Rock and a Hard Place Nine-Patient Zero- Short Stories Collection based on The Walking Dead

Rock and a Hard Place –Nine-

Patient Zero

            The outbreak was far from contained. The government issued a national emergency and citizens were ordered to designated refugee camps where they would receive food, water, and protection. That was a joke, thought Alan as he sat at his station in an underground bunker. Those same refugee camps quickly turned into human buffets for the dead.

            The world was in a panic and yet he and the other doctors and scientist waited in relative safety beneath the streets of Alexandria Virginia, just south of the nation’s capital. This was no hospital or clinic; this was a biological weapons manufacturer and they have been trying to combat this infection since the outbreak.

            “Hey Alan, how’s our celebrity doing?” Tyler walked in with his annoying smile and fake politeness. Alan never liked Tyler and damn sure didn’t like being cooped up with him at worlds end. Tyler was referring to the woman sleeping in a medically induced coma in the center of the room covered in a thick plastic cylinder; Patient Zero.

            There wasn’t much personal information on Patient Zero, just her first name as Serena but not much else. So they stuck with calling her Patient Zero; the first person infected with the zombie virus.

            “Same as she was yesterday, a vegetable. She doesn’t say much but she’s a great listener.” Alan said with a smirk.  Tyler came in every morning with the same question and he always got the same answer but that was a part of their procedure. Millions of bits of data have been collected on Patient Zero and how the infection reacts in her body. She is technically still human as the infection hasn’t turned her into a ‘walker’; as he heard them described by a few survivors.

            “You never wonder about her?” Alan asked while he notated the current vitals for Patient Zero for the records.

            “I try not to. Just focus on the job.” Tyler said as he changed out the IV bag and added more medications.

            “But…who is she? What is she like? What makes her smile or cry or laugh? What’s her most treasured memory, what’s her worst?” Alan spoke as he stared at her sleeping face. From weeks on this duty assignment, he’s gotten to know Serena’s face; every curve and smooth edge. Besides Dr. Restano, Patient Zero was the only other woman in the complex; Alan couldn’t help but stare.

            She wasn’t hard on the eyes either. Black shoulder length hair, coffee colored skin, slim figure and full lips; Alan wondered what color her eyes were.

            “I don’t know the answer and we never will. She’s been in a coma sense the beginning of all this.” Tyler spread his arms wide indicating the ruined world beyond the thick concrete walls of the lab.

            “But the real mystery is how she became infected with something that pretty much turned the world to shit. Why don’t we wake her up and just ask her?” Alan asked.

            “Her brain’s probably mush by now anyway.” Not wanting to continue the conversation, Tyler rudely left and Alan shot daggers at him. Patient Zero’s brain wasn’t physically mush as hundreds of CT Scans showed but mentally, Patient Zero could have the IQ of a jar of peanut butter. And still the desire to have a conversation with her was all Alan thought about in his limited off time. The world as they knew it was over; who were they trying to save with their research?

            The higher ups have sent out reconnaissance teams that have come up with no survivors, only death.  But the desire to save their own asses are what keeps Patient Zero asleep until one day Alan decided he wanted to meet her.

            For the next several days, the procedure was the same. Tyler comes in every morning to change out the IV bag and add medicine why Alan notates changes and collects data. Alan would disconnect her IV line so the medicine would not be delivered then reattach a line to an IV hidden underneath the mechanical bed. He had to be careful and discrete as the whole facility was under surveillance.

            It happened on a Wednesday; as if keeping track of the days had any meaning anymore; at three in the morning. Alan was on his shift drinking a cup of what passes for coffee when he heard a small voice speak from the center of the room.

            “Where am I?” Alan inhaled the liquid and coughed it back out. He slowly turned his head to see a frail looking girl siting up on the bed, Patient Zero.

            “Hello?” Alan spoke. “Patient…I mean Serena.”

            “I’m a patient? Was I in an accident? Paul! Where’s Paul?” She started to swing her legs over the side.

            “Is Paul your boyfriend?” Alan asked tentatively.

            “My dog, I was walking him in the park when…when…something happened. I can’t remember.” She said.

            Alan was relived it wasn’t her boyfriend, as if that would matter now, but her dog? Who names a dog Paul? Alan watched her as she sat cowering on the bed. She was scared and has no idea that the world has ended. She’s not a walker, obviously, but how is she Patient Zero? Perhaps she’s asymptomatic like Typhoid Mary; being infected but not showing any symptoms.

            But she’s talking and coherent. Alan’s training is telling him to treat her as an infected person, but his heart is not listening. Over the next two weeks the two fell into a routine. Alan still didn’t want to let his colleagues know what he had done and since their collective attention was focused elsewhere and not with Patient Zero, he continued the charade.

            Tyler would make his rounds, Serena would pretend to be in a coma, and Alan would prevent the medication from doing what was intended. Alan was able to record a sleeping Patient Zero and run the image on a loop for the cameras so that any security personnel watching would see no difference. During those days, Alan and Serena talked about everything. Her life before, her sister’s marriage to a jerk, her break up with a longtime boyfriend; Alan in turn brought her up to speed on the world ending, the virus, and the walking dead.

            “It’s unbelievable. Makes all my problems seem so trivial by comparison.” Serena spoke.

            “Serena, that day in the park when you were walking Paul, you said something happened. What was it? Do you remember now?” Alan asked cautiously. Serena was still a bit fragile.

            “It’s all blurry, like a bad nightmare in the light of a beautiful morning. I was walking Paul and I was supposed to meet someone. A friend I think? He said he had something for me but I can’t remember what it was.” Serena placed her hands over her eyes and her shoulders shook with a sob. Alan wanted to hold her, to tell her she’s going to be alright. Until now, Alan has not touched Serena for fear of the virus but the longer he spent with her the more he wanted to.

            He placed a hand on her shoulder, she felt warm. He brought her closer into an embrace and leaned in to kiss her. Her lips were soft and trembling but a sharp pain soon stopped him. At first he thought he became infected but when he pulled away, Serena’s mouth and chin was covered in blood. Did he do something to her? He soon realized she did something to him.

            Serena smiled as she spat his tongue on the ground with a wet thud. Alan couldn’t speak; less from shock and more from his tongue was bitten off. Serena started to laugh and Alan fell back on the ground. He held his mouth as blood fills his nose and throat, chocking him.

            “You asshole, who kisses someone whose infected? Her voice took on a hard edge as she slid off the bed and raked her right hand down Alan’s back. Her nails were long and effective, blood poured from Alan’s back and Alan couldn’t scream.

            He crawled along the ground trying to reach and panic button on the console that would sound the alarm.

            “You know Alan; I did meet someone in the park. He gave me a package with instructions to open it in the middle of the park. Inside…well I don’t know for sure what was inside but it was a container that held the virus. The perfect biological weapon and it had the same symbol that’s on your lab coat. The man paid me a lot of money two weeks before and since I was going to kill myself anyway might as well take as many people out as I can. My ex-boyfriend Todd was in the park with his new fiancé. I am infected, Alan, but not like the others. Not like you’ll be. I can still think and I’m stronger, faster, and more violent and more importantly, I didn’t die.” Serena laughed.

            Alan gurgled as he struggled to reach the alarm. He was chocking and knew he would die and come back. So the virus was a weapon made by his own superiors. They probably released it in a park for the greatest amount of casualties but probably didn’t expect the spread to get so out of hand. That’s why they were trying hard to find a cure; to save themselves from their own stupidity and greed. That’s also why they knew Serena was Patient Zero, she was chosen to be.

            “Your world is over. Mine is just beginning.” Serena grabbed Alan’s arm before he could press the alarm and ripped it out of the socket. Still, Alan couldn’t scream. “You all will get what you deserve. ‘Now, I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds.’” Serena quoted the creator of the atomic bomb. She reveled in the power she possessed and walked out the door with a sway in her hip. She would rip the men of this facility limb by limb, all the while spreading the infection.

            This is my world. Serena thought. I am God.

Rock and a Hard Place Eight- Innocence Lost Short Stories Collection based on The Walking Dead

Rock and a Hard Place – Eight-

Innocence Lost

 

            Todd and Jacob met in the most unconventional way; both were smashing the heads of walkers that converged around them. They had each taken refuge in an abandoned mall along with a larger group of survivors and they were able to live for a few weeks off the supplies and company. But all good things must come to an end as one night the mall’s glass floor to ceiling windows could no longer hold back the tide.

            A flood of walkers flowed inside and crashed against their makeshift barriers like water on rock. The group was soon overcome and one by one they fell. By the end all that was left was Todd and Jacob who before this hardly even spoke to each other. They now stood back to back while Todd clubbed the last walker.

            “I…I think that’s all of them.” Todd exclaimed utterly exhausted, his breath coming in spurts.

            “Shit, shit, shit. They’re dead…they’re all dead.” Jacob said bent over letting his meager lunch expel from his stomach.

            “We gotta go; it’s not safe here anymore.” Todd grabbed what he could from the fallen and started to head for an exit. He knew he couldn’t let them get surrounded again. The only way they survived was due to the sacrifice of the others. Two men could not hold back a major herd like that alone.

            “Where are we gonna go? There’s nothing, man.” Jacob was still trying to catch his breath. He was only 24 years old and worked at a pizza shop before the world ended. He had seen too many lazy days on a couch with a video game controller in his hands instead of being active.

            “I don’t know, but we need to find a safe place. We can’t be out on the road after dark.” Todd looked up and down the empty road as if waiting for a sign. After picking a random direction, they walked the road for hours all the while Jacob complaining about his feet. Todd thought back to his life before, where his only compliant was working too many hours on his landscaping business and not giving enough time to his girlfriend Amanda. She left him shortly before the world went to shit and he didn’t know what became of her.

            Looking ahead, Todd saw a shape on the horizon. “Move!” He said in an urgent whisper. The two rushed off the road and hid in the brush. They had learned to take precautions with both the dead and the living.

            The figure got closer and Todd could see it was that of a little girl. She wore dirty denim pants and a t-shirt that used to be pink with a red hooded sweatshirt that was many sizes too big; it almost swallowed her. Her face was muddy and her hair matted with a blank stare.

            “Hey, little girl, are you okay?” Todd ventured out.

            “I…I…lost my mommy. Can you help me find her?” Her voice was small and unsure. Todd guested she was about 11 or 12 years old. Todd had never had children but hoped one day to be a father, he couldn’t just leave this girl alone on the side of the road.

            “Come on man. She’s not our problem.” Jacob spoke behind him.

            “What? She’s just a little girl.”

            “She’s not your little girl besides we don’t have enough food and water for her and us. I’m sorry, but kids have no place in this world anymore. They’re better off dead.” Jacob went to walk past her.

            “You’re an asshole, Jacob. It’s not her fault that she can’t defend herself; it’s not her fault the world went to shit. You won’t even attempt to help her? Bastard!” Todd shouted knowing he shouldn’t, he didn’t want to attract walkers but the callousness of Jacob’s remark was shocking.

            “Whatever dude. Look, she’s your responsibility then, I don’t even like kids.” Jacob continued down the road, not looking back to see if Todd would follow.

            “What’s your name, hon?” Todd kneeled down and pulled her jacket closed against the evening chill.

            “Becca.” Her voice sounded more distant.

            “Becca, what a pretty name. Becca, you can come with us. We’ll take you someplace safe and maybe we can help you find your mommy but you do know there’s a good chance that your mommy…that your mom….” Todd couldn’t even bring himself to say the obvious. It was most likely that Becca’s mom was dead or worse, a walker.

            “I know…it’s just…I’ve been alone so long. I need…I need help.” She began to cry.

            “I can help you Becca. My name’s Todd.” He smiled but never saw the small sharp knife slice its way from left to right across his throat. Todd didn’t feel pain in his neck but he couldn’t breathe and his vision began to darken. Becca’s blurry face went from crying to smiling as she held up the bloody knife as a taunt. Todd’s body fell with a sickening wet thud.

            “You can help. I just need your stuff, I don’t need you.” Becca whispered. “I don’t need anyone.” She looked up at Jacob’s retreating back. He didn’t see what she’d done and didn’t know what to expect as Becca walked up behind him. She needed his bag too.

            Becca relished at the power she had. She wasn’t an adult so she wasn’t strong and smart but she was innocent; at least that’s what the adults think. She lets them think that. She’s found a way to survive in this cruel dark world by being cruel and dark herself.

Immune 16-Cloak of the Dead- The Walking Dead FanFiction by Lolita Lynn

Immune 16- Cloak of the Dead

            I left Julian standing on the street and walked to Andrea. She didn’t see me and I didn’t want her to yet, not until I can let her in on my rouse. She was speaking to a black woman that looks like she wasn’t having a very good day.

            “Andrea.” I placed my hand on her shoulder and she turned. She opened her mouth to say my name and I quieted her with a hug and spoke low in her ear.

            “Tina, call me Tina. No one can know who I really am.”

            “Why?” She whispered back.

            “I don’t know if I can trust them yet but they are actively looking for me.” The embrace couldn’t last too long and I looked her in the eyes, they began to water. Andrea with all her attempts to be strong and independent had tears in her eyes and relief in her voice. “We’ll talk back in my room, okay?”

            “Sure, oh this is Michonne. Michonne this is…Tina.”

            “Nice to meet you.” I got the feeling Michonne knew about me if she spent time with Andrea; she would. I’ll need to explain the situation to her as well.  Back at the room, I had Julian on watch by the door. There were still guards patrolling the area but they’ve pretty much left us alone; a show of faith, no doubt. I told Andrea what has happened up until now.

            “So everyone is okay at the prison, but Shane, Lori, and T-Dog? God...” Andrea spoke in a hoarse whisper. I didn’t go into details of Shane’s death and simply let her think he didn’t make it off the farm. Andrea told me of how she got separated and Michonne saved her. Also about being at the crash site and seeing the pilot Welles just before the Woodbury crew grabbed them. I got the feeling, even though she didn’t say, that Michonne didn’t trust them. She most likely didn’t trust anyone. Andrea had told her of me and the group in great detail but she didn’t know much about Michonne.

            “So that’s it. I can’t let anyone know who I am until I gauge the threat.” I said.

            “But they could have the best intentions.” Andrea spoke hopefully.

            “The road to hell is paved in good intentions.” Michonne quoted and she was right. The Governor could have the same intentions as the good doctor but until I know for sure, I’m not giving away information.

            “So you haven’t been able to find Lizzy at all?” Andrea asked.

            “No, I wish…I just wish I knew what happened to her. Whether she’s dead or alive, I just don’t know.” A vision on Sophia came into my mind. Carol has always said it was the not knowing that was killing her. I completely understand now and had more sympathy for her. Lizzy was not my daughter, in this new world, we are all motherless, but I promised I would protect her and I failed.

            “So what’s the plan?” Andrea asked me.

            “I was hoping you had one.” I spoke as I sat on the twin bed.

            “Well, this place doesn’t look so bad. They have a fortified wall and enough people to protect it. People here live in houses and not in tents, there’s running water and lights. Maybe we can ask to bring Rick and the others here?” Andrea seemed optimistic but I had my doubts.

            “We can’t be too sure of what we see on the surface. Things may seem fine here but they act as if the world didn’t go to shit outside these walls.” Michonne spoke up. I didn’t know who this woman was but she has a survivalist mentality; something we sorely need.

            “You can’t go on with this mistrust of everyone we come across, Michonne.”

            “That mistrust has kept us alive. The walkers are dangerous; people are even more dangerous. Especially if you have something they want.” I think Michonne was talking more to me than Andrea with that last statement. But she was right.

            “But…I want this life. I want to live without running, without wondering where my next meal is coming from. Life on that road is hell and I don’t want to go back to it.” Andrea was up and heading out the door.

            “Andrea…” I tried to stop her to remind her of the secret.

            “I know, I know. I won’t tell anyone.” And with that she was gone. Michonne and I looked at each other and she moved to follow. Once the women left, Julius came back into the room with some information.

            “I was outside talking to some of the residents of Woodbury. They seem pretty content here. Things don’t look as bad.” He said with the faint hint of hope in his eyes.

            “Yeah, that’s what Andrea said. But they’re complacent and that’s not a good thing. Even now, I feel naked without a weapon. More importantly, they won’t let us leave. That’s never a good thing.” I told him.

            “Well, they think we can help them. They think we can find…Summers…and find a cure.”

            “Yeah, we have what they want.” I mirrored Michonne’s warning. I hated to think that there were no more good people left in this world but this Governor and Woodbury somehow just felt wrong. Of course I wanted a normal life again, just like Andrea; but we may want something so bad that we blind ourselves to what’s really going on.

            The facts were this: I was kidnapped by the good doctor Julian in the hopes of finding a cure. The doctor’s cohorts were fully prepared to take me to some head honcho in Arlington until they were killed by the friendly men of Woodbury. Now I’m being held in a small town where children play and lemonade is being served charged with locating….myself. There’s so much going on in my head I can barely keep it straight.

            Somewhere in Woodbury in a dark warehouse, two men strategized their plan. The Governor was not who he seemed to be but he had ideas for this town and for Summers. One woman in this world is immune to this infection. From the transmissions they were able to pick up from one Doctor Jenner, they knew that she was female and her name but nothing else. Lately, The Governor had put a campaign in place to round up as many women as they could find. He had scouts out as far as Birmingham, Montgomery, and Augusta.

            He needed to find this woman alive and unharmed. His daughter’s life depended on it. The Governor walked to his room and sat on his empty bed, a small gold framed picture in his hand. He was a man that had lost so much but his story was no different from anyone else’s.  On his way out he noticed the petite pretty blonde that was brought in that same day and he decided to go play nice.

            “Is your room comfortable?” The Governor spoke with smooth tones.

            “Yes, thank you. It’s been a while since I had electricity and running water.” Andrea smiled up at him. She had always considered herself tall for a woman but even she had to look up at him.

            “I know. We’ve had electricity and running water for weeks now but it wasn’t always like this. We started off with just a few of us and we lost some pretty good people along the way. But I’ve been trying to give back some semblance of life before all this with the biters.” The Governor spoke as he walked through the clean streets. Andrea noticed there were no burnt out cars or bodies decomposing on the asphalt.

            “Biters?” She said with a smile.

            “Yeah, that’s what we call them. What do you call them?” He smiled back. She noticed his whole demeanor changed when he smiled.

            “We call them walkers.”

            “Walkers.” He said testing it out. “I like that. Have you lost anyone Andrea?” The question was moot as everyone has lost someone.

            “My sister, Amy. When I lost her I…I wanted to die. I didn’t think there was anything left for me.” Andrea answered honestly.

            “I lost my wife. I felt the same way. The only thing I have to live for now is this town, these people. I want to protect them.” He gestured towards a small group of women chatting in the shade of a tree. Their clothes were not ripped and dirty and they were well fed. Two children, a boy and girl, played tag nearby and life looked as it did before the world ended. “And I believe I know how to protect them. I need to find this woman, Vanessa Summers, she’s supposed to be immune to this infection.”

            “How do you know she’s immune?” Andrea asked cautiously.

            “We received transmissions from a Doctor Jenner. We recorded them and in it he talked about a woman he was working on that didn’t get the fever after being bitten several times. Unfortunately, he didn’t describe her only that she was a woman and her name. There are so many people who would benefit from finding her, don’t you think?” The Governor watched Andrea’s reaction. This woman was good at hiding her thoughts and emotions but not all of them.

            “I hope you find her.” Andrea said after a long pause. “I should go get washed up before we eat, I’m starving.” She smiled and left but the Governor knew she knew something. Make her trust him and make her talk.

To be continued…..

Immune 15-Treachery of the Dead- The Walking Dead FanFiction by Lolita Lynn

-Immune 15- Treachery of the Dead

            I didn’t know how long I had been out. I woke up maybe twice before and through blurry eyes could see the good doctor as he put another rag to my mouth and then I would fade out again. The second time I straddled the realm between unconsciousness and rational thought I kept my eyes closed so as to not be put under again. I felt my hands were bound behind my back and my feet were also bound and attached to my wrists loosely with a length of rope. I could hear the doctor’s voice, Ridgewell that jerk, speaking with another man of more authority.

            “How long before we can get back to Arlington?” He asked.

            “Our supplies are dangerously low, Ridgewell. We don’t even have enough fuel to drive these trucks back up North. We’d be lucky to even make South Carolina.” The other man said.

            “Well haven’t your men procured any provisions from the last town? They seemed willing to help the National Guard, like most would.”

            “Could have, but that town was overrun with the bastards. Besides, there was nothing left to scavenge anyway. That town belonged to the dead.” National Guard, I thought. I didn’t think there were any more organizations left. Or they could just be men pretending to be the National Guard to inspire hope and cooperation from any survivors they came across.

            “Look, doc, I sent Lieutenant Welles and the chopper out to scout for any signs of survivors. Where there’s survivors there has to be food, water, or fuel. At least a little of it. Once we make contact, we’ll trade weapons for supplies, so don’t get your panties in a twist. You just watch your charge there. Make sure she stays out until we get to Arlington.” There were some shuffling sounds as if he was placing a map on a table.

            “Listen, Coronel Marsh, you’re a man of honor. I’m not too comfortable taking Ms. Summers back to him. I’m not sure what he’s going to do but it can’t be good for her. I’d like a chance to study her on my own before I turn her over or at least to make sure she won’t be hurt by him. Do you think we can make a slight detour in…”

            “Look son, I understand your concern, I really do, but he has big plans for her. He says there could be a cure and that’s good for what’s left of the world in my opinion.”

            “Even if that cure could cost Summers her life?” Ridgwell asked.

            “Yes.” Coronel Marsh stated coldly. Up until now I was thinking he would be my best chance of inside help; now that plan is shot to hell. The sound of a radio stopped any further conversation.

            “Yeah, Welles, go ahead.”

            “Yes, sir, we found a town not far from your current position. It’s got a pretty sizable gate, armed guard and people in the streets. It looks secure enough. Here’s the coordinates.” Welles on the radio read off numbers that I didn’t understand.

            “That should be here. Not too far. We can’t send a Humvee and burn gas, set the chopper down in a field and make contact with them. Give them the same story that we’re a National Guard camp needing fuel, food, and water and that we have weapons we can trade. Radio me back with their answer.” Marsh ended the call.

            “You probably outnumber them; why not just take what you need?” Ridgewell asked.

            “Because I’m not a bastard.” Marsh answered sternly.

            It felt like hours that I lay on that hard floor pretending to be unconscious. I didn’t want to make my move too soon and not be able to get away. Already I couldn’t feel my arms and legs and I could try to run only to have my limbs fail me. I was even able to sleep a little since I was keeping my eyes closed but the sound of rapid gunfire woke me up and I forgot my rouse allowing my eyes to pop open.

            I was in the back of a wide truck that had a table on one side; probably their mobile command center. The bullets hit the truck and shattered the windshield. The back door swung open and light flooded in momentarily blinding me. It was Doctor Ridgewell with concern on his face.

            “I have to get you out of here.” He untied my arms and my legs all the while the gunfire didn’t stop. As soon as I had my hands free I gave him a strong right hook and knocked him against the truck but I wasn’t fast enough, another man stepped out from the side of the truck and the butt of a rifle made contact with my face. I didn’t have time to feel the pain as the darkness, my old friend, met me again.

            I was getting tired of being knocked out lately. I woke up and the light of day faded from what I could see through the haphazardly boarded up window. I was tied again only this time I was sitting on a cold stone floor with my torso wrapped with rope and my hands tied in front of me.

            “You’re awake.” That British accent again coming from behind me and I realized that Ridgewell was tied up too, to me.

            “Damn.” Was all I could say.

            “You can say that again.” He said

            “Damn you. You kidnapped me…” He cut me off.

            “Shhh. They don’t know that. I told them you were my assistant.”

            “Who exactly are ‘them’?” I asked him pissed off.

            “The people who took us. He said they found our pilot Welles crashed in the woods and he told them where to find us. He even had a white flag. Then, I don’t know who shot first but there were bullets flying from them. I told them I was medical doctor and you were my assistant and that we were in the area trying to locate the girl who is immune.”

            “I don’t follow.” I was really confused. Maybe that guy hit me harder that I thought.

            “They know about you. But only your name, they don’t know what you look like. They probably heard more rumors like those men you came across. They’re looking for you. I told them that we were working on a way to find a cure using you, or Vanessa Summers anyway, and that we would be invaluable if she’s found.” Ridgewell had devised this plan to save their lives or else the unknown assailants would have killed them too. That still didn’t endear me to him.

            “How do I know this? How do I know that these people aren’t trying to rescue me from you and those men? You’re the one who drugged me; you’re the one who kidnapped me. You entered that prison and knew exactly what you were going to do. You drugged me and tied me up, why the hell should I trust you?” And I was just about to tell him to kiss my ass when a man walked in the room.

            He was tall and handsome in a rugged sort of way with a confident strut. He wore a vest that was probably bullet proof which added to his authoritative feel. I was at the point now where very little information was best. Ridgewell obviously didn’t tell them I was Summers, the girl they were looking for; allegedy, but I didn’t know if that was for the better or the worse. It would all depend on the pretty boy here.

            “Assistant, you’re awake? What’s your name?” He asked me and I didn’t hesitate.

            “Tina. My name is Tina.” The name on the bracelet shown just beneath the bounds on my wrists and the man glanced at it.

            “Tina. Forgive the precautions but we don’t normally invite hostiles into our town.”

            “I’m not hostile.”

            “No, you weren’t one of the ones shooting at us. I understand that you’re looking for someone, the same someone I’m looking for. Perhaps we can help each other. Our town here is safe from biters, we have food, water, even electricity. You’re safe here.” He voice was pleasant enough.  

            “I don’t feel safe being tied up.” He looked back at one of the 3 armed men that entered with him and he stepped forward to cut us free. Another man caught my eye in the background because he had a makeshift metal appendage where a hand should be.

            “So, can we help each other? We can offer food, shelter while you can offer your…services.” He explained again. “Do you know where she is? Do you have any clues?”

            “We were searching the nearby area, our map has the coordinates of our pervious search girds. We haven’t found anything yet.” Ridgewell spoke up and he sounded convincing.

            “Yes, I saw that. But do you have any more information on her like what does she look like, her age, things like that so my men can help with the search?”

            “Sorry, no.” Ridgewell denied. He seems pretty adamant on not helping and I didn’t really know who to trust.

            “Tina?” He stood in front of me.

            “No, I don’t know anything more.” I could have been shooting myself in the foot especially if Ridgewell was the bag guy and this man wasn’t. I was thankful that the long sleeves covered the bite marks on my arms; that would have been a dead giveaway.

            “Okay, well Merle here is going to show you to your room. Get some rest and I’ll see you in the morning. Welcome to Woodbury.” He started to walk out.

            “And you are?” I asked him.

            “They just call me The Governor.”  He left and the one called Merle with the metal hand escorted us out of the room and into another.

            “I’m sure you two will find these accommodations quite comfortable.” Merle said with a leer and a deep southern drawl as he closed the door. I heard the lock engaged from the outside and immediately walked to the nearest window to find them nailed shut. Looking out even in the dark of night, I could see that the streets were clean. No bodies or other signs of the world ending. Only a few guards walked by probably on patrol out on the street while anyone else was most likely inside.

            Merle, I’ve heard talk of him before. I know he’s Daryl’s brother and that he wasn’t exactly the nicest guy. Should I get back to the prison in one piece, I’ll still make it a point to tell Daryl where he can find his brother.

            “If we’re supposed to be guest, why are we locked in?” Ridgwell made a point and I told him so. “You know you can call me Julian.” He sat on one of the twin beds absentmindedly rubbing his wrist where they were bound.

            “Okay, Julian, what now?” I sat on the other and a feeling of pure exhaustion hit me hard. All I wanted to do was sleep and forget this day had ever happened.

            “We sleep then tomorrow, well…we’ll see.” If Julian said anything after that, I didn’t hear it. As soon as my head hit the pillow, it was all she wrote.

            The next day started pleasant enough. We were invited under guard to have breakfast with this governor and I’m sure he’s just using this as an opportunity to drill us for more information.

            “How’d you sleep?” He asked as he drank his tea.

            “Good, I was more tired than I realized.” I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. It was forced pleasantries that filled the silence that may have unnerved me. The Governor said something about Milton, the quite man with the glasses, working on something we may be interested in.

            “Milton here is our resident scientist. He’s been working on what makes the biters for a while now. Perhaps you can trade notes or something.” We ate the rest of our breakfast in silence.

             “What about Welles? The pilot? I believe you said you found him alive in the wreckage, may we see him?” Julian asked.

            “I’m sorry, but he died earlier this morning.” Milton finally spoke up.

            “Just give this place a chance; we have everything you could ever need here. We even have people, survivors like yourselves that have found a place here. You should go out and meet them then later you can report to Milton and get started. Doctor, I took a look at your search grids, I’ll have my men continue where you left off.” Governor finished up his breakfast.

            “You know, you never really told us what happened back on the road.” I spoke.

            “Yes I did. They fired on me and my men. I had to act fast to protect them, you understand. There is always someone out there who wants what you have.”

            With that we were ushered out into the day. Woodbury seemed peaceful enough with its clean streets and roaming children but the armed guards and enigmatic Governor told a different story. As I looked around the gated community I saw one face that I was both pleased and unnerved to see, Andrea.

To be continued…

"Self Image" Original poem by Lolita Lynn

Self Image

She’s cold and distance, shows no emotion

She hears loud and clear through all the commotion.

She may not understand but she listens well

Will her wounds ever heal? Only time will tell.

She absorbs everything happening around her

She reveals nothing of what hurts or astounds her.

She is very quiet but has plenty to say.

When you look into her eyes she doesn’t look away.

She doesn’t enjoy pain and avoids it when she can

But when pain comes from him it’s like quick sand

Fast and furious with no remorse

The only thing she thinks to do is cut off the source.

                        -June 10, 2001

"I Miss you Mom" Original poem by Lolita Lynn

I Miss You Mom

The words have all been said.

The tears have all been shed.

But the pain of losing you still remains.

I take it with me from day to day.

Beneath my smile I still cry tears.

I will forever miss you for years and years.

But my broken heart will someday mend.

When it’s my time, I’ll see you again.

-August 24, 2013

Immune 14 Deception of the Dead-The Walking Dead FanFiction by Lolita Lynn

-Immune 14- Deception of the Dead

*Time Warp* The group are in the prison and are separated when an alarm sounds and walkers storm in. T-Dog is lost while saving Carol and Rick finds that Lori has given birth his daughter but didn’t make it. Distraught Rick enters the catacombs of the prison to relieve his grief while the rest of the group is left to deal with the loss and the consequences of Andrew’s actions.

            It doesn’t feel like a few days since the incident, more like a lifetime. Rick has been in and out of the tombs most of the time and barely speaks to anyone. Maggie and Daryl were able to find formula for the baby, I think Daryl wants to name her Asskicker or something, but we’re far from healed. I sit in the yard just watching until movement beyond the gate. Rather than sound the alarm, I walked to the gate with my weapon at the ready.

            “Stop. It’s probably best if you turn around and find someplace else, we don’t have anything for you here.” I told him. A man stood before me with black hair and blue eyes, he had a pleasant face and oddly enough is not dress in tattered or ragged clothes. He doesn’t appear to be suffering from hunger and when he spoke, he had a British accent.

            “I’m a friend. I’m only here looking for someone; someone important.” He spoke with a deep voice and his hands in the air in the international sign for ‘don’t shoot me’.

            “Sorry friend, but the President does not reside here nor does the Queen of England.” I said with plenty of sarcasm.

            “I’m afraid I’m not looking for them but a woman.” He said, hands still in the air.

            “Yeah, we’re not catering to that here either, it’s not a brothel it’s a prison, now I said keep it moving.” I was starting to get irritated.

            “Not like that. This woman is special. She’s immune to the infection and I’m trying to find out how. Her name is Vanessa Summers, I’m afraid I don’t have a description, but I know from the transmission that she’s female maybe in her early 30s and she doesn’t turn when bitten.”

            “Transmission?” I asked, my interest not piqued.

            “Yes, from a….um…oh yes, a Doctor Jenner from Atlanta. He sent out his research probably in the hopes of someone taking on from where he left off. I’ve been searching the entire area for months now.” He lowered his hands but didn’t step forward.

            “Are you some kind of doctor?” I lower my gun as well.

            “Yes, I’m a medical doctor as well as a geneticist. I’ve been working in a lab in Arlington Virginia, just outside of Washington when I received the message. I just wanted to know if you know anything.” He seemed sincere but I wasn’t ready to tell him the truth just yet.

            “Vanessa what is it?” I closed my eyes when Glen walked behind me. Dammit, anytime but now would have been great.

            “Are you Vanessa Summers?” The man asked with hope in his eyes and I took a deep breathe. There was no going back now. I opened the gate and invited him in, he had information on me I could at least hear him out.

            “Yes, I’m Vanessa and you are?”

            “Julian. Doctor Julian Ridgewell. Please to finally meet you.”

            Inside the group was taken aback by the presence of another new face. Oscar and Axel have been keeping their distance but they do ask if we need help from time to time. Daryl and Glen have been taking more of the leadership role and I’ve just been trying to stay out of there way too. I stood off to the side while the group interrogated the good doctor.

            “You’re a doctor. And you want to do what exactly?” Hershel asked him. Julian looked at me while he answered.

            “I want to give us all a chance. Ms. Summers is immune to the infection and Jenner sent out most of his research to anyone who can receive it. I just want to pick up where he left off.”

            “Where he left off was just about to cut into my brain. If that’s what you want to do then..” he cut me off.

            “No, I studied his research and I don’t believe I have to do that. Of course, I need to get you back to my lab in order to...” I cut him off as well.

            “No, I can’t do that. I can’t leave. There’s a new baby and we lost people, I’m not leaving unless there is someplace safe for everyone.”

            “I can’t bring everyone, Ms. Summers, I was only instructed to bring you and with a large group we wouldn’t be able to travel as fast.” Julian had a look of compassion; as if he would love to shelter us all but didn’t have the power to.

            “Then you can’t have me. It’s all or nothing Dr. Ridgewell. I’m sorry.”

            “Maybe it’s better this way. You could go and come back when there’s something…a cure maybe.” Hershel tried to persuade.

            “No, I’m not leaving you all, not again. I can’t.”

            “Like before?” I didn’t see Rick come in but there he was standing near the door. He looks better today as yesterday he looked as if hell chewed him up and spit him back out. He cleaned up a little and was eyeing Dr. Ridgewell. “You didn’t seem to have a problem leaving us before, why should this be any different?”

            “Enough of this Rick, I told you I tried to go back to the farm and I couldn’t, okay? Enough, dammit.” I stood near the exit as if I was ready to take flight. The others merely sat or stood in the room, no one saying anything but everyone listening to Rick and I. It was time to tell them.

            “You wanna know where I’ve been? Okay, then maybe you’ll get off my back.” I turned to face them all. “I woke up in a cell. I didn’t know where I was or how I got there. There were others too, two men Jake and Todd also a woman, Jennifer and her daughter Tina. This was hers.” I held up a small woven bracelet on my left wrist with the name ‘Tina’ spelled out in colorful block letters. “The woman was crying, saying they were coming tonight to take Tina away. Said they were doing her a favor in taking her. I couldn’t understand what she meant, who was taking her and why.”

            “Jennifer said there had been more there, in the cell, for over a month. Her husband, two other women, and a teenage boy. All taken by them, she just kept saying that. Them. Them. Through her sobs she was able to tell me that the people that lived above us were luring survivors here to…to…um,” the memories came flooding back and I couldn’t help but cry. I crossed my arms over me and slide down the concrete wall to the floor.

            “They didn’t have much food so…they ate people. I didn’t believe her when she said it but…I think I didn’t want to believe it. They said that children shouldn’t be in this new world, that it was more humane to kill them now than have kids live in this.”

            “My god.” Hershel whispered.

            “They came for her, two men with dirty skin and black teeth. They grabbed Tina out of the cell; I tried…I tried to stop them. I grabbed her arm but I was too weak from blood loss. All I got was this bracelet. He told me that they were going to save me for last. They were going to see if I did heal from these bites and then, if I lived, they were going to eat me. Said they heard rumors of a girl who was immune and they figured if they ate me, they would be immune too. I tried to tell them that’s not how it works and that eating people was not the way to live. It didn’t matter. I stayed in that cell for months. New people came and went by the end; it was just me and Jennifer. When they came for her, she didn’t cry or ask for help. She said she was ready to go, she wanted to be with her family and she went willingly.”

            I thought about when I tried to give her the bracelet back and what she said to me. “Here, your daughter’s bracelet.” I told her with my hand out.

            “No, you keep it. You’ll get out of here, you’re strong I can see it. You keep it to remember her by. If you remember her then she’s not really dead. Remember all of us. We were here, we existed.” Jennifer’s words hit me hard then and it still does now.

            “How did you get away?” Glen asked cautiously.  I looked at him.

            “I just did, does it matter how? All you need to know is that those men in that house with those cells in the basement won’t be hurting anyone else again….ever.” I left it at that. There was no need to go into detail about their deaths that were well deserved.

            No one else spoke. I saw that Oscar and Axel walked into the room and wondered how much they heard. Doesn’t really matter now; my secret is out and there could be more coming for me. This doctor found me, the men at the house heard rumors of me; I guess I was getting tired of running and hiding anyways.

            “Vanessa…I’m…” Rick started.

            “Sorry? I don’t need your pity and I didn’t want to tell you if I didn’t have to. Living it was enough but now that you know, I hope it makes you feel better.” I stood up and walked to the exit; I just needed to be outside but stopped just before reaching the door.

            “The baby needs more formula. I’ll make a run and see if I can find anything.” I told them.

            “We’ll go with you.” Glen spoke up and Maggie stepped forward.

            “Just…just leave me alone, please. I’ll go.” And I left. The sun felt good on my face as the last vestige of winter finally left this part of the world. I closed my eyes and tried to wipe bad memories from my mind. I only wanted to hold onto the faces of people I’ve loved and lost; people I didn’t know and those I wish I could know more. Opening my eyes I came face to face with the good doctor. He was looking at me with his sea blue eyes. He was attractive and under better circumstances I would have flirted with him but all I wanted was to be alone now.

            “I’m sorry Vanessa, but the world we live in now is going to have those kinds of people. Genuinely nice individuals are few and far between.”

            “I guess so…” was all I could say before a rag was placed over my nose and mouth. A chemical smell filled my lungs and burned causing my eyes to water. I fought him but he was stronger than he looked and he had his free hand behind my head buried in my hair holding me there. I looked into his eyes, those same sea blue eyes before I blacked out and saw sympathy and regret along with his mouth forming the words ‘I’m sorry’. Then nothing but black.

To be Continued....