baseball games and school plays.  And neither one deserved this. 

I started to kneel down on the floor in front of them when Sam shook her head at me.  I didn’t understand at first then I looked down at my hands.  Blood and grey matter.  I recoiled a bit from myself.  That was Janice Thompson’s blood.  And Eddie what’s-his-names blood, too.  I couldn’t love my family with those hands. 

Just then, the other two zombies reached the garage roll up and started their rhythmic pounding.  Everyone jumped a little including me.  Tabitha jumped the most and cried out a little.

“Why don’t we go upstairs to the other side of the house?  You guys can play in your room for awhile.  I’ll meet you up there.”

As Sam led them upstairs, I went to the kitchen to wash my hands.  I knew I needed to not waste water but it was more important to wash the blood off.  And, for now, the water was still running.  I used 3 different soaps that I found under the sink. 

I was ready to head upstairs to find my wife and make sure she was okay, when it hit me.  I just killed two people.  Zombies, yes.  But, I had known those people.  They were my neighbors.  I had to do it to survive, to keep my family safe.  But, right now that wasn’t making the fact any easier.  I fell down to my knees in front of the sink and cried.

It was just 7:50 in the morning.

I was still in front of the sink 15 minutes later when Sam came looking for me.  She knelt down next to me and said exactly what I needed to hear.

“Thank you.  Thank you for doing whatever needs to be done to keep us safe.  I’m sorry that you had to do those things but we are a little safer because of it.  So, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

We moved to the couch and sat down.  I had grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and Sam had a can of Coke.

“Is this our new reality,’ Sam asked. 

“No, Sam.  Understand that I have thought about nothing else since this bullshit started.  I think this is just the beginning.  More people are getting bit and turning into zombies than zombies are being killed.  Especially in the big cities.  Even here in Charleston.  That won’t change for awhile as people emerge from there safe hiding places in search of food and water.  They’ll venture out, get bit and turn into zombies.  We’ll eventually run out of food and water, too.  It’ll be quicker with your mother here.”

“Ryan…”

“No, I’m just saying.  So, we’ll have to venture out too.  Do you remember a show called ‘Life After People’?  I think it was on the history channel.”

Sam nodded.

“In one of the episodes they showed a grocery store where the power went out.  I think the company folded or something.  After just three days people who went inside had to wear haz-mat suits because of the toxic gases caused by decaying fruits and vegetables and the rotting meats.”

“I remember that episode.  You could barely see because the gases were fogging up the lens on the camera.”

“Yep, and guess what?  The power is out.  Or it will be soon.  It’s cooler this time of year but we prolly have another three days to raid Costco.  After that, it’ll be awhile before we can get in.

“Crap.”

“Exactly.”

“Did you say ‘raid Costco’ by the way?”

“Yeah, Sam.  There is no more Costco, or Walmart, or anything.  Nothing matters except our survival.  And all the other survivors need the same things we do.  So, we can’t wait too long regardless.”

“Survivors?  That’s what you’re calling us now?”

“Yep, beats the alternative.  Don’t you think?  Now, I’ve got to get packing…”

When I got upstairs to pack I peeked out the window and could see there were now 7 zombies at the garage door.  Apparently, the noise of the first two banging on the door attracted the others.  Crap.  Now what?

I yelled for Sam and went into the room where the kids were playing.  I couldn’t get over how mature Tabby was about all this.  She was really being helpful keeping Malcolm as distracted as possible.

“There are seven zombies at the garage door.  I need to get rid of them so I can leave to go get Grandma.  I’m open to ideas.”

“We need someone else to make noise,” offered up Tabby.

“That’s it, Tab.  We need a distraction.  What do we have that makes noise?”

“Alarm Clock.”

“Smoke detector.”

“Boom box.”  Said Sam.

“Yeah, that’s right.  We have an old portable CD player around here somewhere.  If it runs on batteries, it’ll work great.”

I gathered up some things for my backpack:  water, food, a pry bar and some extra ammo that I hoped I wouldn’t need.  I put it on the passenger seat of the Land Cruiser with it and went back inside.  I found Tabby in the kitchen.

“When I leave to go to get Grandma will I go near Justin’s house?” I asked.

“Yeah, he’s a few streets from the bridge.  Are you going to check on him?”

“Make a map or give me directions and I’ll stop by.  See if I can find him,” I said.

“Thanks daddy.”  Tabby put her arms around me.

Sam had found the boom box and had it playing with some batteries.  A Prince CD completed the package.

“Sam, stay down by the back garage door.  When I come back from my errand I want to get right into the truck and head out.”

“How will I know that it worked?”

“I guess someone will have to keep an eye out from upstairs like before.  Put Mal on it.  He’s enjoying helping out.”

“Good, that works.”

I went into the garage with Sam right behind me and stopped at the back door to the yard.

“You don’t have to do this Ryan.”  Sam was offering a way out.

“Nah, I have to get your mom.  And I’ve got to get going or I won’t make it back before dark.  And that brings me to this.  It’s a stupid idea.  Crazy actually.  Just another day in a world gone mad.  Here goes.”

“I love you, husband.”

“I love you, too wife.”

And with that and a kiss I was out the back door and into the yard.  The plan was to go over the fence into the neighbor’s yard on the other side from the Thompsons.  Then go through their yard to the street.  A left turn takes me to the intersection just 2 houses down from our driveway.   Placing the boom box in the middle of the intersection should draw the zombies down from our house.