An Undead Invasion

One - Part 2

Penny stared up into the treetops, holding her hand over her eyes to shade out the streaks of sun that sporadically burst through the leaves. It was no use. Howie had disappeared into those leaves a few minutes ago, and now there was no trace. She tried not to panic, knowing he was just checking the perimeter. He's the smallest, can climb highest into the trees, and is naturally great at it.

Jerry, Steve (a strong twenty-something), and Newton (mid-thirties, not as strong, but always willing to offer help) stood below the tree, holding open a blanket. The idea was that if--and they assured her that that's a big if--Howie fell, they'd catch him safely. The idea was Newton's, and Penny tried not to make any jokes, because there is a time and place for everything and jokes about things similar to one's brother falling out of a tree like an apple and hitting their brainiac friend, Newton, on the noggin (history repeating itself) made people nervous.

So Penny kept her trap shut and her eyes upward, hoping Howie's knack for climbing in ridiculously high places didn't fail him now. The weight of Will rested on Penny's back. He was snoozing soundly in the carrier she'd strapped on her shoulders and around her waist. Babies needed a lot of sleep. And food. And attention. It was a lot of work. Penny wasn't great at this, but she was making due. Better than some.

She glanced over at Missy. The girl hadn't cleaned herself in days, despite having rested at a few places with running water. It was a wonder her stench hadn't drawn every undead for miles their way. Her eyes were puffy and red, her lips cracked like dried mud in the hot sun. She'd all but given up. Rose depended on the group for survival now. Missy was just an empty shell they dragged around with them. It made Penny furious. As if nobody else faced hardships. As though nobody else suffered losses in this damn undead invasion!

"It's clear," Howie said.

Penny turned away, dowsing the burning fire of anger quickly. A sincere smile spread on her face for Howie as he hopped down from the lowest branch into the blanket for fun. It wasn't easy to turn off her anger like that, but Howie came first. She had to always remember that. Howie and Will come first, because mom isn't there to put them first anymore. That's what family does, she remembered her mother saying, we step up when one of us is in trouble, and we do whatever we can to help make it right.

"There's a big, big, big house over that way," Howie said, pointing northeast.

"Big house..." Jerry repeated, then it seemed to dawn on him. "It must be the hotel! I knew we should be getting close."

"Oh, Ashdown Park hotel?" April asked. She began to smooth her greying blonde hair. "I hadn't even noticed...what with all the-the mess, I hadn't even recognized this area."

She was right. Even if you knew the place like the back of your hand, you wouldn't know it now. Trees had been downed, roads had been destroyed, new dirt roads had been made from drivers racing for their lives, or drivers that had succumbed to their injuries. Debris littered everything. Occasionally there was an unmoving corpse, which we all did our best to avoid. This area had a little more than usual. It was clear that something big had gone down around here.

"Do you think the country club is intact? Maybe some of the members made it?" she asked.

"Worth a shot," Jerry said. "And if not, we can make good with their resources. It's as good a place as any for survivors."

------

Ashdown Park Hotel really did look like a big, big, big house. The king of mansions, Penny thought. Sadly, it's lawn had become a gory sight to behold. Body parts--torn, chewed, broken--lay scattered, like a teething child had had a temper tantrum in a doll store. But these weren't toys, and the red tinted grass was gruesome proof. Then the entrails, stringing out from an undead that dragged itself through the massacre. One glance was all it took for Penny to stop and block Howie's view.

"Remember what we talked about, Howie?" she asked. "It's just like the movies okay? Props. Try not to look too close. If you don't freak out, you get first dibs on any chocolate we might find inside."

It was actually nothing like the movies, she thought to herself.

"Sweet!" Howie said. "Don't worry, Penny, I got this. This ain't the first time I seen a bunch of dead bodies up close, remember the-"

Her heart skipped. Don't say it, don't say it!

"...you know," he finished quietly.

"Yeah, I know," she said nervously. "Just try not to look down. Let's sing a song."

She knew singing would keep his mind occupied. They'd waded through the grime a long ways. Howie was halfway through some pop song he liked. Penny was a rock fan, so she didn't really know anything but the chorus, yet she joined in where she could. Some others in the group joined as well, not because they liked the song or even liked singing, but mostly because it was better than focusing on the mangled, reeking bodies at foot.

Almost there, Penny thought.

Suddenly, the lead singer stopped and screamed. Bony fingers from a lingering undead had stretched out and clasped around Howie's leg. Penny panicked. Her heart raced, pumping desperation into her brain, jumbling her thoughts. She grabbed his thin, slightly malnourished arm and tugged while the decaying corpse pulled his leg the other way. His arm popped like a branch in a fire. His scream cut through Penny's ear drums.

Leon, a quiet ex military type who was usually most comfortable in the back of the group, marched forth and slammed his heavy boot on the undead's skull. It twitched and then stilled. Howie's foot slipped right out of its definitely dead fingers.

The main entrance of the hotel was open and smeared with dried, maroon blood. Jerry went in first. Leon lifted Howie and followed quickly. Penny's watery gaze remained locked on the crushed skull for a moment. It's hair was strawberry blonde, the same length as....her mother's-

"Penny!" Howie cried.

She tore her gaze away from the undead. It wasn't her. It wasn't even her body. Penny could tell that much even with the smushed face. She ran for the hotel, following the sound waves of Howie's panicked voice.

The floor inside was a bloody mess, but the inside of the hotel seemed abandoned aside from the newcomers. Penny didn't focus much on it. She had to make sure her brother was going to be okay, then she had to sooth Will, who had begun to cry.

God, please don't let him have been scratched by that thing....she silently prayed.