Zombie Nation

Valerie, 17, a taciturn girl, obsessed with horror movies & will barely look at anyone much less talk to them. James, 24, a dentist's assistant who tends to panic under stressful situations. Evana, 27, a fashion model who's famous for not only how she works the runway, but, her constant carping about anything that has the slightest flaw. Greg, 52, a retired marine who doesn't tolerate people who like to temporize. This is a group of people you couldn't see getting along, but, all these people have something in common: they're all fighting to survive.

    The year is 2024, but, all is far from well. A simple glimpse at the streets of Chicago, Illinois can make this statement obvious. Chaos, paper, burned & decaying bodies of humans & animals alike all congealed to the roads & sidewalks. Windows of stores smashed & the only sounds youc an hear, when THEY aren't around, is the rustling of the papers on the streets & the occasional fluttering of wings coming from the birds. A disaster has happened, a pandemic, a virus that made the host parish in a matter of minutes. But only for a few seconds, after that, they come back  search to feed their insatiable appetite for warm flesh & pulsing blood. But, those who survived, now know that the virus was in the blood. You'd be dead within a minute, but, back within another. Almost as if the virus was giving whoever was unfortunate enough to be around at that moment a head start.

    "It's pointless to just sit here & do nothing!" exclaimed James as he paced the length of the airplane hanger. "Well then what exactly fo you suggest we do?" sneared Evana as she looked up from the spot on the floor that she had been staring at for the past hour. "Go out THERE & get killed by those things?" "They aren't even out there. Do you hear them? Because I sure don't! We have weapons, we could just run!" James had stopped pacing. Valerie was sitting near Greg on the floor by their little light they had, listening to the two argue. "I'd rather not take the risk of their blood splattering on me, thanks." "Oh, I'm sorry. Is the model scared of getting her designer dress messy?" James retorted nastily. Valerie giggled slightly to herself as the two threw insult after insult at eachother. "That's ENOUGH out of you two!" boomed Greg's voice. "If we wan't this group to stay as coherent as it's been, then I suggest you two start getting along!"

    Evana & James stared for a second, looked at eachother, & then turned back to pacing the hanger & staring at the floor. Greg sighed & leaned over to Valerie, whispering "Whatever you do, Val, NEVER leave me alone with those two!" Valerie smiled & nodded in re-assurance. Greg returned her smile & then spoke again to the others. "But, I do agree with James on this. We can't just sit here & wait  until we starve. Because I can assure you both, the only person I would mind killing for food is Val." this made Evana's eyes widen in terror at the thought, but, the statement was quite germane with their situation. Food was running low & so was fresh water. "So, what do we do?" asked James. Greg stood up & made a reconnaissance of their weapon & food supply before answering. He turned on his heels to face the others, hands grasped together behind his back. "We're going to take what's necessary & what we can & go scout out a new spot. Maybe we'll find other survivors." "or find ourselves staring death in the face." said Evana as she stood back up. "Why face such a horrible end?"at this point, Valerie stood up & looked at Evana "Well, dying within a minute seems a lot better than dying slowly from hunger pains for about 3 days or more. So, stay hear if you'd like" she said, then eyed Evana up & down "Besides," she smirked "I'm sure you've had practice with starvation." she turned on her heels, almost to imulate Greg, who was now beaming at her like a father would at his child's graduation. James was laughing at Evana's expression. "She speaks for the first time since she told us her name," he said between laughs "and it was to make an invidious comment towards you!" he was tearing up now from laughing so hard. "Now now, children" said Greg "Let's settle down. We're all a bit tense, but, let us not eschew eachother." he turned to where Valerie was equipping herself with a metal bat & a belt of hand gernades, a largesse contribution by Greg, who got them from an armory. "So, would someone like to substantiate the apparent fact that they're not just outside waiting?" inquired Evana.

    James walked up to Evana "Ssshh!" he hushed her, looking around, "Do you hear that?" they all went quite for a minute, listening. Evana shook her head, confused "No?" "Exactly!" exclaimed James. "You can't hear the screeching noise they make, therefore, they're not here!" Due to Valerie's acquisitive nature, she observed from the very first day that Evana joined them that she was quite an intransegiant being, she wouldn't listen to reason or anyone's ideas. She was quite happy playing the leader as it was, probably, her role when she was modeling. She would probably belabor anyone & everyone she worked with. Yes, this was an image Valerie could see quite well in her head. As the others got ready, Valerie climbed upon some crates up to the hanger's window & looked out. She could smell rain coming ; during their time together, Greg had taken Valerie under his wing & tought her things that he had learned in the Marines. "Sir" she called, this is how she referred to Greg, she held immense respect for him. He was the father figure she never knew. "I smell rain, so, if we want fresh water, we can either set up buckets or get it on the journey from a store" she continued, still looking out the window. "Why's that?" questioned James "Because if we take water from a lake after, or during, the rain, the water could be contaminated with the blood from the infected that are laying out in the roads near the storm drains." answered Greg as he strapped on the second belt of gernades that they had. "Oh, yeah, that makes sense." said James. Valerie had climbed down & walked up to Greg "Sir? Permission to carry the sniper rifle?" she asked, looking hopefully up at him. He looked down at her "My you're talkative today!" he said with a laugh "Do you think you can handle it?" he asked with an eyebrow raised. "Well, there's only one way to find out, isn't there?" she smiled. Greg laughed again "Alright alright. Just make sure the safety is on when you're not using it!" he warned "Thank you sir!" she said while giving a slight, joyous, jump. Picking up the gun, shew climbed back up the crates to the window to look out of the scope. Evana watched her, a twisted look of confusion on her face "How can a girl be so boyish & violent?" she asked. Both Greg & James let out a snicker.

    Up on the crates, Valerie was looking through the scope & saw an infected stagering next to the river near their hiding place. She followed it with the gun. "Sir," she called, not letting the infected leave her sight "Infected next to the river. Permission to shoot it?" she waited, still following the infected with the scope. "Permission granted" said Greg as he slid a dagger inside the hidden hilt in his boot. A smile crept across Valerie's face as she took off the safety, took aim & pulled the trigger. The bullet flew through the air & she watched as it went straight through it's head. "Yes! Head shot!" she was ecstatic. Greg was, once again, beaming. Evana was, once again, in disbelief. & James was, once again, laughing at Evana's expresion.

    "Keep up that kind of aim & you could build up a tenable reputation" said Greg with a smile. Valerie smiled more, still looking through her scope. "Thank you sir" she paused & her smile slowly faded "But, now's not the time for an encomium," Greg saw her face & the other's stepped up. "What is it?" asked James, "We've got company..." she replied. "How many?" Evana blurted out "About 10 at the most.". "Ok people!" barked Greg "Let's do this." Valerie climbed down & stood next to Greg. "WHAT!? We're going out there!?" cried Evana. "You've got a problem with that?" asked Greg. "Yes! I have a problem with it!" she shot back. "Too bad."he said as he walked with Valerie & James to the doors of the hanger "Stay here, alone, if you don't want to go out there.". Evana hesitated, but, soon followed. They stood at the giant sliding doors "You ready, Val?" Greg asked without looking at her. "Do you think I'm ready?" she asked in responce. He paused to think, "I think you are," he said, confidence behind his words. She smiled "Then I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

    "Alright then," he nodded & looked at James & Evana "You guys ready?", "Ready" they said in unison. Without another word, Greg put a hand on each door & slid them open. A blinding flash of sun & they stepped out to fight for their lives, while staring death right in the face.