Chatter

Chapter 10

"Boom," erupted the gun.

Gore from an undead splattered Cade and the others. It had been standing just inside the doorway and they hadn't cleared the room after seeing Meg. An eyeball plopped out of its head and bounced across the floor and onto Autumn's shoe.

"Ah dammit, gross," she cried.

The others chuckled; all except for Cade. He grabbed his sister in a tight bear hug and lifted her off her feet. "I'm so glad we found you, I was getting worried."

Meg's blonde hair was matted with blood, her face scratched and dirty. Once a homecoming queen and cheerleader she now looked more like a mini Laura Croft from Tomb Raider.

"We've been to the house," said Cade. "What happened?

Meg looked at the group with hollow eyes. She had been through a lot these last two days and it should have felt good to be with others but instead she only saw six more humans she might have to kill later.

"It all happened so fast," Meg said. "Mom and dad were having a luncheon for the company. I was still upstairs getting ready when it got silent, oddly silent. Those parties are usually full of chatter and bad jokes." She continued, "I peeked down the stairs and all that I saw was people on the floor or slumped over the couches and chairs. It looked like they all died at once or were napping." Meg wiped her eyes and said, "I ran downstairs and checked on our mother. She was a heap on the floor by the kitchen door. Her eyes were rolled back into her skull; only the whites showed and were fluttering violently."

Meg looked around to each person, all were listening intently. "I ran to phone and dialed 911. No one answered. Then they all started with the damn teeth. I hate that noise. The whole room began chattering in unison." She cleared her throat, "Then all the people stood at once. All of their eyes were white. I ran back upstairs scared to death. All I could think of was that I was dreaming and in some crazy, cheesy zombie flick."

Cade hugged his sister again and comforted her. "We were stuck in an airplane when it happened but at least we had each other." He kissed her cheek, "I can't imagine going through this alone."

"I waited in my room for hours," Meg said. "I thought for sure the prank would be over and things were ok. But once I checked the stairs again I knew this was real." Meg closed her eyes, "On the stairs a few of those things had somehow climbed up halfway. I tried to think of any weapons in the house but all there is, is dad's bow in the den downstairs and I don't know how to use it anyway." She opened her eyes but they fell to the floor, "The shed was the only thing I could think of. Dad has all the tools out there. So I climbed out my window and down the gutter. It broke from my weight and I fell. The landing knocked me out and when I came to it was getting dark out. So I ran to the shed and grabbed tree trimmer, you know the stick with the saw knife at the end." 

"Why didn't you just run away," asked Trina. "Why stay?"

"I felt like I HAD to stay. My family was in there and I didn't want to leave them like that. The police weren't answering so again I thought to those cheesy zombie movies. I thought maybe I was the last person alive." Meg was running through the events in her head, "I went into the front door and started killing them. The tree trimmer let me keep a good distance. I found that if you stab them anywhere but the head they keep coming. Who in the hell invented actual zombies? I mean who thought that was a good idea? Anyway, I began stabbing through the eyes. I couldn't stand looking at them." A few tears ran down Meg's cheek, "I saved mom and dad for last. I kept yelling at them to wake up. Instead their mouths opened so grossly. They were like three times the size of a regular mouth. But yeah, Cade, I killed our parents."

Cade and the others remained silent and let Meg get composed. "We have all had to kill them sis," said Cade. "It doesn't get easier but it's necessary." He cleared his throat, "I never ever will think badly of you because of mom and dad. They would have killed you."

"We need to get back to the house before dark," said Vick. "Let's get moving.

The seven made their way back through the park quickly. Most of the undead had been dealt with and the others were now easily avoidable. 

Once at the house they all kind of split up after eating a little. Trina and Autumn shared the guest room. Vick took the couch in the den. Cade and Keiko shared his room. Dwayne commandeered the parents' bedroom and Meg went into her own.

"Do you think we will make it to Canada," asked Keiko.

"I think we will, we have good people with us."

Shyly Keiko kissed Cade and wiggled close to him, "Just in case," and they made love through the night.

The next morning Meg had a surprise for the group. "Want to go to Canada in style?" She pushed a button and the huge garage door opened to reveal a brand new camper. It had beds, kitchen, bathroom; anything that could be thought of was here.

Everyone loaded supplies into the camper. Anything they thought could be useful was added to the collection. Vick and Dwayne siphoned gas from the other cars to fill it.

Vick took the wheel and drove out onto the highway. Cade had instructed him which roads to take as the GPS was not functioning. Everyone seemed relaxed and in good spirits to have more room to themselves while traveling.

"All right everyone," said Cade. "Let's go to Detroit."

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