{"id":231,"date":"2013-07-21T16:14:49","date_gmt":"2013-07-21T16:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/?page_id=231"},"modified":"2013-07-21T16:14:49","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T16:14:49","slug":"chapter-45","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/story\/chapter-45\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 45"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 45<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

One morning, I woke up thinking everything that had happened was just a dream.<\/i><\/p>\n

Of course, I don\u2019t get dreams like that often these days.\u00a0 Reality does hit at some point or another.\u00a0 Because I was an actor \u2013 wanted to be, I mean – I was never big on reality.\u00a0 Avoidance was freaking awesome that way.\u00a0 That\u2019s how I got into it, anyway.\u00a0 I wanted to escape the crap at home, so I\u2019d pretend to be someone from TV or movies, like Star Wars, the best movie ever.\u00a0 I wanted to pretend to be anything that wasn\u2019t me.\u00a0 That never changed.<\/i><\/p>\n

When you make avoidance your life, it\u2019s hella hard to let that way of coping go.\u00a0 But now, avoidance gets you killed.\u00a0 Reality like this overrides old habits dying hard.\u00a0 \u201cDo or die\u201d takes on new meaning these days.<\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s like this now, to quote the mighty Yoda (Star Wars.\u00a0 Well, I guess I\u2019m the new world\u2019s pop culture expert!)\u2026 \u201cDo or do not.\u00a0 There is no try.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

And you know what I\u2019ve noticed?\u00a0 You tend to live up to that when you\u2019ve got no damn choice.\u00a0 And you cling to whatever life raft you have.\u00a0 Or whatever person you have, and you keep him or her as close to you as you can.\u00a0 You open up to them in ways you don\u2019t with any of the others you come in contact with.<\/i><\/p>\n

Everyone here, it seems they\u2019re closest to the person they ran into first.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s because that was the person they had to depend on for everything, the person they instinctively clung to, if that makes any sense.\u00a0 It\u2019s true for almost everyone.<\/i><\/p>\n

Except AJ, but AJ\u2019s just weird anyway.<\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s true for me.<\/i><\/p>\n

P.S. (Wait, do you P.S. in journal entries?\u00a0 Note to self: Ask someone.)\u00a0 Song quote of the entry!\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll put in one for every entry from now on, so I can try to keep the songs from history alive.\u00a0 At least till I can\u2019t remember anymore songs.\u00a0 Maybe after that, it can be movie quotes or something.\u00a0 Genius like that can\u2019t be forgotten.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou stumbled in and bumped your head<\/em>
\n If not for me then you’d be dead<\/em>
\n I picked you up and put you back<\/em>
\n On solid ground<\/em><\/p>\n

If I go crazy then will you still<\/em>
\n Call me Superman<\/em>
\n If I\u2019m alive and well<\/em>
\n Will you be there a-holding my hand<\/em>
\n I\u2019ll keep you by my side<\/em>
\n With my superhuman might<\/em>
\n Kryptonite”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

– Three Doors Down, \u201cKryptonite\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Tuesday, April 17, 2012<\/b><\/b>
\n1:20 p.m.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cThe storm\u2019s cleared up today,\u201d he heard her say, as he fed Spunky some dog food they\u2019d gone looking for in the pet supplies section.\u00a0 At least the fact that they\u2019d hidden in a Target had come in handy \u2013 no having to hunt for anything they needed.\u00a0 Nick\u2019s eyes skipped over to Riley, who was watching the doors intently, while keeping carefully obscured by the racks.\u00a0 It was so strange to him, hiding in the Target.\u00a0 The place was so empty and quiet, nothing like it should be.\u00a0 Random carts were left overturned, some empty, others with various items inside.\u00a0 His eyes went back to her; she\u2019d been tense throughout the past couple days.\u00a0 Beyond the zombie stress, he knew.\u00a0 That was what frustrated him already; she was always on guard with him, even when she thought she wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 It was easily infuriating when their lives literally depended on each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good.\u00a0 Maybe now they won\u2019t smell us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I think the opposite happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d\u00a0 She had his full attention now.<\/p>\n

\u201cRain tends to wash away everything, so smells become more enhanced, in a way.\u00a0 All the odors death brought are gone, beyond the rotting corpses roaming around, obviously.\u00a0 All smells of humanity are out the window.\u201d\u00a0 She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes not fully meeting his.<\/p>\n

A sigh released from his chest, as he nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re saying they can probably smell us better now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPretty much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would explain it then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExplain what?\u201d she asked, as he reached down to scratch Spunky\u2019s head, his gaze still fixed on Riley.\u00a0 You\u2019d think she was asking the weather, from the casualty of her tone, yet in her eyes, the fear was clearly written in bold print.\u00a0 Her hands seemed like they had minds of their own, because in the smallest of ways, they couldn\u2019t stay still.\u00a0 They\u2019d tap or scratch, or, as in the current moment, clench and unclench.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe moans are louder, like there\u2019s more.\u00a0 You haven\u2019t noticed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to block out the moans.\u00a0 They screw with my head too much. \u00a0It\u2019s harder to try and forget that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He let her leave her thought unsaid.\u00a0 Nick knew what she was saying.\u00a0 He felt the same way himself.\u00a0 The moans did something to you.\u00a0 It was why, after Sunday night, he\u2019d gone and found one of those white noise makers, stuck in batteries, and played it just to drown out the moans. Anything was better than those.\u00a0 And he used to be a man who hated noise of any kind as he tried to rest.\u00a0 How quickly things had changed.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 I know, but I think there\u2019s more out there wandering around, getting random whiffs of us, than there used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow there\u2019s something I just wanted to hear.\u00a0 Why, thank you, Nick; that just made the sun shine that<\/i> much brighter!\u201d\u00a0 Sarcasm dripped heavily from her voice, like the statement had been marinating in it all day, waiting for that moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo how did you get that scar on your stomach?\u201d he decided to ask, having wondered that since she\u2019d mistaken him for a zombie the day before, but forgotten to ask.\u00a0 For some reason, the question took the opportunity to come right back to him.\u00a0 Not to mention, it forced the discussion to make an about face.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Why do you want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged, as he started walking amongst the racks, back to their makeshift camp.\u00a0 Riley followed behind with Spunky between them, trotting happily.\u00a0 She rolled her eyes at his silent, yet telling response and remained quiet.\u00a0 He glanced back with a slight smirk, glad he\u2019d been able to change the subject in such a smooth manner.\u00a0 They\u2019d return to it, he was sure.\u00a0 Nick felt they both knew that they couldn\u2019t remain in their current spot much longer, but, for the moment, he wanted denial.\u00a0 Just for the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you how I hurt my head; how about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

She paused.\u00a0 Her hands started to twist again, unbeknownst to her.\u00a0 Birds attached to wrists.\u00a0 Nick almost chuckled aloud at the image in his head that followed the thought.\u00a0 Nick\u2019s gaze kept on her, however, while he waited for her response.\u00a0 His mind ran though other tactics if this one didn\u2019t work; his tongue ran across his lips in a thoughtful manner.\u00a0 After a few minutes, she lifted her blue-eyed stare to meet his dead on.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n

They strolled over to their spot and sat somewhat comfortably upon the many sleeping bags.\u00a0 Spunky curled up against Nick, resting her golden head upon his lap, keeping her eyes open for signs of danger.\u00a0 It made Nick smile at the reminder that his faithful companion was still with him, that she had managed to survive, despite being in the house with his toddling, undead half-brother.\u00a0 He shook his head, as if the physical action could actually take the thought away.\u00a0 While lost in his thoughts, he noticed Riley ripping open a bag of Doritos and opening a Pepsi from their food pile, saying nothing, as she herself was lost within her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026 so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, I got it about a year ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick smirked at her, waiting for her to continue.\u00a0 They had to pass the time somehow, and, to be honest, trying to get her to talk about anything personal was like pulling teeth.\u00a0 So he wasn\u2019t going to let up just yet.\u00a0 He grabbed a Twinkie and ripped it open, wondering idly if they really did last forever.\u00a0 Seemed like they\u2019d find out now, wouldn\u2019t they?\u00a0 He stuffed the Twinkie into his mouth, grinning at her, his mouth filled with the golden pastry.\u00a0 She laughed, and he smiled more sincerely, after swallowing, of course.\u00a0 He had to admit, there was one beauty to the end of the world:\u00a0 it gave him a chance to start over.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t know him as the loser he used to be.\u00a0 No one did \u2013 if there was anyone else left \u2013 and it felt good.\u00a0 It was just tragic that the price was so high.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026And?\u201d he nudged, when she didn\u2019t continue, not wanting to ponder this sort of subject any longer.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Maybe a little less.\u00a0 I was driving along the highway, not paying attention \u2019cause I was watching the rain and talking to my boss on my phone.\u00a0 It was about this new assignment about the war, and I really wanted it, even though I knew who it was probably going to go to.\u00a0 I was so focused on the rain and the call\u2026 well, I didn\u2019t see this car coming.\u00a0 If I had, it wouldn\u2019t have happened.\u00a0 I could\u2019ve avoided it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou veered off your side?\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley shook her head, brushing her hair out of her face.\u00a0 \u201cNot me.\u00a0 This stupid drunk sorority girl had and was heading for me straight on.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t notice till I glanced up seconds before.\u00a0 Thank God I at least did that.\u00a0 Probably why I\u2019m still here.\u00a0 I veered away immediately, but not enough.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t wearing my seatbelt cause I\u2019d been on the phone when I got in my car.\u00a0 I cared only about my career, screw everything else.\u00a0 Just how I am.\u00a0 I went through the windshield, and it tore up my stomach like hell.\u00a0 I\u2019m lucky my ass wasn\u2019t paralyzed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the college girl?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had her belt on, and she came out better than me.\u00a0 In fact, she sobered up damn quick and, once she was able to get out, came to help me.\u00a0 That\u2019s how I know she was in a sorority; it was on her sweatshirt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t get why you didn\u2019t wanna tell the story.\u00a0 It\u2019s not that bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is when I finish.\u00a0 You know what my thought was when I thought I was gonna die?\u00a0 It was, I can\u2019t die.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t really made it as a reporter yet, not the way I want to.\u00a0 So I can\u2019t die.<\/i>\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t of my family or friends.\u00a0 No, it was my damn career.\u00a0 And now\u2026 after\u2026 everything\u2026 it messes me up, Nick.\u00a0 I was given a reality check before everyone became fucking zombies.\u00a0 Did I listen?\u00a0 No, and now it\u2019s too damn late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re human.\u00a0 That\u2019s all it means.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rolled her eyes at him, blowing a puff of air at a stubborn lock of hair that didn\u2019t wish to leave her face.\u00a0 \u201cI know how I was, and look what I got for it.\u00a0 I was happy when the damn war started; it helped my career.\u00a0 I tossed away everything that mattered for something that doesn\u2019t mean shit anymore.\u00a0 That\u2019s something I won\u2019t forget anytime soon.\u00a0 I\u2019m a selfish bitch, but I\u2019m not stupid.\u00a0 Forget it, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRiley-\u201d he tried.\u00a0 He knew it was hard, living with regrets, with no chance of redemption because everyone in the world you loved was gone.\u00a0 There was so much Nick knew he could have done to try and bring his broken family back together, and now it could never be.\u00a0 Thoughts like that, they haunted a person.\u00a0 He\u2019d wasted his life, and now he\u2019d been given a chance to start over without a stigma.\u00a0 Hadn\u2019t they all?\u00a0 Within the darkest of clouds, could there really be a silver lining?\u00a0 Or was he just being selfish, too?<\/p>\n

\u201cYour turn to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, you think yours is bad.\u00a0 Heh.\u00a0 I got mine from a bar fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA bar fight?\u00a0 You?\u00a0 Seriously?\u201d<\/p>\n

He felt his teeth grind against each other.\u00a0 \u201cYes, me.\u00a0 Seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, you just don\u2019t look the type.\u00a0 At all.\u00a0 Especially since you said you were trying to be an actor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am the type.\u00a0 It was some frat boy, and he pissed me off.\u00a0 I was drunk beyond reason, so I started hitting him.\u00a0 He got the best of me, and last thing I saw was a stool coming at me.\u00a0 Shithead got me upside my own head, and I ended up in the hospital with a concussion.\u00a0 You were right when you said it looked like someone was trying to kill me; he was drunk as hell, too, dude. \u00a0My last two days in the \u2018normal\u2019 world were spent unconscious.\u00a0 I wonder if my own family even gave a shit about where I was those two days.\u201d\u00a0 He gave her a somewhat bitter smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m no better.\u00a0 We\u2019re all human.\u201d<\/p>\n

She digested this and stood, finishing off her soda and tossing the bottle aside the now half-empty bag of chips.\u00a0 He watched Riley for a response and, not surprisingly, she didn\u2019t give him one.\u00a0 Rather, she changed the subject.\u00a0 \u201cSpeaking of being human, I had a thought.\u00a0 Maybe we should try and find a radio.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo power.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley rolled her eyes at him.\u00a0 \u201cNo shit; it\u2019s called batteries.\u00a0 The whole country may not be like this.\u00a0 We can see if there\u2019s, like, an emergency broadcast or something.\u00a0 Hell, we\u2019re alive; we can\u2019t be the only lucky bastards out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick nodded.\u00a0 He got to his feet, and Spunky whined at her pillow moving without her approval, before getting up as well.\u00a0 \u201cYou have a good point.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cModest, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two walked down towards the electronics department, neither saying much.\u00a0 It seemed like both felt they\u2019d said too much before.\u00a0 Nick beamed down at Spunky, trotting faithfully between them with no worries at all.\u00a0 How nice that had to be.<\/p>\n

First radio they found on display, Nick pulled off the shelf and checked the back.\u00a0 \u201cD batteries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many?\u201d Riley called out, as she jogged over to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSix!\u201d<\/p>\n

Two packages of batteries were tossed his way within moments.\u00a0 Setting the radio down quickly, he ran to catch them, stumbling in the process.\u00a0 He fell to the floor with a thud, sliding a bit across the linoleum floor, yet the batteries landed in his hand, the way he\u2019d wanted them to.\u00a0 She ran back over and chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, I should\u2019ve just brought \u2018em over.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked up at her sheepishly, trying not to wince.\u00a0 That hurt more than he\u2019d like to admit.\u00a0 \u201cMight\u2019ve helped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley held out a hand.\u00a0 He gripped it and let her help him up.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s pop those suckers in and see what we get.\u201d<\/p>\n

As they did so, Nick looked back at her.\u00a0 \u201cWait, we know Florida is probably a dud.\u00a0 How we gonna know if anyone\u2019s alive if we can\u2019t hear it on Florida radio?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNational Emergency Broadcast System.\u00a0 In times of a nationwide crisis, they can do a country-wide broadcast from any major base.\u00a0 So we should be able to pick it up if anyone is doing that.\u00a0 That\u2019s the only chance we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGod bless our paranoid government.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning the knobs, Nick slowly scanned through the stations.\u00a0 \u201cNothing\u2026 more nothing.\u00a0 Static, there\u2019s a change.\u00a0 Back to nothing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTry AM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing times a million\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis-this is\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cGo back!\u00a0 I heard something!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick!\u00a0 Back!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick jerked the dial backwards, and through the static, a human voice suddenly crackled out of the speakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Richardson, of the United States Air Force, stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.\u00a0 I am urging any survivors of the catastrophic events that have claimed our country to make their way here, to Tampa.\u00a0 I wish I could tell you that the base is free of the living dead\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I bet you can\u2019t,\u201d Nick heard himself say, knowing that kind of luck was impossible.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThought so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShhh!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBut we do have the means to get rid of them.\u00a0 Weapons.\u00a0 Supplies.\u00a0 All the resources we need to survive on.\u00a0 There are other survivors here at MacDill.\u00a0 I repeat:\u00a0 There are survivors here\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWell that settles that,\u201d Nick said, turning off the radio.\u00a0 \u201cYou were right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut is it really any better than our current situation?\u201d Riley questioned, leaning against one of the shelves, wringing her hands as she kept her eyes on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSupplies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have those.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWeapons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe make do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTheirs are better.\u00a0 Military base, more people.\u00a0 Besides, remember earlier, like you said?\u00a0 They can smell us better.\u00a0 Better to leave now than when they eventually break in here.\u00a0 You know it\u2019s gonna happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley stayed quiet as he stepped closer to her, placing his hand on her shoulder.\u00a0 A simple gesture.\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t want to go out there,\u201d she explained, her gaze shifting down.\u00a0 Spunky barked loudly, as if in agreement with Riley.\u00a0 He reached out, tilting her chin upwards towards him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter we go on our terms, than on theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

They were in the clothing department yet again.\u00a0 The two had divided to pack up supplies in the backpacks they\u2019d grabbed back in sporting goods.\u00a0 Food, water, each a set of clothes, basic light essentials, just in case they didn\u2019t get to the base as soon as they\u2019d like.\u00a0 They may not get lucky twice and get stranded in supply heaven the way they had in the Target.\u00a0 He glanced at Riley.\u00a0 Her hair was now tied back, her hoodie on, paired with tight jeans, and she had a determined look on her face.\u00a0 Her crowbar was gripped tightly in her hands, her knuckles almost white.\u00a0 He was likely holding his battle axe just as firmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst car we find.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spunky barked excitedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t fight unless necessary, Riley.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

They headed for the door.\u00a0 From their demeanor, one would think they were just done shopping for the day.\u00a0 Up went the large gate, and they peered through the doors, watching the ghouls roam the street in search of any prey.\u00a0 Prey they smelled, but couldn\u2019t find.\u00a0 The two looked at each other, nodded, and burst through the door.\u00a0 They raced out into the parking lot, looking around helplessly at all the cars.\u00a0 Nick screamed with joy as he saw what he needed just lying on the pavement:\u00a0 a keychain, and hanging from it, a small keyless entry remote for a car.\u00a0 \u201cYES!\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley was slamming her crowbar through a zombie\u2019s skull.\u00a0 Spunky knocked over another, growing furiously.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeys!\u201d Nick yelled victoriously as he held them up, running over towards her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweet!\u00a0 Push the remote then!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am!\u201d he obliged, then blinked when he realized their latest problem.\u00a0 \u201cShit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow what?!\u201d she said, as she turned to him.\u00a0 \u201cNick!\u00a0 Behind you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jumping forward as a zombie lunged, Nick swung his axe around, almost slicing the head clean off its neck.\u00a0 However, just a thin layer of tissue and muscle held, leaving the head hanging from the neck like a door hinge.\u00a0 The body stood for a moment before crumpling to the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally now?\u00a0 I thought all these fucking zombies were just good exercise for us.\u00a0 Of course we have a problem!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes he quite liked Riley, and other times, she drove him crazy with her neverending sarcasm.\u00a0 \u201cI mean another problem!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat then?\u00a0 And can we make this quick before more reach us?\u00a0 They\u2019re slow, but they DO move.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you tell what car this goes to?\u201d he asked, shoving the keys in her face.\u00a0 That was when it dawned on her; he saw it in her eyes as the realization hit.
\n\u201c\u2026No.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, see, we have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, let\u2019s start testing cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

They ran towards the first car they spotted.\u00a0 It was a nice blue truck, a Ford, even.\u00a0 Nice, sturdy\u2026\u00a0 it wouldn\u2019t do too badly against any undead they spotted on the road.\u00a0 Nick pushed the unlock button, and they lunged for the doors, but neither would budge.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn,\u201d he cursed, as they went to the next one.\u00a0 Luckily for them, the parking lot wasn\u2019t completely packed.\u00a0 Nick knew they\u2019d be screwed if it was.\u00a0 As the undead army formed around them, a circle growing ever smaller as they closed in, Nick and Riley went from car to car, trying their luck, failing with each and every try.<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck it!\u201d Nick yelled.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s just hotwire a car.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley turned, as they came to the next car.\u00a0 \u201cDo you<\/i> know how to hotwire a car, genius?\u00a0 \u2019Cause I sure as hell don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

At that, Nick looked a bit sheepish, as he felt his anger simmer down a bit.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026No.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay then.\u201d\u00a0 She tried the handle of the next one.\u00a0 Nick didn\u2019t think it\u2019d be this car anyway.\u00a0 It was a bright pink Volkswagen Beetle convertible.\u00a0 The white top was down, and the car was covered in yellow flower decals.\u00a0 It felt like the most ridiculous car he set eyes upon in a long time.<\/p>\n

So, in the end, of course it was the car the remote key belonged to.\u00a0 Riley cheered as the door opened in her hands.\u00a0 The two tossed their bags into the backseat, where Spunky hopped as well, while Nick jogged around to the passenger side.\u00a0 He tossed her the key he still held in his hand.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t believe this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeggars can\u2019t be choosers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a fucking Barbie car!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wanna just walk to that damn base, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley nodded as she started the car.\u00a0 \u201cGood.\u00a0 Get the damn top up while I get us out of here.\u201d\u00a0 She floored it, and the car lunged forward on its way out of the parking lot.<\/p>\n

They were surrounded, and soon she\u2019d have no choice but to hit the zombies straight on \u2013 an option Nick really didn\u2019t want her to use without at least having the top on.\u00a0 Of all the cars, this was likely the worst protection possible.\u00a0 Stupid piece of shit Barbie car!<\/i> his mind screamed, as he kept trying the switch for the automatic top that refused to go up.
\nThey were inches away, her foot flooring the gas, as they raced towards too many zombies to count.\u00a0 Riley shot a glance towards Nick.\u00a0 \u201cThe TOP, Nick\u2026 any day now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t get it to fucking go up!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo it manually then, before we have corpses falling in the car!\u201d she screamed, as he reached over his seat, tugging on the top with all his might.\u00a0 Spunky was running from window to window, barking and growling wildly from both the craziness and the dead beings wanting to consume them.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo UP, you piece-of-shit car!\u201d<\/p>\n

He was thrown forward on the first impact.\u00a0 As he was still holding the top, it was tugged forward with him.\u00a0 Nick landed in his seat, breathing a sigh of relief, until his ears registered Riley\u2019s screams.\u00a0 He looked up, and stuck in the top was a skinny blonde zombie.\u00a0 She\u2019d have been pretty if alive, he knew.\u00a0 Her body looked like it was once well-kept, her pale violet, spotted breasts popped through a torn, skimpy shirt.\u00a0 Unable to reach them, the zombie moaned and swiped at them, staring at them with glassy blue eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn, if she was alive, I would\u2019ve done her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smack!\u00a0 He felt Riley\u2019s hand slap him upside the currently uninjured part of his head.\u00a0 \u201cAre you fucking kidding me?!\u00a0 Get her out!\u201d<\/p>\n

Coming to his senses, he reached for his axe and slammed it atop her small, golden head.\u00a0 Spots of brown blood spurted out at him before the zombie fell still.\u00a0 Nick reached up and shoved the dead girl out of the roof, pulling it shut completely as his head almost hit it from the bump the body caused when Riley ran it over.\u00a0 He gave Riley an impish grin.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019If she was alive, I would\u2019ve done her?\u2019<\/i>\u00a0 Unbelievable.\u00a0 She had no brains, Nick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly cause I slammed an axe into them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and it\u2019s not like a lot came out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was still hot,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd dead; don\u2019t forget dead,\u201d Riley reminded him, keeping her eyes firmly on the road.\u00a0 Still, he saw the smile creep up along her face, despite herself.\u00a0 Nick chuckled as he glanced back at his golden retriever, who\u2019d settled down comfortably in the backseat now that the chaos had dissipated a bit.\u00a0 Reaching into the back, he rifled through his bag and pulled out a clear, thin, plastic case.\u00a0 He took out a CD, something Riley hadn\u2019t used in ages, and popped it into the CD player, a rarity to find in cars those days.\u00a0 He watched as recognition lit up beneath her dark blue eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s close to midnight, and something evil\u2019s lurking in the dark<\/i>
\nUnder the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart<\/i>
\nYou try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it<\/i>
\nYou start to freeze, as horror looks you right between the eyes<\/i>
\nYou\u2019re paralyzed<\/i>
\n\u2018Cause this is thriller\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you kidding me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick simply grinned at her, running a hand through his mussed blonde tresses casually.\u00a0 Her look of disbelief was priceless, even in the given situation.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t keep looking at him in surprise, as she had to watch the roads to avoid overturned cars, traffic jams, and such.\u00a0 He shrugged, as he turned up the volume.\u00a0 \u201cI spotted it as we gathered up supplies.\u00a0 Come on, you gotta have a sense of humor when everything goes to shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou.\u00a0 Are.\u00a0 Something.\u00a0 Else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how can you not grab Thriller<\/i>?\u00a0 It\u2019s a classic!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026 but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut nothing!\u00a0 We\u2019re living the music video!\u00a0 When I saw it, I knew it was essential<\/i> to have the music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now she was laughing, her eyes sparkling amusedly at him, as they sped down the road.\u00a0 \u201cLike I said, Nick, you are something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m told.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut trust me, I\u2019m glad you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Riley.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem.\u00a0 But Nick?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNext time you find keys\u2026 make sure it\u2019s not to a damn convertible, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughed along with her.\u00a0 Nick knew they were both in lighter spirits as they got further away from the Target.\u00a0 Neither could help themselves.\u00a0 The two kept beaming at each other in ways Nick felt they hadn\u2019t felt free to do before.\u00a0 He knew now that they weren\u2019t alone.\u00a0 It was the first sign of hope they\u2019d found, among all the signs of the hell their world had become almost three days before.\u00a0 He felt like celebrating, and damn if he wasn\u2019t going to show it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCause this is thriller, thriller night
\nGirl, I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try
\nThriller, thriller night
\nSo let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cNick, do you really need to sing along?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026 yeah\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, that was all Nick needed, as the small pink Beetle made its way closer to what would soon become their new home.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 45 One morning, I woke up thinking everything that had happened was just a dream. Of course, I don\u2019t get dreams like that often these days.\u00a0 Reality does hit at some point or another.\u00a0 Because I was an actor … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":45,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"onecolumn-page.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/231"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=231"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":232,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/231\/revisions\/232"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}