Zombocalypse

The End

As the tall shimmering tower emerged to our sight from the foggy night air, we spotted Allen at its base. He beckoned for us to come near. We had a safe place for the night on our journey to the Carolinas where a presumed safe house was. Or so we thought.

The six of us were all survivors. Allen, Jacob, Bernice, Andrea, Ryan and I have been wandering the streets since about 6 months ago. The time when all of humanity went under a toxic change. Whether Nature, or the wrath of God... survival was hard. All we have been doing is seeking safety. Sadly, safety is a fleeting thing. An illusive hope for those filled with piety.

"Who's taking first watch?" Ryan asked, putting down his weapons once we entered what seemed to be a monument of some sorts.

"You are." I said with benediction. Ryan wasn't the most subservient, but I knew how to get him to obey. Andrea gave me a condemning look but that was usual of her. She usually ostracised herself and was extremely indolent, but lately shes tried to rise up against me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone had lit a fire. Probably Jacob, he was always trying to Bernice. She was mystified by his power. Then again, most mortals are mystified by anyone who had The Gift. Jacob and I were the only ones who had The Gift. Not that it made us any better than the rest of the group. They just always turned to us, me mostly. It was never anything I asked for.

The Ceremony of Light, however, made me feel like royalty. We walked through the woods in a procession clothed in flowing white robes to a small clearing. Once there, we swore an oath. To only do good and to never tamper with the Order.

The fire grew brighter, pulling me from my day-dream. Jacob had started bestirring. His face scrunched and was read. It was straining to keep the fire that big.

"Keep it down," I shot Jacob a look. "Just because were inside and the windows are mostly covered, doesn't mean we can let loose."

I laid down next to the fire and fell asleep. Two hours later I woke up and started to the top of the tower. Everyone had fallen asleep so I tried to stay quiet through the echoing hall.

I got to the top to discover Ryan, slumped under the opened window... asleep.

I felt a surge of anger run through me. How dare he put the group in danger. It's taking watch, not taking a nap.

I got extremely close to his face.

"Wake up!" I hissed. He shrieked and flailed his limbs. He looked up at me in fear.

"Downstairs." I said through my teeth. "Now."

He scuttled off, not bothering to take the apple I guessed he had brought to snack on.

I was alone with my thoughts and with Jessie, my rifle. Jacob and I needed weapons because we were young and untrained. With training, we could burn the rotters to a crisp. As of now, we could only manage to create small orbs of flames, no bigger than softballs.

I bit into the apple. The juices coated my tongue with their sweet and tart flavor. It had been months since we found an orchard. Virginia didn't have many, but at least they had some. A warm September breeze floated through the opened window, carrying the sound of peepers and other night critters. Along with the moans of the rotters that were nearby.

Allen came up the stairs and walked toward me ardently. To be honest, Allen was one of the main components of our group. Sure, we could read a map...if we wanted to make our journey circuitous. Allen had a particular erudition about everything outdoor related. Fishing, hunting, maps, and plants. If it's green, furry, or swims, chances are Allen knew what it was.

One day in Pennsylvania, almost a month after the outbreak when the group had only consisted of Jacob, Andrea and me, we picked up Allen along the way. He was quiet and shy and was constantly bending down and pocketing green leaves that were growing from the ground, or leaves or berries from shrubs and bushes. Sometimes even the bark off trees, stuffing all the different plants into different pockets in his cargo pants. We had no idea why.

Suddenly, while Allen was peeling the bark off of a pine tree, Andrea turned around "You know sweetie, the trip to South Carolina is going to take a lot longer if you keep trying to pick up plants ok?" She said and a sickly sweet voice. She tried to sound nice but we all knew she was just trying to be mean.

"Actually I'm collecting food and medicine." He retorted, equally as sweet. I had to stifle a laugh.

"What?"

"You see sweetie, plants can be used for food and medicine. This tree is an acer saccharnium or, silver maple tree. The bark helps sooth sore throats." He pulled another plant out of his pocket. It was a stem with little round dots on them the size of peas. "Actaea racemosa, black cohosh, used to treat stomach pains." She never questioned him again.

"Tell me a story." I whispered.

"Sir yes sir!" He gave me a smirk and a sloppy salute. I laughed and playfully punched his arm.

The way he told stories could enthrall anyone. They were so funny and sad and dramatic and action filled. A little bit of everything for everyone.

He hadn't made it through his second sentence when I heard Andrea yell "Hey! Watch where you're going bozo!"

A male voice, most likely Ryan, replied scornfully. Then all hell broke loose, it started off as just Andrea and Ryan, but soon the four of them were at it. I sprinted down the stairs and jumped into the middle. "Stop!" I shouted. Everyone went silent. I stared them down. I knew we didn't have long.

"Carter!" Allens voice carried from the top of the tower. "We've got a bit of a problem..."

I went back up the stairs and took the binoculars Allen reached out to give me. I looked down into the street below. A large herd of rotters were collecting and banging on the glass doors or starting to walk toward the large metal building.

"The banging is going to only draw more." I said wearily. I was exhausted.

"Start drawing up a route to get us on our way." He dragged a wooden table to the window so he could keep better watch. He took a map and a few atlases as well as a red sharpie out of his bag and spread them out on the table.

I made my way downstairs. Everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I walked over to a large drum that was tucked in the corner along with a few others. A barricade for the door so we had more time. Expecting it to be heavy, i thrust all my strength into it and ended up on my butt. It was empty. Jacob realized what I had was thinking and started to come over to help. "Don't bother, they're empty," i waved him off "Start collecting your gear!" I shouted to the rest of the group.

I sprinted back up the stairs to Allen.

"Lets go, we have to go, and we need to go now."

"I have us stopping through a small suburban town about 4 miles from here, we can leave through the exit on the opposite side of the building."

"Perfect." I kissed him quickly "You know me so well its scary." We retreated down the stairs with a route and weapons in hand. We had just made it to the bottom when the glass gave a loud crack and shattered.

"GO!" I screamed, and everyone was off running. Everyone except Andrea. She stood mortified and was taken over and consumed instantly. The smell of rotting flesh and the sound of the agonized sounds of the undead was overwhelming.

We made it to the end of the building and in a small kitchenette there was a fire exit door. We ran out.

"They're too close!" Allen shouted. "We won't make it out."

Jacob starting saying something in Latin. It was a fire incantation. We ran outside, Jacob had started shouting the incantation and shut the door behind us.

"Jacob!" Bernice stopped and cried out. I picked her up, threw her over my shoulder and directed everyone to a ditch on the side if the road. "Duck!" I shouted.

The heat from the explosion would have been enough to melt the skin off of anyone within a 30 foot radius.