Forgetting the Apocalypse

24. Mama

Of all the things that would cause me to have a panic attack since I woke up, I didn't think this would be one of them. Yes, I screamed and cried when I awoke in the car and when I saw my first zombie. Yes, I got scared when the flood hit and I nearly drowned. I also didn't like getting attacked by a big cat, an undead bear and almost getting burned alive trying to run from a hoard. But in that moment I completely forgot about the men taking us, and was solely focused on the vehicle they put me in. As soon as the doors shut, my breathing felt constricted.

Although I was sitting still I felt like something huge was being slammed into me. In my mind I saw nothing more than the images of myself behing the wheel with bloody hands and the sound of a horn blaring loudly. My leg pinned under the seat. The glass shard on the side of my stomach. The immediate pain coming from my head and all over my body. The fear of calling out but also someone calling out to me. Hands reaching in through the broken window but before I can focus on them I'm tossed to another image of being swept away by water and the strap from by bag being caught on a door. I can taste the water again as I fight to keep it out of my mouth. I see my own reflection of being held under, only the second time I ever got a close look at myself. Then in an instant the water sweeps me again and I'm slammed into another car.

"Hey, what yer problem? You infected or sumting?"

Those in the car turn to look at me and begin to inch away. It takes the boys a brief moment to catch up and understand what was happening. Riva starts tapping my foot with his. He can't reach over to grab my hands or give me one of his bear hugs with our hands are tied behind our backs.

"Huntress, hey huntress. Listen to my voice."

Even though my head is facing him, his voice was too muffled for me to hear anything clearly. The only thing I could focus on were those images. Before he can say anything else, the car stops as we reach the gates of some community. The brakes reminded me of hitting the truck.

My actually panic stops a little once we get dragged out of the car. It was like I could finally take a deep breath. A terrible terrible mistake. So much so that I began to choke. I practically threw up in my mouth. The smell. Gods that smell. It wasn't like the first time. How can the living actually smell worst than the dead?

"Mama! We got 'em right here!" The four men toss us to the ground in the center of their commmunity. One by one they start coming out from their trailers to get a closer look at us. At least twenty are gathered around a bonfire. For some disturbed reason, I kept looking around at all their faces trying to find the so called sisters. As if seeing any women would provide any level of comfort.

Just ahead of us, an old red pickup truck parked and placed our weapons on the back. Checking them and disarming them. There's no way we can reach them. Our hands are tied and even if we could reach them, we'd be swarmed right away. Aaand now, that is certainly thrown out the window with the ones that come from the gate who are carrying weapons.

"So you four are the ones responsible for the deaths of my children?" The voice was not entirely elderly but just a tad bit passed young. It was a middle age, heavy set woman with really dirty red hair to the point it was almost black started walking towards us. Those in her way parted for her without any hesitation and without looking at her, it was eerie.

When she reached us, she stilled for a second. Taking her time looking at each and every one of us. She smiled at some point to us all, but never in the same spot. I was the only one though who received a smile throughout her entire assessment of me. Before I said that I was hoping to get on her good side, see if she was going to like me but now I don't like that she might like me.

"My my sugar, don't you look as sweet as a fresh baked pie? Don't know whether I wanna eat you up or adopt you?" She bends down at eye level to look at me. God I wish she didn't. I have no idea how she'd be able to chew anything. This woman has more fingers than teeth. I thought the one with three teeth was bad. It's a miracle we can understand her so clearly.