Don't Eat Me (an Apocalyptic Novel)

7/30/2019 Don't Eat Me (an Apocalyptic Novel)

1/22

Don't Eat Me

A Zombie Apocalypse

Novel


2/22

By: Kasey Ann Cochran

Chapter One

The Problem

Iwatched the sun rise over the warm sand; it was relatively coolnow that summer had passed. The reddish orange light washed over

the sand, but there was more than sand to be lit. There were at least

thirty figures running this way, they'd seen me. Two options, I decided,take off and lead the mob of cannibal freaks away from the others or

run for the building and escape with them. When I stood I went for the

building. I yelled as soon as I was in earshot, telling them to get up,

telling them what was coming.

Their coming, my yell seemed to echo in my ears, get the

trucks. They're coming!

Move, move! I knew by the tone that it was one of the marines

that had spoken. We were lucky to find them a week ago.

The vehicles were starting, but I wasn't there yet. One truck

pulled off and drove away, two left. Another drove away. The last truck

drove toward me then turned away, going about eight miles an hour. I

sped up and grabbed the lip, then leaped up so I stood on the bumper.

I swung my leg over the lip and fell into the bed filled with supplies.

For a while I just gasped for air, and then I sat up. It didn't take long to

catch up to the other trucks.

I sighed with relief when the vehicles all came to a stop and I was

able to get out of the bed. My legs were sore from the early morning


3/22

sprint. So I stretched my legs and arms and torso until I didn't feel like

I'd been sitting in the same position for over an hour.

Did anybody grab my bag? I asked. It had all my weapons in it.

I did, the older marine said, Ryan. He was well built, and he had

dark hair and ashy eyes, like everybody else, his hands were cracked

and dry.

When I fished my bag out of the bed of the truck, I opened it and

took inventory, even though I'd memorized what I had: Two long

hunting knives, an aluminum bat, and three pistols; each a different

caliber and model, a sawed off shotgun, four semi-automatics;

different calibers, and a machete; small and light. I also had a wide

range of medical supplies in my bag that I'd ripped off from a hospital

toward the beginning; I almost hadn't made it out of there.

Lindsey was talking to Ryan about god only knew what, but it

kept her busy, so I let it go. Lindsey was eight with blond hair and blue

eyes. She was the first person I ran into, the first I saved. Over time

though, I believe she had saved me too. Ryan was about 5' 9 withbrown hair and dark eyes. He managed to keep his head shaved

except for about a centimeter. I leaned back and started sharpening

my knives. The others clambered around, looking for a map they lost

track of in the chaos.

Mac, the younger marine, brought me some water and sat down

to watch them clambering around. His green eyes tracked their every

sigh and movement they made, and when he turned his head, his

shaggy black hair shook and shifted. He reached into the bag and took

out a pistol. A 45, my favorite one because it was the only one I knew

well enough to name the caliber.

Mac took it apart and started cleaning it. I smiled to myself as I


4/22

watched the other three; Briana, Dick, and Paul. Brianna had red hair

and blue eyes, her skin was pale, so she was wearing sunscreen even

though the sun wasn't all the way up yet. Dick had dirty blond hair

and brown eyes, and Paul was all brown, including his skin. Briana was

just lucky; Lindsey and I found her fast. Briana was almost eaten by

her old best friend.

Dick was a major redneck, and he was fine on his own, but he

stayed with us anyway. Personally I think he has a thing for Briana.

Paul was fast, so he didn't need to fight much, but when we found him

he was surrounded. Mac was with Ryan, they saved us for a change,

and all of us stayed together ever since.

I let the others discuss what to do as I sharpened my machete

with a stone Id picked up at a sports center. Ryan got in on the

argument, and the three of them agreed with whatever his plan was.

So I started to listen a bit more carefully. We were going to hit a truck

stop several miles away and raid for supplies. If there were other

survivors already there, then wed keep driving to another one a whiledown the road, and if there wasnt we would stay the night after a

little fortification.

Everybody in on the conversation agreed with the plan, and then

turned to where Mac and I were working our weapons. Mac nodded

and placed my 45 back in my bag, and then he started packing up the

food and drinks wed pulled out and began putting them back in truck.

The rest of the group waited for my answer expectantly, I was the last

real member of the groups decision making party, Lindsey just sort of

went along with everything I decided. She trusted me, and the others

left taking care of her up to me. I thought it through and then

shrugged abruptly as I came to a decision.


5/22

Why not? I said as I got to my feet and headed over to where

Lindsey was drawing in the sand with a small rock.

She looked up as I approached and smiled slightly in greeting,

Whats up?

Were hitting a truck stop a while from here, I told her, Youre

in the back of the truck Mac is driving. When we get close you need to

keep your head down until we know its safe.

Okay, Lindsey rolled her eyes with a sigh.

I smiled a bit as I went back to where Mac was checking to make

sure the supplies wouldnt fall out if things got rough. When we go I

want Lindsey to be in your truck. If things look bad at any point I want

her out of there. Can you do that?

You do realize theres a difference between can and will right?

Mac smiled with a knowing look that said the question was rhetorical

and then nodded, I got you. Ill do it.

Thanks, I said, and then I hopped up to help secure the things

in the bed. When we finished two trucks were loaded, and Lindseyclimbed into the back of the third. Ryan got out of the lead truck and

came to talk with Mac for a bit about which weapons to take inside on

the raid, and I got into the front seat of the third truck.


6/22

Others

Mac and Ryan heard it first, the roar of the engine in thedistance, we'd been about to take off when they stopped with their

heads cocked just outside their vehicles. Ryan tapped the horn and

called for everyone to get out, and we did.

Do you hear that? Ryan asked us.

When we listened we heard it too. Then we had to decide

whether or not to wait for the vehicle. We all took a vote on it, and the

decision to wait was unanimous. I took out two of my pistols, the 45

and a small six shot. Lindsey came over and took the six shot from my

hand, and then she waited for further instruction. The others stood so

that the vehicles would be between the approaching party and us. I

grabbed Lindsey's arm lightly and guided her to the truck furthest

from the approach.

Stay here until I say it's clear, I told her, I'm gonna try to make

sure you don't have to use that gun.

I stepped out away from the trucks so that I would face the

approach head on. If I needed cover I need only dive for it. Mac and

Ryan had argued briefly that one of them should be there rather than


7/22

me, but I had pointed out that they were crucial to our survival. None

of the rest wanted to do it besides them so I got no further argument.

So I held my pistol down by my leg and waited.

An RV appeared and approached rapidly, laying it heavy on the

horn. It was as good as any wait up there was from this distance. The

others raised their guns behind me, ready. The vehicle stopped, and

the first person out was a tall black man that was obviously

dehydrated. I moved forward a bit to speak to him as he moved

toward my group.

My name is Sara, I told him as I reached him.

DJ, the man said as he met my eyes. Nice to see some people

again.

As I shook hands with him two others exit the vehicle. They were

empty handed, no weapons. The first to exit was a young Latino

woman; the other was an old lady with white hair.

Any others? I asked DJ as I tucked the gun into my jeans.

There used to be twelve of us, DJ said as his face fell into loss,the loss of people trusted, people cared for. A loss I often had on my

face. We were ambushed, and the three of us took off.

Smart move, I admitted, but hard choice.

Yeah, the Latino agreed, Sam, she offered me her hand.

Sara, I took her hand gently.

Kimberly, the older woman said, and her hand replaced Sam's,

call me Kim.

Nice to meet you, I smiled.

Just say what you mean Sara, Kim laughed, nice to meet

people who wont eat you.

I smiled, Kim was pretty forward. I liked that, Come meet the


8/22

others and get a drink. You guys look half dead. None of you were

bitten?

No deary, Kim responded, we were in the RV when they came,

and it's been days since we've taken off.

Any weapons? I asked as we approached my group's trucks.

A shot gun with no ammunition, Sam said it with a longing that

suggested it was her weapon of choice and then continued, and a

rifle, has a scope and everything. You know, the kind you think about

when somebody mentions hunting.

What about supplies? I asked.

Ate and drank the last we had this morning, Kim said, but we

have a toolbox filled with nifty things.

Paul, I called, get some food and water for these guys, but try

to leave things securely in place.

Paul jogged to the nearest truck and started pulling out food and

water. Mac and Dick came forward with their guns drawn but pointed

down. Ryan was tucking his gun into his holster with a smile on hisface; I could tell he was happy about these new people.

When introductions began I went to where Lindsey still waited for

my all clear. She stood there with the gun gripped in both hands and

trained at the ground like Id taught her. My first rule was never to aim

unless you planned to fire, other than that the barrel shouldnt see

anything but the ground. Shed tried to fire it one handed once and

sprained her wrist. That was where the two hands rule came from. She

looked pretty calm so she must have heard the introductions and

friendly conversations going on.

All clear, I told her as I took the gun from her, go say hello.

Paul had made it back to the group and handed out the food and


9/22

drinks. Lindsey rushed over to the group, and I could understand her

excitement. It had been way too long since wed met new people who

didnt try to eat us or rob us. For a while I watched them all talking,

and then I went to ruin the fun.

Ryan, I said as I came up, you should fill them in on the plan

so we can get going.

Of course, Ryan agreed with an easy smile. Then he shot into

an explanation of what would happen during our raid, and how things

were run within the group. That meant these people had to agree

before we went, and they did. Everybody prepared to leave again, and

this time there were no interruptions. Lindsey was already lying down

in the back, and I was willing to bet shed fall asleep soon. Mac drove

in silence as I watched the desolate road and desert, and sometimes

my eyes lifted to the sky. Hours passed this way, and I was feeling a

bit stiff in the seat.

Look, Mac said suddenly.

I turned my head and saw the outline of a building we wereapproaching fast. My eyes flicked to the two trucks in front of us and

then to the RV behind us. All the vehicles were pretty close together,

but not so close that braking would cause an accident. I leaned

forward and took a deep breath, rubbing my hands over my eyes and

down my face. When I looked back up I could see a few of the larger

details on the building.

Slow down a bit, I told Mac, we should see if its hot first. In

war a hot zone was a place of danger, where enemy spies or soldiers

were a major threat. I was grateful for the discovery channel, it came

in handy sometimes, and I was really starting to miss it.

Mac gave a small smile, Word of the week.


10/22

I thought for a moment while he slowed down, trying to decipher

the meaning of his words. I gave a small chuckle as I remembered

how often Id used the word this week. A total of about nine times a

day, either from complaining or cautioning.

What can I say? I smiled, There are just some words that were

meant to be used more than other others, and it is hot.

Mac watched closely as the first truck reached the rest stop, and

nobody came out. Not a single human or zombie was anywhere in

sight. With a quick glance at me he sped up and then stopped near

the rest stop. I hopped out and made a waving motion away from the

rest stop after I slammed the door. Mac pulled out and drove a decent

distance down the road. I turned back toward the rest stop where

Ryan and Paul were approaching the rest stop cautiously and Dick

walked casually behind them, whistling. I jogged up past Ryan and

flung the first door open.

It was a ladies restroom, and I was grateful it didnt smell at all

bad. When I looked around I figured the lack of stench was probablythe scent dispensers on the stall doors. I eased further down the row

of stalls and drew my 45. Most of the stalls were all the way open, but

some were partially shut, and I had to kick those open. When I kicked

the first time nothing happened, but when I kicked the second time a

zombie came running from the next stall. I managed to fire once, but

it tackled me and my 45 slid out of reach. I put both my hands on its

shoulders and pushed as hard as I could as it tried to lean in to bite

me.

Its skin was cold and clammy, and its eyes had dark bags under

them. This one was next to new, the older ones ran a fever, and they

didnt have much color, like theyd burned it all away. I had only a


11/22

moment to wonder where the one who bit him was when the last stall,

seven stalls away from me opened. I screamed as it rushed toward

me, there was no way I could hold two off of me. A shot rang out an

the standing one dropped dead. Then a second shot and the one

trying to bite me had his brain blown onto the floor. With a yell of

frustration, I heaved the corpse off of me and onto the ground.

When I sat up I was shaking a bit, and I knew it was either shock

or adrenaline. Either way the best thing I could do was calm myself

down. I picked up my 45 before I stood, and once I was standing I

looked to see who my rescuer was. It was Dick, and I nodded once in

appreciation just as Ryan and Paul came in. There was a reason the

others typically stayed together, and the reason was to avoid things

like this. My heart was pounding so hard my body swayed with the

beats, and as I paid more attention to my symptoms I decided it

couldnt be shock. I was still a bit jumpy, but I wasnt confused, and I

wasnt cold either. So I knew it was adrenaline, and with nothing left to

do my body resorted to the only available release of adrenaline therewas.

I cried. I was afraid of what almost happened, and what will

probably happen later. I was angry that Id been stupid and arrogant

enough to put myself in that situation, and I was relieved to still be

alive. When I stopped crying Ryan told everybody in the restroom that

the area was secure, and this room was the only room with anything

dangerous in it. Turns out I was just lucky enough to pick it out. I

washed my face with water from a bottle Ryan had pulled from his

pack, and dried it off with my shirt. When I was recomposed I went

outside where Dick, Paul, and Ryan were waving in the RV and Macs

truck.


12/22

When the vehicles stopped Mac and Lindsey were the first ones

out. Lindsey ran over to me and threw her arms around me, and I

hugged her briefly before standing to greet a worried looking Mac.

I heard gunfire, Mac said with a frown, what happened?

I had a close call with two zombies, I said it as casually as I

could, like it wasnt that big of a deal, but Lindseys eyes widened and

glistened with tears.

Are you okay? she was already starting to cry.

Im fine, I smiled and made myself laugh softly, I can take care

of myself pretty well. I frowned abruptly and looked to where Dick

stood talking with the RV goers. Mac followed my gaze and an

appreciative smile lifted his lips as Dick met his eyes and then

nodded. It was a long distance guy version of thanks and youre

welcome, or sometimes what would we do without you and youre

pretty good too.

Lindsey made me tell her every detail of my close call, and when

the first zombie tackled me she looked horrified, and when the secondcame she started bawling, and when Dick saved me she ran to him

and gave him a big hug. Dick wasnt that comfortable around children,

so he just stood there awkwardly and looked to the people around him

for help. The RV goers helped to bust open the vending machines, and

everybody had beef jerky and candy bars for dinner as the sun started

to set.

The Beginning of the End


13/22

While we ate DJ paused and looked at the entirety of our group,

so howd you guys meet up? Pretty mix matched group. Did you all

know each other before all this?

Ryan and I were the only two who knew each other before this,

Mac said, but Sara can tell you what happened.

Everybody looked expectantly my way, and I sighed before

beginning my tale, Id been trying to survive for seven hours on the

day it all started. I learned real fast that some people were more

dangerous than the zombies. So I didnt stick with anybody and I stole

a car. I made it a good twenty miles or so when I got the car stuck. I

ditched it and started walking. The area was pretty empty, just a few

every now and then. Id been walking about ten minutes maybe when

I saw an open garage. I decided to see if I could find anything useful.

Turns out a friend of Lindsey lived there, and since Lindsey was

sick all day shed stayed home with the door locked. She was feeling

better, and she was hungry, so she hopped on her bike and headed to

her friends house. When I saw somebody coming I hid. I alreadyfound a six shot and I had a shot gun too. She walked up to the door

and knocked and then a zombie chased her out onto the drive way.

Had her down on the ground by the time I shot it. I sank into my

memories as I told the story, reliving it like it was happening right

now.

The zombie had been thrown clear or the blond girl with the force

of the blast. A group of survivors that robbed me of two guns earlier

that day had used similar bait, only their bait was a full grown woman

in danger. So at first I thought she was bait too, and I waved the shot

gun in her terrified face and demanded to know who she was with.

Shed said she wasnt with anybody, and she told me where shed


14/22

been all day and what brought her to this particular house.

Come with me, Id said, but as I reached out shed backed up.

I need to call my parents, she said.

Where were they? I had asked her. If they were close by I would

have taken her to try to find them, and I would have left her with

them.

They work in Phoenix, shed said. I knew if it was bad here then

the cities had to be worse, and I got angry that she had hope for her

parents. So I hurt her with it.

Then you parents are dead, I said.

She took another step back and shook her head as tears started

to pool in her eyes, no theyre not!

Theyre dead, Id yelled, Your family! Your friends! Everyone

you knew is DEAD!

Lindsey had cried, and my heart had hurt for her, but I didnt

take it back. If shed gone after them I believed she would have died.

So I let her believe me, and even as I tried to tell myself it was true Ifelt a little guilty saying it out loud.

When she calmed down I held out the six shot, Come with me,

or end up like everyone else.

She shook her head as she looked at the gun, I cant

Ill teach you, I told her.

She took the gun hesitantly, and I showed her how to hold it.

Then I said, If you dont plan to shoot dont point it anywhere but the

ground, and watch your feet.

Then Id given her the briefest description of the dilemma I could

manage and added, Anyone bit is a goner, so dont waste your time.

Wed barely started leaving when somebody screamed nearby


15/22

and I pulled Lindsey down behind some bushes just as a woman ran

into sight with three zombies chasing her. Lindsey tried to get up and

go help, but I grabbed her arm and held her there.

Shes a goner, I said icily, let her go.

Lindsey had yanked her arm from my grasp and ran out to help

the woman. I went after her and shot down the three zombies with

ease. The woman thanked me and I shrugged.

The kid saved you, I said, I would have let them have you.

The woman seemed shocked and then thanked Lindsey, My

name is Briana.

My name is Lindsey, shed said, and that was how Id learned

her name.

The two of them looked at me expectantly, Sara, now lets go.

The noise attracts attention so from now on be quiet.

When we were a decent distance away from the place where the

screaming and shooting had occurred I turned to Briana and pointed

my gun at her. She went pale and her eyes widened. Give me onegood reason not to kill you.

Are you thirsty? Briana had asked. She found food and water

pretty quickly, and I liked her resourcefulness.

Fine, Id said, you can stay with us. Find something to use as a

weapon and keep alive. Youre no good to me dead.

Briana did pretty well through the rest of the day, and we found

a house to stay in for the night. We all stayed in the same room and

we took turns on watch throughout the night, I concluded the first

day of my story, we didnt get much sleep that first night, even when

we werent on watch.

Damn, DJ muttered.


16/22

I looked up at the stars in the sky, We should get some sleep, I

said, Its late, and the rest can be told tomorrow.

There was a small debate on who slept where, and the 6 sleepers

in the RV was divided into two shifts. Kimberly was always in it, since

it was hers and Lindsey because I gave up my shift of RV comfort. On

the first shift were Ryan, Paul, and Sam, and on the second shift were

DJ, Dick, and Mac. So I slept in one of the trucks as Mac took first

watch. I dreamt of the second day of the incident.


17/22

The Day in HellIt was the second day of the incident, and all of us were half

asleep as we trudged through the neighborhood looking for food,

weapons, and water. I sighed as the sun beat down on my back. Today

held none of the chaos of yesterday, but there were reminderseverywhere. Cars were overturned, some were still on fire. Glass was

broken or cracked where ever it existed. There wasnt a single figure

walking down the street, and I hadnt seen any dogs since it all began.

There were no sirens as there had been yesterday, and the TV and

phones still didnt work. Computers were down, they wouldnt even

turn on. Lights stopped working about the same time everything else

had, so something happened somewhere.

My shotgun already felt heavy in my hands, and I let it hang from

the strap rather than carry it. Abruptly Lindsey fell, and when she got

up there was a huge gash in her left arm. My eyes sought out the

cause, and found blood fresh and dripping on a piece of metal jutting

out of a ruined car nearby. I looked around for something to stanch the

bleeding with, and found a dirty rag on the ground. I picked it up,

shook it out, and then pressed it onto her wound.

Briana stood a few feet away from us, scanning the area with

watchful eyes to try to spot any threat that may exist. She dropped

down suddenly, and looked right at me and then pointed at the place


18/22

beyond the car we were hidden behind. I gestured at the rag I was

holding with my chin, and Briana applied pressure on the wound while

I gripped my shotgun firmly and peered carefully over the car. There

was a small group of survivors walking down the street, dragging a

woman along the road. She was struggling, but her struggles came to

a halt as the biggest guy in the group shot her in the head with his

pistol. There were five of them in total, and I had a feeling they'd kill

us too if they found us. I turned to Briana and ducked down into the

small area of cover we had.

We need to get somewhere hidden, I told her.

She looked around swiftly and then pointed at the closest house,

that's the only place we'll be able to get to without them seeing.

Go, I said, get Lindsey to safety.

Briana pulled Lindsey into the house without trouble, and I stood

to follow, but there was a shout down the road. I looked up just as the

group started taking their aim. I darted away from the house, and into

another just across the street. The stairs were carpeted, and Istumbled a few times on the way up. As I reached the top the front

door burst open and the group piled into the house. I could hear them

moving around down stairs, and I took aim from where I was, so if

they came up I was ready for them. Then I heard a gun being cocked

right behind me, and I turned my head. A woman stood there with a

pistol aimed at my head. Her hands shook and her face was pale.

The men down stairs will kill us if they have the chance, I told

her in the closest thing I could to a soothing voice. We can help each

other.

She looked at the stairs and then back at me and nodded. Then

she moved up next to me and aimed at the stairs. When the men


19/22

came up the first two were shot down before the group knew we were

there. The third one tried to take aim, but was killed first, and the

other two actually got shots off before falling with the others. The

woman collapsed onto the floor beside me, and my leg ached badly.

When I looked I saw that my shin had two holes in it, but the bone

wasn't damaged, and the shot went clean through, so I turned my

attention to the woman. She was heaving forced heavy breaths that

gurgled slightly, and there was a spreading blood stain on the chest

area of her shirt.

I'm sorry, I said to her, and then I cocked the shot gun and

looked her in the eye, I can shoot you now, or you can wait and

drown in your blood. It could take hours.

Shoot, she gasped, me.

I stood, placing only a small amount of weight on my injured leg

and then took aim. I closed my eyes and dropped the gun aim. I did

this twice before taking a deep breath, re-aiming, and firing. Then I

threw up, twice. I stumbled out of the house a few moments later, andthen ran for the house Lindsey and Briana were holed up in. When I

opened the door I came within inches of kissing the barrel of the gun

Briana held pointed at the door. It was a semi-automatic, something

that would have been useful a minute ago. Briana lowered the gun

and returned to where Lindsey sat on the couch with a washcloth duck

taped tightly to her wound, but it still bled through.

We need medical supplies, I said, lets search the house.

Lindsey went into the downstairs bathroom and I went upstairs

with Briana before we split up. I looked in a bedroom, and I found a

decent duffel bag and slung it over my shoulder. Then I took the

bulging box of shotgun shells from my jacket pocket and put them in


20/22

the bag. I brought a rag down stairs with me. It wasn't long before we

all stood in the living room again empty handed.

The hospital, I suggested, it's not too far from here, especially

if we find a car. Let me see the duct tape.

Isn't that gonna be packed with people or those things already,

Briana pointed out as she put the tape in my hand, it's too

dangerous.

Come with me, I told her as I bound my leg the same way

Lindseys arm was bound, you can stay at a place nearby with the

car, and if I don't make it back you can go.

Who is this kid anyway? Briana demanded, Your sister?

I never even saw her before yesterday, I admitted, but

honestly I don't think we can afford to lose anybody who can be

saved. She's not gone. Not yet. She can be helped. Briana I need you

to watch her while I go in. That's all I'm asking you to do. You can even

keep the semi-automatic machine gun.

Briana sighed, I know it's the right thing to do, but if we alldie...

We won't, I said, I won't let it happen.

Briana you need to trust me, I said, Lindsey saved your life.

Now it's our turn to save hers.

Then I guess we should get moving, Briana stayed where she

was for a moment despite her words.

The three of us came out of the house together, and a few

streets over we found a car in decent shape. The three of us got in,

though Briana whined about the blood stains. The keys were in the

ignition, and I turned them. The car started pretty easily. Briana had

the roll of ducked tape around her wrist like a bracelet, and I couldn't


21/22

stop glancing behind me to check on Lindsey as we drove. We came

within a mile of the hospital and stopped. I turned off the car and

turned to face both Lindsey and Briana.

Pick a house somewhere nearby to search, I told Briana, make

sure Lindsey gets some sugar, and keep her from bleeding out until I

can get back. I'm going to grab as much as I can carry. Be in this car

with the engine running before I get back. You'll have at least an

hour.

Lindsey leaned forward, what if you're not back yet?

Wait until noon, I decided, then move on if I'm not back. Don't

look for me either, because if I don't come back I'm most likely dead.

In case I'm not head back to the first house we stayed in and stay

hidden. One day tops, and then move on. If I don't meet you there I'm

never coming back.

I turned and walked over to a car that looked in tact, but it had

no key so I moved on to the next one. There was a crowbar in this one,

and I picked it up and weighed it in my hands. It wasn't too heavy toswing, but not so light it wouldn't get a job done. I set off toward the

hospital, occasionally diving behind cars and dumpsters when I saw

something coming. When I was across the street from the hospital I

ducked behind some bushes and looked on. There were zombies in the

parking lot and a lot of the windows were broken. The doors lay on

either side of the doorway, crushed and shattered. I worked my way

around the building, making sure to stay hidden as I did, and found a

clear path to a broken window.

I sprinted over and peered inside. The room was empty apart

from some office equipment, but there was no way in without cutting

myself so I looked around. I saw a hospital bed laying near a body a


22/22

few feet to my right, and I went for it. When I was close enough I

brought the crowbar down on the bodies head for good measure. It

didn't move, and I hooked the curved part of the crowbar into one of

my belt loops before lifting the bed and taking it to the window. I could

hear something approaching, the broken glass everywhere gave me

that advantage.

As I set up the bed so I could step up onto it I listened for the

source, and it sounded like it was around the side of the building. I

boosted myself up onto the bed as quickly as I could and scrambled to

my feet. I came to the edge of the window and jumped into the room.

I landed on my feet, but the forward momentum forced me onto all

fours. I pulled my crowbar free of my belt loop and crept forward,

staying low. When I got to the door I pressed my ear up against it and

listened. I heard nothing. Cautiously I rose to peek out the window, but

I couldn't see anything moving.

I turned back to the room and looked around, searching for a

map, or something that could point me in the direction of thepharmacy or supply room. There was none. I put my head in my hands

and cursed softly. Then my eyes flew to the desk, and I thought just

maybe there might be something. I approached it quickly, too quickly

to stop myself from crashing into a body that had risen from behind

the desk. I suppressed a scream and pushed with all the strength I

could muster.

Documents

Don't Eat Me (an Apocalyptic Novel)