Surviving Earth: Makayla's Journey (3 page)

Just as I finish my sentence a loud bang sounds from outside. Edging closer to the backdoor I look out to see where the truck is parked. There are three flesh eaters stumbling around, their moans getting louder as they smell us behind the door. A shiver races down my spine as I wonder how I am going to get these kids out safely. Handing my Glock to Blu, I reach once again for my trusty katana. Whispering I say, "Use that only if it becomes necessary."

Holding a finger over my lips, I look at the door. The window is high enough up that the zombies can't get in, but it is big enough to fit through. "You watch the broken window; I'm going to go deal with the ones outside." I say quietly.

Tessa jumps up from her chair, runs to me and throws her arms around my waist, "Please don't go out there. Stay here with us. Please."

Bending down, I run a hand through her blonde locks before I say, "Tessa, look at me. I can handle what's outside with no problems. What I can't handle is if one of you three get hurt on my watch. Now go over and sit beside your brothers and let me deal with the three or four that are wandering around outside before they find their way in here with us." 

Letting go of my waist, she walks toward Gage, but turns around and says, "Please be careful out there, Mak."

Pulling the truck keys from my pocket I lay them on the table along with my shotgun. "If I'm not back within thirty minutes, wait for first light and get the hell out of here. Get what supplies you can, including the gas and leave. Do y'all understand me?"

I look to Blu and Gage, both nod. "I'll keep guard by the door, Gage can watch for movement from the front window." Blu says as he moves closer to the door.

I'm not liking any of this, from leaving them alone to walking out in the night with just my katana and my Glock trained on my back. "Fine, but remember to stay as still and silent as you can. Do not use the guns unless you have to." I say while grabbing a chair. I'll need it to get out the taller window.

The moans from outside are gradually getting louder and I know within minutes we'll have a real problem as the sounds would draw in every zombie from the area. Looking out the window, I notice there are now a total of six wandering around by the backdoor and the truck.
Damn, I wish I had of gotten the gas earlier
, I think to myself. They smell the fresh meat from behind the door, just as the previous four did when they broke the window to get in. The situation is getting deadlier as the minutes tick by.

Crawling through the small window pane, I look out on the yard. I can see the sun trying to come up, the sky lightening, softly in the distance. Can we hold them off until the sun comes up, or is that just wishful thinking on my part? I’m not sure, but I know I have to do something, or they will soon get inside with Blu and the kids.

Sliding through the window as quietly as possible, I land near where two zombies stand moaning with their hands on the door. One swings back, landing a fist down on the wood. It rattles and shakes, but thank God, doesn't give way. Pulling my katana out, I swing, slicing the head from one. The other continues to beat at the door until he lifts his head and takes in my scent. Turning, he moans with his hands reaching greedily for my flesh. My katana makes quick work of his hands as they are sliced clean off, shooting out the brown pus-filled blood.

The four other zombies turn, facing me now. I hone in on my training, swinging my blade from side to side. My Dad never wasted precious time with me, it’d been all about survival of the fittest. Now I thank God for his relentlessness.

Another zombie falls at my side. I don't hear the shot, but I know immediately Blu just saved me from a bite. Twirling my katana to the side, I behead a zombie as another races toward me, leaving me only moments to go into action. My katana slices through his middle, leaving his legs twitching and his teeth still chattering, trying to get in a bite. Another shot rents the air and down goes another zombie, it's body falling across my legs, I am trapped. Shots ring out and I see Blu standing in the open doorway, shooting anything that moves. The other two zombies fall, holes in the head of each.

The sun is beginning to stretch its rays up from the earth, lighting everything in its path. Looking around from my position on the ground I see zombies scattering for cover. The weight from the zombie is lifted from my legs as Blu throws it to the side. He really has grown up overnight. I don't view him as a kid anymore, I look at him as if he was someone who can aid in the day to day responsibilities of looking out for his sister and brother.

Standing just inside the door, I see Tessa with a death grip on Gage, fright clearly evident in both their eyes. They will have to do a lot of growing up as we make this journey together.

Blu reaches a hand down, offering to help me up. "Thanks for those saves." I say.

Tilting his head slightly he says, "You're welcome. I couldn't let you become zombie food, now could I?" He laughs as he turns to head back inside. Just as he reaches the backdoor a brave zombie crawls from under the house, grabbing for Blu's neck. Before he can take a bite, Gage raises the shotgun, blowing its head clean off. Brown blood and brain matter are thrown across the yard, covering both Blu and I in it's disease-ridden nastiness.

Looking at the doorway both Tessa and Gage wear shocked expressions.

"Bring me something to clean this off with. Blu, come wipe your face and please tell me your mouth and eyes were shut.”

"They were. I think. I tried to turn my back, but it happened so fast." He says with a deep frown on his young face.

Gage, with Tessa hanging onto his arm, walks outside with the same soiled blanket from before. Using my katana I rip it into pieces, handing some to Blu as I clean myself up. The last thing we need is for one of us to contract the zombie virus!

Hours later we are all settled in the truck with our merger supplies rolled up in the back. I'd been able to syphon enough gas to fill the tank, which surprised the hell out of me, but I knew it wouldn't last long. My Glock rests in my lap, the last three bullets loaded. We need to find some more supplies and fast. My eyes keep casting to Blu, I am ever watchful for any signs that he or I were changing. So far we are both fine, but I know it takes a couple days for the change to complete. The first sign is a high fever, the second is becoming almost unresponsive, and the third is dying and awakening as a flesh eater. So far both Blu and I seem ok, but who knows what the next few hours will bring.

Pulling to the side of the road, I get out to stretch. No sleep for two days is wearing me thin, but I know I have deep responsibilities now. Blu, Gage and Tessa have slept as the miles went by and I'd been left with only my thoughts to keep me company. The carnage of the earth is visible everywhere along the way. Avoiding the sinkholes, wrecks, and cars abandoned on the sides of the road; it’s taking us much longer to reach a safe resting place for the night. I know I have to get a few hours of sleep or I'll be no good to anyone. Resting my head on the steering wheel, I think I just need a moment of sleep.

I awake a while later to complete darkness, Tessa is mumbling, "They are out there. We need to leave."

That's when I hear the moans and their distinct movement. Sliding the key into the ignition, the truck roars to life just as a zombie's face presses against the glass. Blu and Gage awaken as we take off into the night, running over zombies where they stand in the road, the crunch of bone sounding under the tires.

Glancing in the mirror I see three frightened faces, all looking at me for answers. "I'm so sorry, I needed to rest my eyes for a few. I didn't think I'd sleep the day away." I say throwing a hand against my head. Damn what an idiot, I should have woken Blu to watch over us, I just couldn't stay awake one more second.

"Mak, it's ok. We're ok. You got us out of there in time." Blu says as he reaches out to pat my back. The young man I met just two days ago has grown into a man overnight and he is ready to help me take on what struggles we will have to face.

The truck speeds through the night as the eyes of zombies glow from the distance. As long as we stay on the road, the truck between them and us, we'll make it through this night.

Reaching the outskirts of a small town just before sun up, we drive the streets slowly, looking in windows and doors. The gun shop on the corner calls out to me. I know we need ammo, and maybe a few extra guns. I will need them when we find somewhere safe to train as well. These three are about to get lessons in the same style as my dad taught me.

When the sun starts to light the sky, I pull over. I know we all need to eat and take care of some business. The night before, everyone kept to their own thoughts, one as frightened as the other. Jumping down from the truck, I scramble to the back, pulling out what meager supplies we have left, a can of tuna and a can of corn. The liquid would do each of us some good. Finding food, ammo and water were at the top of my list, gas for the black beast we rode in next.

After we finish what is left of the food we all get back in the truck. "There's cars parked at the houses up and down the street and we need gas to keep this thing going. I also want to check for supplies in each house before the sun sets." I say as I hand the Glock to Blu.

"I'm coming with you. I don't think we should separate." He says as he lifts the gun from his lap.

Exhaustion is a constant every day and I know I can't give in to it or we'll all end up dead or worse; a zombie.

Pulling up to the first house, I keep us in the direct sunlight. I know zombies aren't the only dangers around, but I want to keep these three as safe as possible. Opening the truck door, I look at the frightened eyes of Tessa. I want to assure her it will all be ok, but in today's world there is no ok, or assurances.

Blu, opens his door slowly, his hand resting on the Glock. I know the three bullets within won't afford us much protection, but I hope they will at least get them back to the truck. Hand on my katana, I go to the house’s side door, all is silent. Trying the knob, I find it to be locked. It isn't unusual to find houses locked tight, most left when the earth erupted beneath them. Raising the butt of my katana, I am going to break the window, so I can unlock the door.

"Hold it. Back the hell away and leave the way you came." An older man says from the other side of the door with a double barrel shotgun pointed between my eyes.

Taking a step back, I reach for Tessa's hand, pulling her and the boys behind me. Holding up a hand, I say, "We're leaving."

"Don't stick around in town either. We're decent, God-fearing folks around here." He says.

The truck roars to life beneath us, reversing fast we squeal out of town, not looking back. I hear Gage assuring Tessa that we are going to be ok from the backseat. Blu's eyes never waver from his sister or brother's faces. "It's going to be ok, Tessa, just breathe." He says lightly.

Lifting her blue eyes, she looks to each of us. "We're not going to make it, are we?"

Running a hand through his shaggy hair Blu, seemingly irritated, says, "Hell yes we are. As long as we have each other we can do this. We will survive!"

The day passes as we race on, looking to see if we can get a good opportunity to find supplies. Everything we pass either looks cleaned out or just too scary for a small child to walk into. The truck’s tank is nearing empty when we happen upon a farmhouse tucked in the middle of acres of dried farmland. The stalks of dried, withered corn stand where they had been abandoned in the fields when the virus struck. The eeriness of this place doesn't escape my notice as we pull into the long, lonely drive. I am reminded of long ago horror movies I used to watch and a shiver races down my spine, but we are out of options. This is as far as the truck is going until we find gas.

Bracing myself for what we will find in the house, I have my katana already in my hand as I glance sharply around the yard, but see no sign of movement. There are tractors and all kinds of heavy machinery in the fields and I remember that some tractors run off of gas so maybe that's where we can get our fuel.

The old, two story house rises above us. With its peeling paint, it is very spooky. "Mak, this place is majorly creepy. Let's get what we need and get the hell out of here." Blu says from my side.

I can't agree more, but I know we all need some rest, food, and water. I hope this place will offer all those and more. Tessa is glued tightly to her brothers’ legs and Gage stands at the ready, shotgun cocked and loaded. I know our ammunition is getting low and we will have to find some asap.

Walking up to the house as a unit, each taking a step together isn't ideal, but everyone is frightened of the old place. I want to do a perimeter check before entering the house, but don't want to leave them standing around out front. "Blu, Gage, and Tessa, I need to check the surroundings out before going inside. I would feel better if you three stayed in the locked truck while I check things out." I say looking at the three of them.

"Not happening today. Besides, what can the truck offer us for protection when it’s out of gas?" Gage asks.

"He's right, Makayla. We stick together on this one." Blu chimes in.

"Ok, ok, but you all have to do as I say." I cast my eyes around the yard. It is definitely deserted or we would have been pounced on by now. Damn I am losing my edge around these kids and that's dangerous. We all could end up dead if I don’t pull it together.