A Bite of Zombie

Chapter 2

Brook Filled the Ford focus up while whistling softly. She remembered in

the past she would always need to pay so much for gas, but heck, look at her

now! Free gas and on top of that, the shop at the gas station had some twinkies

on stock, twinkies that wouldn't expire for another few months! Lucky her! The

car was now filled with gas and twinkies, also with some other snack foods and

some mineral water. You could never have too many things! Especially in this

time and age. Getting into the drivers seat, she put the car into drive and

drove off in towards the interstate. It felt great to be the only person on

these streets, but it also felt...lonely. Another hour and a half and the sun

would start to rise. Glancing up at the sky from the windsheild, she noticed

just how bright the million twinkling stars were. It was such a sight to

behold. Sitting back into the seat, she let out a long sigh and stared out at

the road in front of her as she drove. As she drove in silence, this gave her

time to drift into her past.

"Brook! Dear!" Her mother shouted from downstairs. "Come, hurry!"

Brook rolled her eyes and groaned as she lazily stood up from her desk. Dragging her out of her room and downstairs to the living room where her parents, she dropped herself down onto the red leather love seat. Her parents stared down at her with grins upon their faces, making her raise a brow.

 

"Yes?"She finally said.

"Honey, I know that you will be graduating this summer and start college in the fall, but we thought we would get you a little congratulations/encouragement present before you start college." Her father announced proudly.

Brook was only eighteen and she was indeed graduating high school next month in June. A smile tugged at her lips at the thought. Soon she would be over with this old chapter in her life and start a new one. Truthfully, she couldn't wait! Looking up, she studied both her parents. Her dad had always been on the larger side. Not fat, but pure strength in those joints of his. He stood nearly a foot taller than her mother, who was lean and short, the complete opposite of her father.

"We really hope you like it!" Her mother beamed.

Soon, they led her outside through the front door and that was when she saw the small black volkswagen bettle sitting out in the parking spot in front of their house.

"It is brand new, never been used." Her father said as he patted her on the back.

She stared at the car with awe, her jaw nearly hitting the wood boards of the wraparound porch. Was she dreaming? She had never received such a big gift in her entire eighteen years of life. She pulled both her parents into a bear hug, making her mother laugh softly, the sound filling her ears.

"Thank you...Thank you so much mom and dad." She said as tears rimmed her eyes.

"Oh dear, don't cry." Her mother cupped Brooks cheek and smiled warmly.

"Also, your big brother helped pay for it, you should thank him too when he comes in next weekend." Her father informed her.

Her brother. Mark was a hard working government man. Although he said all he dealt with was basic government needs, she knew there was more to it than that. Mark actually made tons of money per month and would send their parents at least a thousand a month to help out. It was a wonder how he made so much.

Brook returned to the present, tears glistening in her eyes. Squeezing

the stirring wheel, she shook her head and looked at the road with

determination. That old life of hers was over. She was different now and had to

accept it. She shot a look at the radio and frowned. Would there be anything

on? Probably not since humans were a rare thing now; those that lived stayed in

hiding and they hid well.

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It took her nearly two days to arrive in New York City. Slowly, she

drove down the wide street and glanced up at the tall buildings from the

windsheild. It looked like a ghost town; the streets no longer had people scurrying around to get to work on time. Cars scattered the roads and sidewalks. Nearly all the windows in the empty shops had busted out windows, the shards of glass all over the sidewalk. Pulling the car to the side, she got out and stretched her limbs; sitting in the car for such a long time had made them stiff. No longer did she wear her jeans; now she wore short shorts, revealing her curvy legs, and a red-blue striped tanktop. The sun had already reached its peak in the sky, the air hot and humid. It literally was hard to breath. Fanning herself, she exhaled and dragged herself across the street to a nearby shop that was once a convient shop. She could imagine people still hustling in and out of the shop, but all that was left now was a busted glass door and shelves that were laying on the dusty floor. Water, she needed water. Brook carefully walked in through the broken door and carefully checked her surroundings. She was in no mood for a sudden, "Surprise!" Not from anyone, that included the walking dead. Although she could take on more than her fair share of them. She went down one of the isles that remained and found what she needed. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Yes!" She whispered.

Taking the twelve pack of water, she carried the thing out to the car

and threw it into the back of the car. Suddenly she heard a groan coming up

from behind. Shit, already? She rolled her eyes and sighed. Turning around

quickly, she eyed the living dead that approached her. Fingering her hair out

her face, she eyed the thing and hissed a warning. The living dead was a woman, a woman who probably had a family...at one time. Now she was rotting and the blond hair ontop of her skin tight scalp was thinning. She was probably around twenty-five when her world turned upside down. Brook frowned, saddened for this woman who lost her life and now stalked the streets in need for food. The undead stopped in it's tracks and peeled back it's lips, showing decaying teeth.

"She is no longer a living breathing person...Brook, snap out of it." She

nearly shouted at herself.

She unsheathed the dagger at her thigh, gripping it in her hand. Put the poor woman out of her misery, do her a favor. Those words drifted through her mind.