Forgetting the Apocalypse

48. What's Your Type pt. 2

Kailee's Pov*

We were walking at a relatively slow pace and while I wasn't breathing hard or having a hard time keeping up it felt like I was still running. Those rats really put me on edge. Yes, I've never been a fan of rats ever since I found out all the diseases that they can carry and just how strong their teeth were. My brother can attest to that fear. And it was rational, it wasn't just because of some documentary that I saw as a kid but our neighbors were given a warning that if they didn't clean their yard and house then they would be evicted. So when they listened, they ended up stirring the nest which then fled to our home.

For more than two months we were fighting with the little invaders that came into our home. We found them trying to get into our pantry, making tiny holes in the walls that were not as cute as Jerry made it look in the show and cleaning up sooo many droppings. I have no idea how we didn't get sick but the worst part was that they made so many holes that it was hard keeping up with the new ones that were popping up. Which meant that there were some we didn't know about, like the one that was behind my dresser in front of my bed.

You can guess how that trauma started.

Now those were the normal ones. The ones from that apartment were... well they weren't normal. I never thought I wished for an animal to have rabies but there's a first for everything. Disturbingly, it wasn't rabies that they had. At least that's the conclusion that Riva had come up with.

When we found a good spot to hold up in, and triple checked that were the only things inside, he began writing in his notebook. That simple action made me feel a little conflicted. In a way, it was comforting to know that he had something he could still do that he did before everything went to shit. However, on the other hand, given the way his mind works I can't even imagine what new crazy but very sensible theory he could be writing right now.

Curiosity got the better of me and I found myself asking the question that led down the rabbit hole. "If you don't mind me asking, what's got your pen flying across those pages?"

He hadn't looked up right away but his little smile let me know that he heard me. So did his brother and Mara since I heard him groan and her stiffle a chuckle.

Once he dotted his last sentence he flipped over to some previous pages which I could only guess had some questions on it. While I may not fully understand the pathways that his brain takes, I did quickly figure out his notetaking patterns.

"We all know and agree that there are ranks amongst the dead right?"

It was a general question meant for anyone but since I was the only one looking at him I decided to be the one to answer, nodding my head, "Yeah, um the newly turned are the Freshies, the ones who are older are known as Middles and..." I tried recalling what they called the last ones. I know that they're not Crawlers although those are another rank. Or are they another breed?

"Seniors, the oldest of the bunch and usually found in hoards. Now a couple months back we had the beautiful misfortune of encountering Crawlers for the first time. So, I think that depending on what type of Freshie the zombie is will determine what they become." he stated.

That got everyone involved.

"What do you mean type of Freshie? You saying there's more than one type and become what?"

I honestly couldn't tell which of the three guys asked the questions. Looking over to Mara I can tell that she is thinking hard on what he just said but is waiting for him to elaborate more.

"Alright, hear me out," he flipped back some pages, "From our three experiences, all three Freshies displayed different types of behaviour. Bro, the way you described your neighbor it sounds sounds like she was the most aggressive and predatory. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Fredi, your friend seemed to be more rabid and less tactical in its attack. Just your basic zombie trying to get to food."

He paused a little and looked over his notes again before continuing.

"The first Freshie I faced was somewhere in between the two. Its aggression level was definitely high and it did seem to have more skill in its kill method since it was punching instead of a mindless grab but still nothing compared to actually fighting and dodging the living. You guys following me?"

So far I am. I know they've stressed to always know which you're dealing with but when you're fighting for your life it can be hard to take notice of the details. If you're lucky enough to survive, then you can catch your breath and then try to calmly go over everything that happened. Hearing each first encounter from them, I could see each distinction that he made.

In terms of animals, Roone's Freshie would be a like a bear or a wolf. It has the aggression, the predatory skill and power. Fredi's Freshie would be like an amateur young lion hunting by itself for the first time. Unsure of itself, no patience or skill. That would make Riva's Freshie a cheetah. Yeah, cause it had the power and the most of the skill but that doesn't mean it always catches its prey.

So, which one did I have? Would mine count the same as my brother's from when we were out of the hospital or.... Immediately I felt my chest tighten and tears gathering in my eyes.

If the nurse at the hospital counts only as my brother's first then my first Freshie would be my father. I wanted to remain calm and think through the way I always have for my family but ever since that night I've had problems staying calm. Everything made me want to panic and run. There were a lot of times when Mara would have to talk me down. Just like she did in the apartment.

It's especially hard to keep from getting emotional when the details you're trying to sort through are those of your father ripping into your mother's stomach. But I try to anyways. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I blurred his face and focused on the way he- the way it moved instead.

Everyone was a Freshie and yet as we were running up the stairs it was the first one through the doors. So, he- it was much faster than the others because they were following him but were some feet behind.

I shut my eyes tighter, trying to push away the sound of my mother's screams.

It tackled her. Wait, it tackles her but it didn't bite her right away. Mom was swinging and punching it so it picked her up and slammed her back down on the stairs and when she didn't hit back fast enough that's when it bit her. Even though mom kept fighting after that, it just shoved her hands away and continued biting.

The sounds of the other Freshies coming up the stairs finally hit me. At the same time as they were bolting it up, mom wrapped her arms around the zombie and tossed herself over taking it with her. But before that, I swear I can see it fighting.

As mom was wrapping herself around it, it stopped biting. When she was going over, it tried pushing off her and grabbing onto the railing.

So what type did that make that Freshie?