Ashes to Ashes (Book 1 of 2) A ZOMBIE FICTION

Living and Dead

It was a short drive to get a view of the huge camp, and from our sand dune I could tell that they were well armed and would easily take us out; but these were the same people who wanted us dead anyways.

"We can't go in there." Crystal told me blankly.

"We aren't going in..." I replied.

I turned to look at our large group of all ages, then Chloe spoke up for the first time in a while; "You're not going in either!" She nearly shouted.

Tessa, Drew, Crystal, and Josh all stood with her; supporting her decision. "These are the same assholes who have tried to kill us a shit ton of times, and you're not letting me even fucking try!? I've cheated death too many times, I'm going in. Whether you like it or not."

"No." Azura stated, stepping to the group.

"We need you Alex. Any other day and any other camp, I'd support you but not today." Josh added.

"Fine, I don't need your support. I want to take these assholes down, and this is a start to that!" I shouted.

I watched as Sadie and Jennifer walked into the group, then some of the new members.

"You're not going in." Drew told me, like a commander.

I looked at all of them, their faces carried a pleading look as they fought with me. It was a battle that I wouldn't win, but I didn't care. I never did anymore, after Drake's death I've wanted to join him. To put my mind at rest; and if there was a place to do it, it was here.

"Alex?" Sadie asked.

"I'm going in."

"Shh, Alex. You have been the best shot for a long time, and we need that skill. If we didn't have you we wouldn't have each other. Please Alex, I know you want to take them down, but we can do that another day."

I looked at her, she was half with me in wanting the Coalition dead, and half with the others. "Sadie. I shouldn't be alive after everything that's happened... You all know that. I should have died before Drake did, not after." My words seemed to hurt Crystal the most like she knew something that I didn't.

"You're alive because something or someone is keeping you here; they know that we need you, they know that. Whatever it is that you've been seeing, must be keeping you here for a purpose, I don't think that this is it." Crystal told me through her sobs.

"Maybe this is exactly w-"

The world turned grey, the others were gone, and I was face to face with the creature. Tall, black, long legs and arms that go to it's ankles; and yet it still looked somewhat human. It's eyes were large and black and it's absence of a mouth confused me.

"Wha-?" I started.

These are not hallucinations, nor are you crazy. The thing told me as a mouth seemed to appear and disappear.

"What are you?"

A friend. A defender. A Guardian. I have no name, or species; but I am not the only one. We are many.

"Are you a-"

Afterlife Guardian? In a way. We do much more than that though. We are the light that many see in death, and we are the darkness. We are also the reason that many join the dead, but this apocalypse- as you call it- is not our doing.

"How are we talking?" This thing seemed to read my thoughts before I spoke them.

To show you.

My friends all appeared around me, but when I went to touch them... I couldn't.

The girl, Crystal. She sees us too. We have spoken with her, and She with us. We have told her why your friends have joined the no longer.

"Why?"

I cannot tell you yet, for you have not seen the end. When you find your purpose, I will.

"What is my purpose?" I asked, sounding crazy.

You are not crazy.

As I looked at it's mouth, I realized that it wasn't moving. Like it was in my head.

We are, and we are not. I cannot reveal your purpose, but it will soon show itself. The others, of your group, do not know what you see. This is because they have not seen death like you or the girl.

"She's seen death? When?"

Not in the way that you have. She has seen it in your eyes, and the eyes of the no longer. She is one with us, and so are you.

"What do you mean?"

We are death, and so are you. But we are also life, and so are you. In each person is a symbol. A communicator. Some, are mediums to the no longer, and others are not. You have a gift, and a curse. For you can see them when no one else can, hear them when everyone else is deaf, feel them...

"So I'm... dead?"

One with death, and life. Our time is nearly spent. You must not give your life to the no longer, for you have higher purpose to both the living...and the dead.

The world returned to a colored earth, and the others were once again in front of me, like no time had passed at all.

"I'm not going." I said, shocking them for some reason.

"Why the sudden change?" Josh asked.

"I-..." I looked into Crystal's eyes, and could tell that she had heard my 'conversation' with the creature; she nodded and walked away, "I guess I just came to my senses..."

Things remained calm for the next few days as we traveled towards old California. The thing hadn't returned, but I could tell that it had never left.