Dead Mystery

Chapter Four

I run against my heart's objection, I run past golf carts and people, but don't say hi. As soon as I reach the Cleanup Desk I ask about Terry.

The black haired woman goes through the clipboard as slowly as she could despite my plea for quickness, "Terry? The girl who took Velma's spot?" She speaks with a Spanish accent.

"Yes," I nod my head curtly.

She purses her lips thoughtfully, "Well it says she's on the Wall of the Southside of the Manor Mansion. She's lucky, wasn't used as the bait crew."

I sigh in relief, "Is there a golf cart headed over there right now?"

"Yes, actually! In five minutes, Rodger should be coming back from the farms right now to take up more pigs to the Southside. You can go with him, but leave at the Wall instead of going through the gates," she taps the clipboard with her pen. "Rodger is really lovely! His wife, Michelle, just had a baby! Isn't that great? He's also the Pastor at the Church! I promise he's a good man."

"I trust you," I smile sweetly. "Can i ask something?"

"Of course!"

"Do we have any new recruits in the Manor?"

Her smile fades and she looks down at the clipboard, "Well we did, until they tried to steal a lot of supplies and leave, they were shot down," she pauses, "I can't believe what this world has come to... I mean, The Manor is the nicest thing ever since the Cold Days started..."

"That's awful... So they tried to go rogue... Have there been any sightings of other rogues that have survived?"

"Well, there was..." She cuts herself off and then stands up indignantly, "That is private information ma'am. I'm going to check on Rodger," her tone is one of quick subject change. She pulls out a walkie talkie and begins to talk into it, "Hey! Rodger, this is Zurita. I have a girl that needs to be transported to the Southside Wall." She pauses and listens.

Finally a man with a Southern ring to his voice starts talking, "I believe I can help her. Is she visiting someone in Cleanup?"

"Yes, a girl named Terry," Zurita says Terry's name like Teddy and I almost couldn't tell what she was saying, but I understood.

There was a pause, "Teddy? Oh you mean, Terry! She's a peach, been working all morning and hasn't taken a break yet. Tell the person who's visiting to bring a canister of water and a loaf of bread! She'll be really hungry. I'm almost there, it'll be six minutes. Bye, Zurita."

"Aye," she nods. She turns and repeats to me what I heard him say.

I tug on my hair, "Well, it sounds like Terry is doing well. I'll be right back to get some water and food, bread is a little expensive."

"I don't care, just be right back," Zurita sits back in her chair and goes through the clipboard papers.

My eyes roll and I walk away. Luckily, there's a market nearby and I buy some water for two Pelz and some beef jerky for six Pelz. Taking a little bit from the beef jerky, I stuff it in my mouth. When I came back, Rodger was sitting in his golf cart in shorts and a gaudy Hawaiian tee. I step in and wave bye to Zurita, thanking her for her help.

"This Terry of yours, what's your relations, you aren't... Partners are you?" The Reverend raises his eyebrow.

"Well, that would be incest," I laugh.

Rodger blushes, "My apologies, is she your sister?"

"Yes... I was supposed to do Cleanup today. She took my place, that's how good of a sister she is," I clutch onto my bag of water and jerky.

Rodger smiles, "I wouldn't expect anything less of her. She looks like a very honest and happy person."

"Oh, yeah. She's the sweetest, happiest person I know, even in this shit," the Reverend winces and it becomes my turn to blush, "Sorry. I never really used bad words until the Cold Days. Speaking of the Cold Days, how did you survive?"

"That's a very frank thing to ask, but I'll answer you. I can't tell you how hard it was and I can't tell you all the things I've been forced to do. God tells us not to murder, but I have out of defense," he sighs, his eyes murky of the past.

I put my hand on his shoulder, "How many people have you had to kill?"

"Two... Only two..."

I laugh, "I'm proud of you, I've killed seventeen people. And don't think I'm proud, it's just that you really still dot have super bloody hands. Not like the rest of us. No one was a killer until the old days."

"But it doesn't remove the fact I've murdered someone," he makes a turn around a large house.

"God always forgives us. And by the way, it's not murder if you were defending yourself," I hug my elbows, "I've murdered people before. I didn't do it just because of defense, Jinkies, I pray to God everyday for forgiveness and for him to keep me strong and calm. Trust me... You shouldn't regret. We've all done things we regret, but this world doesn't let us think about those for long."

A pig squeals from under the hood of the back of the golf cart. The reverend smiles at me, "I understand. It's so hard for me... I'm supposed to be strong and pure, but what am I when I've killed people?"

"You're strong. That's what you have to be. And people force you to be that way. We do what we always do; endure." The cart slows to a stop.

"Well, i sure hope you keep that persevering attitude. Talking about the cold days isn't easy, but thanks for talking me through it. I'll see you in church on Sunday," he nods at me and lets me step off the golf cart. The Reverend pulls out an AK-47 and the gate opens. After waving bye, he zooms out of the gate and it closes quickly. My eye catches a girl next to a boy shoving an axe down and back up again. She has an apron fixed around her waist.

"Terry!" I yell happily.

She turns around and smiles, waving. The sun reflects off her hair and the man turns around and waves as well. Jeffrey jumps off the cement Wall and walks towards me. "Hey, you brought jerky, let's go eat on the wall."

"It's not for you silly, it's for Terry," I slap his hand that reaches into the bag.

I climb up the ladder and watch fifty people as far as the eyes can see killing the Dead. Terry slips off her apron and so does Jeffrey. We all sit down and I immediately hand the bag to her.

"Why didn't you tell me you were taking my place?" I furrow my brows.

She's quiet for a little then asked, "Who told you?"

"Mr. Dane."

She gasps, "He told you?"

I tap my chin contemplatively, "He didn't tell me straight forward. He was talking about a story of Lori and Mary and how they were cleaning themselves, but I figured out what he was really talking about. How did he know?"

Terry blushes, "Well I was scared and I thought Mr. Dane was the only person I could talk to who would comfort me and not tell anyone."

"I wish you told me... But I'm happy you're safe," I uncross my arms and we begin to talk about their day. Apparently, there was a man who threw himself into a pile of dead and he was eaten alive. I look over at the Dead clawing at the Wall and I couldn't help but move a little closer to the other side. One looked totally normal, but her eye color was bright blue, the rest of her eye black. Her hair was neatly pulled into a bun and pearl earrings rested on both her ears. She was wearing a sweater, but I could see the torn flesh where she had been bitten. Every time i see one of the Dead like her, I always wish to know their story, what happened, how it happened, and who were they with. Her cheeks are bony and skinny. She looked deprived and starved. I couldn't pay attention to Terry's talking as I watched the woman.

"Here Jeffrey, have some water," Terry gives the canister to him and he thanks her. Terry started playing with her hair flirtatiously and I can't help but be jealous of her beautiful looks. She then puts her foot over the wall and starts swinging it back and forth. Before Jeffrey and I could realize anything, all of a sudden Terry screams in pain.

She was swinging her leg on the side of the Dead. I watched helplessly as Terry was suddenly dragged over the Wall and into that Dead woman's arms.