Pt Three-Four

4

Morning came, and with it the rest of the country awakened to a grim reality. If only the Idaho survivors could see the devastation in the rest of the land then maybe they would realize that they had actually made it better than most people had, especially in the big cities. Pittsburg had been one of the first to go. The disease had spread quickly leaving no room for error and from there it had moved to the rest of the eastern seaport in less than twelve hours. People fleeing in the middle of the night not realizing they had been infected added even more to the chaos. By the time the train carrying the canisters docked on the west coast it was too late, the damage had already been done.

It seemed that every canister that dropped was strategically placed instead of accidentally falling off. They left no room for error, by the time America woke up over fifty percent of the population had already been turned and the rest were left to fend for themselves. But of course no one in the small Idaho town knew what was going on because all the power had been knocked out. They did not know about the military convoy that had been running night drills on the edge of town and had run into an infected Bobby Williams before he had even bit Sharon at her gas station. The infected ones that had retreated with their lives in turn infected personnel back at the base in turn making military support ineffective.

Zombies from the base then in turn wandered to the free way that led to Boise that in turn infected drivers stopping to see what was wrong, who in turn carried their and well to make things simple, a very high percentage of life in populated areas was quickly extinguished. And as Jake Locke sat behind an abandoned Honda Civic in the parking lot of his apartment complex, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. He had heard neighbors stirring early in the morning and had tried to bang on his walls to get their attention but they had just ignored him. He was the religious nut of the complex and people had learned to avoid him and made fun of him whenever they got the chance. If only they knew what waited for them outside. He had heard yells early in the morning from people who had left to go to work, as well as screams of children. He had wanted to get up and go outside but something inside him told him to stay put and kept him on the floor. Almost as if he was being held there by some unseen hand. When first light came he had gotten up on his floor and walked to the front door opening it slowly inspecting outside.

There were at least eight zombies out in the parking lot, wandering around aimlessly not counting the ones he could see along the road. He didn’t want to risk trying to get to his car four zombies surrounded it so he would have to try to make it to the church on foot. He had snuck out easily enough and had made it behind a car on the east end of the parking lot without any of them spotting him, ducking down behind the car as one of them had turned his direction. He had barely handled two of them last night; there was no way he could take eight of them at once. He would have to make it to the road and try to stay hidden as long as he could on his way to the church. It was pretty much a straight shot as soon as he got to the road anyway. He would just have to stay in peoples yards maybe hop over a couple of fences, it would be challenging but he had a feeling he would be making it.

Jake peeked over the trunk, seeing that the way toward the road was clear he got up and booked it for the road making sure that none of the zombies behind him had seen him take off and yelled out a warning to any of their pals. As he turned his head forward once again looking toward his destination he stopped dead in his tracks almost tripping over his own feet. One of them was directly ahead of him looking at him with hunger in its eyes. Blood was dripping from the corners of its mouth and eyes as it came at him with its arms outstretched. Jake ran up to it, both hands curled around his bat and he swung directly at the temple not even hesitating. It hit the skull caving in the side of its head some blood flying against an apartment door as the zombie fell to the ground. Jake swung a second time just to ensure that it was finished and was satisfied when he started seeing brain matter escaping from its head.

Jake had spent a couple of years in the military. They had not been good years, he had gotten into some things he shouldn’t have and had gotten discharged early. He had been too many briefings and watched many videos with blood and gore so it didn’t bother him to see someone’s brain hanging out of their head. Especially since this wasn’t really a person anymore. I was a walking undead, a zombie only out for one thing. His flesh and that was something he wasn’t willing to part with. He kept running up to the end of the lines of apartments and then dove to the right into the yard of the house that was right beside the complex. He hopped the fence into the back yard examining his surroundings. It was your normal backyard, nothing special about it. He ran to the opposite side of the yard hopping that fence as well, into the backyard of the next house. He would have to continue doing this for several more houses and then he would come to another road which he would have to cross another couple houses and then a wide field that was across the street from his church. As he continued jumping the fences, he only prayed that he would make it that far.

********

Aaron awoke from his sleep sitting up from one of the chairs that he had settled into last night. He had gotten to the church an hour after the creature known as Legion had talked to him. He had run into several members of the undead and they hadn’t so much as even glanced at him. They didn’t care about him they didn’t even try to grab him. They ignored him completely almost like he was one of them himself. Maybe I am, Aaron thought. He had no idea what Legion had done to him. If it was responsible for this epic disaster then it who knew what was coursing through his veins right now holding the virus at bay.

Then again he was also thinking why Legion had not let the sickness overtake him. If he was responsible for all this chaos and despair, then why would he want anyone to survive it? Are we interrupting anything? A familiar raspy voice spoke from behind him. Aaron turned around to face the creature that had saved him from becoming a zombie shrugging his shoulders.

“No, not really just chilling you know what else is there to do when the world outside is a zombie infested mess.”

You sound as if you are not grateful for our gift. Maybe we should choose someone else and leave you in here a mindless monster left to eat your friends when they get here.

“What?” Aaron asked making sure he heard the thing right. “Dave and Kailee are coming here? How can you be sure?”

We told you if you did what you were told we would get your friends for you. Well they are coming this way with the local sheriff as we speak.

Aaron sat back down in the chair barely able to process the information that he was hearing. They had made it out of the clinic somehow; they were okay and on their way here. Legion had been right, and Aaron had totally taken his gift for granted he owed him more then that. He got out of the chair, faced the creature and fell to his knees.

“Forgive me,” Aaron said. “You are right I have been ungrateful for this second chance. I promise from now on I live to only serve you.”

It’s not only me you must serve young one. My master must have your allegiance as well.

Master? This whole time Aaron had thought this creature had done this all on his own. And now he was saying that he was only an underling. There was someone more powerful then him out there somewhere in the world. Aaron had no second thoughts he knew in the days to come he would need protection and it looked as if these things could offer it.

“Of course, who is this master that you speak of?” Aaron asked.

Let’s not rush things; you will meet him when you are ready. No sooner, no later when he wants you to meet it will happen, understand?

“Yes.” Aaron responded head bowed. “When my friends get here I will tell them of your amazing mercy and how you have saved me.”

You will say nothing. You are to watch and learn. Your friends and the sheriff are not the only ones on the way here there is another person as well. You will stay here and be silent until you hear a further instruction from us is that clear?

Aaron was dumbfounded. He was to say nothing after everything that had happened. It was actually probably for the best. They wouldn’t believe him anyway, especially Dave he would laugh.

“Yes.” Aaron answered. “I will not say or do anything until I hear from you.”

Good. Now you must prepare yourself for their arrival. Here we need to make sure that your role is convincing there isn’t a scratch on you.

Legion reached its clawed hand out and grasped Aarons head. A burning pain immediately filled his consciousness and he could feel warmness dripping down his forehead. After Legion left Aaron stood in one of the churches bathrooms examining himself in the mirror. There was one gash going across his forehead it looked like he had run into a wall and that was exactly what he was going to tell them. As he left the bathroom and returned to his spot on the chair he wondered what would happen in the coming days and what great things he would do for his new masters and possibly just maybe one day they could change the world.