Rock and a Hard Place -The Wall Ten-

The Wall Ten

            “So I caved her in. There was no saving her…she’d been bit; it was only a matter of time…the only gift I could give her was to spare her from being a walker.” Trinity spoke solemnly while staring at the concrete. She spoke to Jen about her twin sister, Trisha, but her story was nothing new. Many survivors had the same story but it’s one that needs to be told, less for the stranger’s inquiry and more for the storyteller’s sanity.

            “I’m sorry.” Jen said sitting beside her on the wooden post in the front yard of a nondescript home. They had been traveling all day, dodging walkers left and right, it was nice to take a break.

            “Yeah, I’m sorry too. Well, should we go, I think we’re close to your house.” Trinity spoke.

            “You’re lucky you know.” Trinity spoke. “You still have your dad. Someone on this miserable planet that loves you. You’re lucky.”

            A small herd of walkers appeared from the North heading their way. The two girls stood casually and dusted the dirt from their jeans as they began to walk south. They were tired and didn’t get much sleep last night. They had spent the evening sleeping on top of the disabled bus with a few others. It was safer than stumbling around after dark.

            In the early hours of the morning when it seemed like night was trying desperately to cling to the city, the girls made their way further south towards Calhoun Street and Jen’s home. Not one of the adults wanted to come with them and headed off on their own with one man choosing not to leave the bus at all. Fear made people do stupid things. Trinity and Jen knew the only way to stay alive is to keep moving.

            Some people think building a makeshift shelter would be better but a shelter can only get surrounded and with no way out, the walkers would just wait you out. They won’t starve to death, they won’t move on unless prompted, they don’t get tired, they don’t sleep…they just eat.

            “There it is.” Jen exclaimed, a smile crossed her face. The word home came to mind when she and her father didn’t have much of a home before. She didn’t understand why the older people would get so attached to certain places or buildings. They called them home but she never fully understood what that meant, home is where you’re safe for the night. Where walkers can’t get you for a few hours, not a place to live forever.

            Now, she understood what home meant to them and she wanted desperately to see her father there when she walked in the door but she only found an empty disheveled house.

            “There’s no one upstairs. I couldn’t find anything we could use.” Trinity reported as she came downstairs.

            “We haven’t been here long, I guess we didn’t bring much stuff with us either.” When traveling you always had to stay light on your feet, so carrying too much stuff would be a death sentence, Jen thought. Her thoughts also returned to the walker that killed Jiff and Robbie. It was different from the others….it fought back.

            “Dad, please be okay…please.” Jen whispered to herself letting silent tears roll down her sunken cheeks. She rarely cried since losing someone you love was the norm but in that moment Jen realized that she can’t lose her father. Not now in a city that was supposed to be safe.

            As if thoughts of the walker had it materialize from thin air, it burst through the door and only the sound of Jen’s rapid heartbeat filled her ears. She couldn’t move, so stunned that this thing followed them here, Jen couldn’t move a muscle. It walked with purpose, not shambling or sliding dead feet but a full stride towards her and locked onto her with dead eyes. Finally, Jen let out a piercing scream.

            Hank heard the scream and instinctively knew it was his daughter. His feet seemed to be made of lead, he couldn’t get them to run fast enough to reach her. Damn his legs and arthritic knees, hurry…hurry, he told himself. Hank’s chest burned straining for a deep breath, he wouldn’t allow it. He would run his body into the ground if it meant getting to Jen a moment sooner. His house finally came into view with the front door hanging from the hinges in pieces. Hank jumped through not caring about the wood splinters attacking his face.

            “Get away from her!” The walker stopped its pursuit and turned to face him; Hank’s heart dropped into his stomach. The walker from before, the one that gave him the chills. “Jen move quickly!” Hank order her as she ran to another girl on the stairs, they pressed themselves against the wall. A single arrow shot from behind grazed Hank’s neck causing his short cut hair to flutter. Unfortunately it missed its mark as the walker casually moved its head to the left allowing the arrow to sail by unused.

            “Come on you bastard. You want me? Come get some.” Hank glared at it and slowly walked backwards out the door egging the creature to follow. With determination, it obliged him. Hank watched as Jen and the girl made their way out the back door. He knows she will come around to meet him but he’s got to get this thing out in the open where the group can take it down.

            Hank didn’t get a chance to learn much about Daryl but from what little Marla told him Hank knew he was deadly with a crossbow and a brave leader. Surely, working together they would be able to take out this anomaly. In hindsight Hank wished he had told Daryl about this walker but who would believe such a story? He wasn’t even sure himself of what happened in that hallway.

            “Easy Hank, easy.” Daryl spoke as the group formed a semi-circle around the front of the house. Hank was confident, there’s no way this thing stands a chance. Before Hank could get it out into the front yard, the walker jumped through the broken door and over Hank’s head. It landed on the walkway on all fours like a cat but with so much force the ground shook violently knocking the group off their feet and pushing Hank forward into the front stairs.

            It let out an ungodly cry that wasn’t human or animal. The arms and legs began to stretch with the sound of tearing clothes as the material tried to accommodate its growing size. The face elongated and ripped at the mouth tearing it wide open. A long tongue slid out of the mouth and whipped back and forth.

            Finally the stun silence broke as Daryl fired another arrow still missing the head. The others in the group raised their weapons and let loose a hail of bullets. The creature moved with lightning speed effectively dodging the bullets, it allowed them to hit its body but protected its head with the long arms.

            “Fuck me.” Daryl whispered as he too joined in the firing squad. The creature shot out with its tongue and grabbed a man by the ankle, dragging him close then stomping on his head spilling the contents out of the top. It did the same to another man, dragging him closer then biting his neck to rip his head off, it spit the head out like one would a watermelon seed.

            From behind three canisters flew over their heads and landed close to the creature. They exploded sending big plumes of white smoke into the air engulfing it in a thick haze.

            “Run! This way, hurry!” A deep voice boomed in the distance. Hank realized it was a smoke shield to allow them to get away. They ran towards the voice, Hank grabbed Jen’s arm who was standing in the distance, thankful she was still alive. But there was no time for hugs, they had to get away from this thing.

            Coming around the corner Marla ran into the arms of a man. “Carl! Thank God!” This was the man she spoke of, the leader of the Dead Heads.

            “We need to go, we’re not safe here.” Carl spoke as he prepared the group to leave.

            “Shit, with that thing around, we’re not safe anywhere.” Daryl said solemnly as the group began to move. No one spoke, no one commented on what they saw. Fear drove them to move quickly out of the area only the sound of their labored breathing filled the air.

To Continue…

Rock and a Hard Place 12 The Wall Nine

The Wall Nine

            Marla held the bottles of water tight to her chest unsure if she would have to fight to keep them. The group has been travelling through the square all night and were not able to take a straight path with walkers around every corner. They ran into survivors sporadically all with blank expressions on their collective faces. A few tried to take supplies from them even though they had five children to care for but desperation overwhelms empathy.

            “Here Josh, hand these out to the kids.” Josh silently took the water as he shut the door behind her and gave the first to the youngest Amy. Marla handed a bottle to Hank who hasn’t spoken much since last night and to Richard, a man they picked up during the day.

            He was crouched inside an abandoned bus that Hank thought if they could get moving they could drive out of there. Richard was able to tell them the bus driver said the transports are control by the counsel and they were inoperable. The only sounds the bus was able to make was a static recording telling people to stay in their homes.

            “Bullshit, that’s what recordings said when the outbreak first appeared 25 years ago. Then came the ‘safe zones’ which only turned into walker buffets.” Richard stammered.

            Hank’s faith in New Charleston waned more and more. There were no patrols, no transports out of the district, and no containment of any kind. It was almost as if the citizens were left here to fend for themselves or die. And with every passing hour, the thought of something happening to his daughter weighed on his mind.

            “I know Jen will be fine. She’s strong and stubborn.” Marla spoke softly seeming to read his thoughts.

            “Like her old man…”Hank forced a small smile knowing Marla was trying to cheer him up.

            “Walkers.” Josh’s voice interrupted them, a group of walkers wandered pass the broken windows. “We can’t stay, more are starting to gather.” He whispered as he picked up his backpack. It still amazes Hank how young people have to grow up so fast now, they take on leadership roles more easily than him at that age. The thought gave him hope that Jen was still alive and fighting her way back to him.

            “Let’s move.” Hank gathered the supplies and took point with Josh close behind him taking second. Richard took up the rear apprehensively. Moving quickly, Hank led the group down the street avoiding small herds of walkers that were feeding on the ground. The group hasn’t seen another survivor since they passed a bus stop where they found Richard.

            Walkers simply overcame the living quickly because the attack was so unexpected. Without organized evacuations or containment, the walkers would have spread far and fast. Hank devised a plan in his head after reaching his home and meeting up with his daughter; they would have to either head for the inner or outer walls. Even though the announcement said they were sealed, he would find a way to get through them. The outer wall would lead away from New Charleston but into walker infested lands. The inner wall would lead to safety but for how long?

            “No!” A small scream penetrated Hank’s mind and he turned to see Amy on the ground with a walker pulling at her leg. Marla turned to run back to her only to be stopped by a walker’s dead hands plunged into her hair snapping her head back.

            “Shit.” Josh turned to help Marla while Hank made a break for Amy before the walker could sink its blackened teeth into her. Two walkers shambled out of a tall bush, both grabbed at Hank stopping him in his tracks. He kept his eyes on the defenseless little girl struggling to crawl out from under the walker while holding two at bay.

            Hank spotted Richard standing by with a white face and wide eyes. “Help her! Richard, goddamn it, help HER!” Hank roared at him urging him to act. Richard looked at him with blank eyes then turned and ran away. In that moment, Hank never felt as helpless as he did now. Richard never even looked back, Hank stared daggers into his fleeing back until he turned a corner.

            Just as a walker’s mouth was close enough to Hank’s face to smell what it had for breakfast a single silver arrow penetrated the skull stopping just at Hank’s eye. The walker fell and a man came into view.  A group of men and women charged from behind him to dispatch the remaining walkers. The archer picked up Amy and stood her on her feet as Hank rushed to them.

            “You alright little one?” The man said with a southern accent. He wore a T-shirt and leather vest with a quiver full of arrows on his back.

            “Daryl!” Marla yelled out. She ran to the man and hugged him; clearly they were old friends. “Thank you, we got ambushed.”

            “Amy, go with Josh.” Hank told Amy as she clutched her bear closer. Josh came to take her hand and led her back with the other children. The group of men and women took up defensive positions around them as a disciplined unit.

            “Hank, this is Daryl Dixon, he’s with the Dead Heads; these are them.” Marla introduced breathlessly.

            “Thanks.” Hank shook hands with the man who looked to be in his late 50s but still able bodied enough.

            “We took out more walkers than I can count. Carl sent me to find you and bring you back.” Daryl spoke.

            “Do you know what happened here? We haven’t seen any NCD around at all.” Marla asked.

            “And you won’t, Carl thinks the NCD and counsel are responsible for this.” Daryl knew the news would be hard for Marla to hear, even harder for Judith.

            “Paul, take them back to headquarters, the rest of us are going ahead.” Daryl ordered and a younger man moved to obey.

            “Where are you going?” Marla asked him.

            “I’ve gotta find Judith. She went to the inner wall but she’s not responding. A courier just got through with a message that she was coming to meet us late last night. I know she walks through Columbus Square…and then we heard about this….” Daryl couldn’t finish; he practically helped raise Judith and herself.

            “I’m going with you. You’re heading through Spring District?” Hank asked him. Daryl nodded his head. “I’m trying to find my daughter. I left her a note to go home and wait for me there. I need to see if she made it.” Daryl’s face changed with understanding of what Hank is going through. He nodded his agreement.

            “Then I’m going too.” Marla spoke up.

            “Carl said to get you to a safe place…” Daryl interrupted.  

            “I’m going with you there’s no point in arguing. Will the children be okay?” Marla asked.

            “Paul’s one of my best, he’ll take a crew with him.” Daryl pointed at Paul and they began to move out. Marla rushed over to hug Amy tight before departing. At least the children were safe while she, Hank, Daryl and some of the Dead Heads were traveling further into danger. Judith was someone out there along with Hank’s daughter.

            “Don’t worry Hank, Daryl is the best tracker. He’ll find Jen and Judith.” Marla comforted.

            “Who’s Judith?” Hank asked.

            “A very dear friend, I just hope she’s okay.”

To Continue…

Rock and a Hard Place 12- The Wall Eight

The Wall Eight

            “Citizens, by order of Head Counselor Grimes the inner and outer Walls are to be locked down. No one is authorized to move between the gates or screening stations. This is for your own safety. Please remain in your homes until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation.” The male voice read the same message repeatedly to the point where Jen can recite and mock it. She had been out all night with her friends and was ready to go home and face the wrath of her father.

            “Kay? You seen Codi? Wasn’t she supposed to meet us at the high school? She still has my jacket.” Jen asked as the group of teens walked the streets. The sun slowly began to rise in the east casting an early morning orange glow on a mist that still clung to the cool ground.

            “Nope, she probably got her some with her ‘boyfriend’ at the home,” Kay chuckled, “if I were you, I’d burn that jacket.” His comment drew knowing laughs from Jiff, Robbie, and Trinity.

            “What’s the matter? You miss your daddy? Did he give you the jacket for your sweet sixteen?” Trinity laughed as she walked. For some reason, Trinity has been riding Jen since they met yesterday.

            “What’s your problem?” Jen finally had enough and stopped to face her. Trinity could be a true beauty if she didn’t wear a frown on her face all the time. Her skin is caramel colored with almond shaped light brown eyes. She dyed her hair dark purple and shaved one side short leaving the other long in a punk style.

            “You’re my problem…” Trinity came forward, “I could kill you now and no one would care.” She stated with a smile but a strange noise drew the group’s attention to the streets. To their right a small horde of walkers staggered toward them.

            “What the fuck?” Trinity spoke in surprise.

            “Holy shit!  Robbie stuttered.

            “We need to move, now! The home’s not far.” Kay yelled. The five teens moved in unison, no one spoke, they knew they had to get off the streets and each pulled out a weapon. Jen didn’t have her knives or guns, they were confiscated at the outer Wall.

            “Here.” Trinity handed her a military Ka-Bar with brown leather grip. “Don’t fuck it up.” She warned but Jen was relieved to have a weapon again.

            Rounding a corner, the group reached the group home they had just left hours before. The bottom floor was empty but furniture was pushed over and tables knocked down as if a horde went through here.

            “We can’t stay.” Jen spoke.

            “We’re not, we just need to get a few things.” Kay assured her as he and Jiff went to the second floor. Jen paced the kitchen wanting to run home and get her dad. He would need her to watch his back as this horde advanced. They were always together at times like this, what would he do without her? Damn, why did she leave the house?

            As Jen paced, she noticed her denim jacket underneath a fallen chair but her elation turned sour when she picked it up and saw dried blood down the back.

            “Codi,” she whispered knowing the girl was mostly likely dead. She was a quiet 15 year old who liked to read books and write stories. She had mousey brown hair and clear blue eyes; she also had a crush on a boy who lived here on the fourth floor and wanted to wear the bedazzled jacket in a vain attempt to catch his attention.

            “Dammit, Codi.” Jen was surprised by the tears welling up in her eyes. She barely knew the girl but had grown to like her in the limited time they spent together. Codi had no one else in New Charleston so she had no one to mourn her but Jen would.

            The crackle of paper drew Jen’s attention, a crumpled piece of paper sat in the inner pocket. Perhaps it was something Codi was working on, a love letter to her crush. When she drew it out, she immediately recognized her father’s handwriting. Jen felt a rush of dread as she tore at the folded edges trying to open the letter as quickly as possible.

            ‘Jen, meet me at home. Dad.’ That was all that was written but it was enough to make Jen’s heart swell. Her father was okay and came here looking for her and finding her jacket covered with blood wasn’t enough to convince him of her death. In that moment Jen realized how much she truly loved her father and would fight her way home no matter what.

            With a renewed sense of purpose, Jen went to tell Kay that she was leaving for home and that they could join her or she would go alone but Kay was pointing at something on the street.

            “Guys! Look at this.” Kay yelled from outside on the porch.

            “Shut the hell up, you wanna attract every Zeek for miles? Ass.” Trinity spoke softly as the group followed Kay’s line of sight.

            “Look at this Zeek, he’s watching us and smiling. That’s some funny shit, you ever see a Zeek smile at you?” Kay was enjoying the show but Jen had a knot in her stomach. Walkers don’t just stand in the middle of the street watching you and smiling. That’s not normal behavior.

            “We should go.” Jen said her eyes never leaving the lone walker.

            “Yeah, let’s leave. You got our stuff.” Trinity agreed, her voice seemed uneasy with the walker around.

            “Let’s have some fun first. Jiff, you got that bat? Let’s play Zeek ball.” Kay and Jiff advanced. Robbie reluctantly followed not wanting to be left out and thought less of by the other guys.

            The walker stood stock still as the three boys circled him. Two with broad smiles and one scared shitless. Jiff began to poke at the walker trying to incite a reaction but the walker didn’t move, didn’t lunge, and didn’t attack. It just stood there grinning.

            “This bastard ain’t doing anything. This is too easy.” Jiff laughed obviously eager to smash the walker’s head in. Jiff aimed the bat at the back of the walker’s knees intending to put it on the ground and prolong their fun but the knees didn’t give out, it barely moved at all.

            “Just go for the head.” Kay provoked. Jiff swung the bat to the left temple and the walker caught the bat with his left hand. It twisted the bat down and pushed the end back into Jiff’s chest knocking him down. The smiles fade as the walker dropped the bat and advanced on a coughing Jiff. It reached down and grabbed Jiff’s head with both dead hands and picked him up high enough that his sneakered feet dangled above the concrete.

            Jiff was screaming as the walker plunged its thumbs into the soft orbs of his eyes and slowly crushed those inwards. Blood and matter oozed out and onto the ground. Kay and Robbie were motionless with fear; once Jen got past the initial shock was spurred into action. She ran for the walker drawing her knife; the horrible screams from Jiff making her feet fly faster.

            As she was ready to strike, the walker flung a now motionless Jiff around using him like a weapon to knock Jen to the ground. It swung Jiff’s body towards Kay who now took off running while Robbie’s head made contact with Jiff’s feet. The walker dropped Jiff in a crumbled heap and lunged for Robbie. It sank its teeth into Robbie’s throat and ripped at it like an animal while Robbie gurgled his last screams.

            Trinity rushed to Jen and picked her up by her armpits. “Let’s go, come on!” Trinity yelled but Jen’s legs didn’t want to respond so struck by fear. Finally Jen was able to get her feet underneath her and the two ran off into the newly formed day. Jen had never been so scared in her life, even living among walkers in the settlements didn’t scare her to this degree. The walker seemed to be enjoying killing Jiff and Robbie, the smile never left its face and it was able to fight back. How was it able to fight back?

            All Jen could think about now was getting home to her dad. She told Trinity about the note as they ran, she agreed to come with her and Jen could see Trinity has the same fear in her eyes.

            “Sorry folks, transports have been suspended. You should return to your homes.” The driver spoke to a small group of people on the corner. Jen and Trinity stopped to find out what was going on.

            “My home is overrun by walkers. I lost my wife. What are we supposed to do?” A man spoke up.

            “I’m sorry but all the transports and trains are remotely controlled by the NCD. I can’t even get it started. They’re asking me to tell you to return to your homes while they get the situation under control.” The driver continued to plead.

            “Situation? Jesus man, the square has been taken over by walkers. They’re spreading. We need to get out of the city.” Another man spoke with desperation.

            “There is no out of the city, the gates at both the inner and outer Walls have been sealed.” A woman in the crowd informed.

            “So they trapped us in here with Zeeks. Where is the NCD? Shouldn’t they be here to stop this?” The first man spoke again. “They’re trying to kill us, that’s what it is….they’re trying to exterminate us with walkers. Those bastards!”

            “Citizens, by order of Head Counselor Grimes the inner and outer Walls are to be locked down. No one is authorized to move between the gates or screening stations. This is for your own safety. Please remain in your homes until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation.” The recording spoke again over the static of the bus radio system as if mocking them. This wasn’t good. The Walls were supposed to keep walkers out; now they were prisoners.

To Continue…

Rock and a Hard Place 12 The Wall Seven

The Wall Seven

            “They’re pretty shaken up but no one has been bitten or scratched. Josh says a teacher put them up here when walkers were on the streets but she never came back to get them. That was not long ago.” Marla relayed the conversation she had with the five children hiding in the attic. Josh is the oldest at 17 and has taken charge.

            “Did he say how the walkers came to be on the streets? What the hell happened here?” Hank asked her.

            “No, all he can tell me is they were about to eat dinner when the teacher came in from the streets ordering the kids upstairs. Some of the teens ran outside….he didn’t know your daughter and couldn’t say whether she was here or not. I’m sorry.” Marla put a comforting hand on Hank’s shoulder.

            “I’m fine, Marla. She was here and I’m sure she made it out…just where?” Hank asked himself. He didn’t even want to think about what could have happened, he just needs to focus on what is happening. Right now, they were trapped in a house full of walkers in a district overrun by walkers with five kids to take care of.

            “So what’s the plan?” Marla obviously was having the same thoughts.

            “The window here...” Hank brought Marla over to look out of the fifth story window, “we can get out onto the roof and make it to the next building. From here, it looks like most of the walkers in the immediate area are attracted to this house. We make some noise to get more to come here then we make it to the next building and quietly work our way down.” Hank knew it could be done but from the look on Marla’s face, she needed more convincing.

            “Are you crazed? We’re five stories up with children.” Marla spoke.

            “Marla, we can’t stay here. The walkers will just keep coming…” Marla interrupted him.

            “We can wait for help to come. The NCD should be…”

            “Did you see them on the streets? Were they stopping people from walking into a Zeek feast? I don’t know where the NCD is and frankly I don’t give a damn, we’re here now and we need to get these kids out. We can only depend on ourselves; that’s how you stay alive.” Hank had a point. There were no NCD soldiers anywhere; they couldn’t wait for them.

            “I want you to tell the kids the plan, they need to know how important it is to stay quiet once we start for the next building. I found this board that I’ll place on the ledge to the next roof. Josh, can you help me please?” Hank took Josh to make their escape route.

            “Alright kids, we’re going to get out of here. It may be scary but we need to go to the next roof to get out.” Marla kneeled down to tell the kids.

            “We’re gonna fall.” Amy spoke softly clutching a tattered teddy bear; she’s the youngest and looked at Marla with scared brown eyes.

            “No sweetie, we’re not going to fall if we do this right and be careful.” Marla soothed them.

            Once the group was ready to move, Hank had the children jump up and down making as much noise as they could to attract more walkers inside the home and keep them busy. Marla went first to test the board; with only a foot and a half of width the board was rickety and unsteady. Being this high off the ground was nauseating but she made it across.

            Josh crossed with no problems followed by Jennifer, Taco, and Brian. Amy was being more difficult as Marla tried to coax her over.

            “We don’t have time, I’ll just carry her.” Hank put the girl over his back and proceeded to crawl carefully. Amy gripped his neck tightly with her bear hanging precariously in front.

            The creak of the board and his fast breathing were the only sounds Hank heard as he inched his way across the gulf. He was just about to reach the other side; Marla extended her hand and was able to grip Amy just as the wood board gave way. The bottom of Hank’s stomach fell out as he grabbed for anything and caught the brick ledge.

            “Hank….Hank?” Marla let out a harsh whisper not wanting to draw attention.

            “I’m fine.” He let out a sigh of relief as he pulled himself onto the roof. He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until he lay on his back facing the stars.

            “You scared the shit out of me. Don’t do that again, okay?” Marla scolded him with a smile of relief.

            “Yes, ma’am. Let’s move.” With adrenaline still pumping through his veins, Hank led the group into the building through a roof access. The maintenance hallway was dark and silent. It looks to be an apartment complex which just means many more dark corners to avoid.

            Hank retrieved a small flashlight from his pocket attached by a chain to a pocket knife. He led the way followed by Josh with Marla taking up the rear. They had to be quiet but move quickly, there wasn’t time for Hank to clear the way; they just had to go for it. Coming up on a dark corner that must lead to the staircase, a small warm hand wrapped around Hank’s wrist.

            He looked down to see Amy’s wide eyes staring up at him. “Amy?” Hank asked.

            “She can hear them. Zeeks, Amy can hear them somehow.” Josh tried to explain to Hank’s puzzled look.

            “Get inside.” Hank whispered and Marla led the kids into a small utility closet. Hank moved forward with his flashlight down; he moved to the corner and peeked around; he counted four walkers milling around in the hall. They moved slowly and with no discernable destination. There was no other way around; the staircase was beyond the walkers with a black Exit sign above it. Moving close to the wall Hank pulled his pocket knife out. The blade is small and wouldn’t inflict much damage but hitting the right spot can get the job done.

            Hank slipped to the first walker and quickly thrust the knife upward in the base of the head. The blow caused a small jerk then the walker went limp, Hank caught him and gently put him on the ground; his eyes trained on the other three who didn’t seem alerted.

            On to the second with the same blow and the same result only this time the walker’s foot caught a small rolling cart in the middle of the hall sending a glass bottle to the floor. The insignificant sound of breaking glass was deafening in the silent hallway and a dinner bell to the remaining walkers.

            They advanced; Hank front kicked the closest one, a man, but the hard kick did nothing but knock Hank to the ground. His leg ached as if he kicked a brick wall.

            “What the hell?” Hank spoke aloud. He dodge a lunge and grabbed a metal chair to use as a shield. The female walker came forward and Hank knocked her down easily. He plunged the knife into the eye socket causing her flailing arms to still.

            Hank got up ready to face the stronger male walker that looked somewhat familiar to him. The walker lunged again and Hank spun him around with a knock from the chair. Seeing his opening Hank aimed the knife for the back of the head but to his amazement, the walker’s hand caught his wrist tightly, stopping the attack.

            Hank was stunned as the walker turned its head a full 180 degrees to face him. Hank was able to get a better look at him and was shocked to realize that he was the man in front of him at the screener’s station on the day he arrived in the city. The one who was scanned and found to be infected. Now he is a walker but something much worse, a walker that can think.

            A yell escaped Hank’s lips as the walker’s vice like grip got tighter and made him drop the chair. He dropped the knife from his captured hand and swiftly caught it with his free hand; Hank tried to strike at the walker’s head but his hand was seized again by the walker.

            “My God.” Hank whispered to himself so sure that this walker who can think and deflect his attacks was going to kill him. The walker pushed Hank into the wall with such force it knocked the wind out of him leaving him dazed. As Hank slid to the ground, he watched the walker right itself by leaving its eyes trained on Hank but turning its body around to meet the head. He had never seen a walker do anything like this. They were mindless creatures motivated by basic instinct. They shouldn’t be capable of thought and strategy. They shouldn’t be able to fight back at all.

            Hank saw Marla come in from behind and before he could warn her she smashed the blunt end of a fire extinguisher into the walker’s head. It merely dented the skull slightly but not enough to kill it.

            “Marla run!” Hank yelled as the walker turned to attack her. With its back turned Hank use the wall to throw himself onto the walker and knocked it into an open door. He slammed the door closed as the walker started to beat on the wood.

            “What the hell?” Marla tried to ask.

            “Let’s go, now!” Hank waited as the kids filed out of the storage room Marla leading them down the stairs to the exit. Hank ran after them but an unbelievable sound stop him at the landing. The pounding on the wood door had ceased and was replaced by the familiar sound of a door knob twisting.

            Hank turned to see the gold knob smoothly turn as the walker pulled the door open. Absolute fear kept Hank watching as the walker peeked out with a smile on his dead face. The smirk was enough to send Hank running down the stairs and out into the night. How was he going to fight a walker that can think?

            Hank faced many killers in his time in the military and more after the world changed. Until now, he never thought a walker could be made more dangerous as this one was. There was pleasure in that smile, satisfaction, and menace.

            “Are you okay?” Marla asked him noticing the furrowed brows and look of concern.

            “No, not really.” Hank was out of breath more from terror than physical exertion. Hank was unsure of what happened here in Columbus Square but he was sure of one thing; that walker is a killer and it’s loose on the streets of New Charleston.

To Continue….

Rock and a Hard Place 12 The Wall Six

The Wall Six

            Councilman Troy Hudson walked into Head Council Grimes’ office without knocking since the situation was so urgent. He noticed that Judith Grimes sat with her father speaking in low tones when he interrupted.

            “Council Grimes, I have some distressing news to inform you of. It’s rather important.” He tried to be cordial.

            “Can’t it wait, I’m talking with my daughter.” Rick spoke softly.

            “I’m afraid not, there’s another ongoing attack in the south eastern providence; Columbus Square. At this time the NCD have been unable to retake control and has fallen back to containment until reinforcements can arrive.” Troy spoke urgently.

            “I’ll come back tomorrow morning, dad, you have….business.” Judith could barely hide the resentment in her voice. She never liked Councilman Hudson. He’s a little older than she but with a harsh ambition that Judith classified as ladder climber. He’s the kind of person that would sell his soul for fame and fortune.

            Judith stood and kissed her father on the cheek a bit dishearten that no one seems to see him the way she did. He’s been through so much since the start of the infection that the deep lines etched on his face betrayed his real age of only 63. He lost his friends, his wife; a mother Judith never knew.

She left the two to talk and leaned against the closed office door thinking she had to contact Carl and tell him about another attack in the city. It was already past curfew and even being the Head Council’s daughter wouldn’t protect her completely if she’s caught out on the streets. But she had to get to Carl and the Dead Heads right away.

On the other side of the city another citizen was dodging the screeners out past curfew as well. Hank and Marla walked the nearly empty streets of New Charleston in search for Hank’s daughter Jen.

“Where the hell would she go? We don’t know anyone here yet?” Hank said in a harsh whisper.

            “There are plenty of children Jen’s age here alone. They lost their parents or group before arriving which is why we’re checking the group homes in the area. Teens tend to hang around outside them.” Marla explained. “There are two big homes in Columbus Square.”

            Hank was beside himself with worry. For a second he thought facing down hordes of undead outside the Wall would be preferable than losing Jen in this densely populated city of survivors. Why didn’t they just stay in the settlements?

            The pair turned a corner onto a narrow, sparsely lit street in Columbus Square. Unlike the streets they passed where a few people mingled outside, this square was completely empty and still.

            “Wait. This…..this doesn’t seem right.” Marla stopped in her tracks. The city is usually still alive after curfew with sounds of residents inside their homes but it was dead silent. A loud crash sounded in the direction they had come. Behind them a door burst opened and the dead piled out of a two story brownstone.

            “Walkers!” Hank yelled and gripped Marla’s wrist, the two began to run further into the square.

            “Walkers? What the hell are so many walkers doing in the city?” Marla couldn’t believe it. The walker attack days prior was unbelievable but now she counted at least a dozen Zeeks making their way up the street. This is impossible.

            “Come on, we gotta get off the street!” Hank was stunned. He didn’t think after a few days of living in the only human city left on the East coast that he’d be running from a horde or walkers and his daughter would be missing. His heart ached knowing she was alone in a city starting to fill with the dead.

            The pair rounded a corner and was greeted with a horrifying sight. There, in the square’s park was a resting herd of walkers. There were too many to count and many of the wounds were fresh. Fresh bites and scratches which leads one to believe these were the now infected residents of Columbus Square.

            “My God! Where the hell is the NCD?” Marla asked in a panicked whisper.

            “Looks like we’re on our own. Where is that group home?” Hank spoke low; still a few mingling walkers closer to them started to react and soon the whole herd will be down their throats.

            “We can’t keep looking….”Hank cut Marla off with the fire in his eyes.

            “I am going to find my daughter, now where is the home?” Hank spoke a little louder than he intended. Marla knew not to argue and pointed to a four story building on the other side of the park. The pair started off for the home keeping low and quiet.

            Just leaving the inner Wall, Judith exited the transport on the first stop. She would walk the rest of the way taking back alleys through the providences in case she was being followed. She could at least get a look at the damage from the latest sham attack as her route would take her through Columbus Square.

            The inside of the group home was quiet and dark as if the residents either fled or turned. Hank told Marla to stay quiet as he went meticulously from room to room, clearing them. After so many years living on their own, the skill to avoid walkers came second nature. The first floor was free of dangers and Hank moved on to the second while Marla stay in the main living room to sound an alarm should walkers get in from the street. So far, they remained quiet as to not draw any attention.

Marla walked into the big kitchen to see bowls of food still steaming on a set dining table. They were just about to eat when this happened. But why isn’t the NCD here? Why is there no containment and more importantly, why is there no help?

            Hank came down after checking all the floors and he had a small jean jacket in his hand.

            “Jen was wearing this….there’s blood on it.” Hank’s voice cracked. He can’t believe his little girl is gone. She’s strong, a survivor; he wasn’t writing her off yet.

            “I’m sure she made it out. From the little I’ve seen of her I can see she’s stubborn and that’s a good thing.” Marla smiled a little hoping Jen was okay. The sound of glass breaking caught their attention as walkers tried to get in the front door. The back door was there in the kitchen and Marla grabbed the knob to open it when Hank caught her hand.

            “Wait!” There beyond the glass were several gray faces pressed against it. The door began to bow under the stress. “We’re surrounded.”

            “How do we get out?” Marla felt the panic in the pit of her stomach threatening to make her lose her dinner.

            “We go up.” Hank ran to the staircase stopping at the bottom, he motioned for Marla to go ahead of his just as the front door burst open and a flood of walkers streamed through the opening. “Go, go, go!” Hank yelled.

            Not stopping, they ran past the second and third floors to the fourth. The stairs will slow the walkers down as they attempt to navigate them but only for a few moments.

            “Where? Where do we go? My God, we’re trapped here.” Marla held her elbows, she didn’t want to die like this.

            “Here.” Hank reached up and pulled a cord hanging from the ceiling. An attic space above the fourth floor opened up with a ladder sliding down. The moans were getting closer as Marla gripped the steps and hurried up. Hank was right behind her and slammed the ladder closed just was the walkers reached the fourth floor landing.

            The attic was dim and smelled of mildew. They still needed to find a way out of the attic unable to live there indefinitely. Hank heard the sound of shuffling feet from a dark corner.

            “Shit.” He whispered. How could a walker get up here? He had to take care of it and grabbed the nearest blunt object, the base of a lamp with its cord dangling as Hank held it like a bat. He lifted it high above his head.

            “Stop! It’s not a walker.” Marla yelled just as Hank was about to swing. There in the corner was a group of children ranging in age from about 8 to maybe 16, five children in total. “It’s kids.” Marla spoke softly. The children huddled in the corner with scared wide eyes.

            Judith walked the narrow streets of Columbus Square unsure as to where everyone was. The square was quiet and almost empty. This was odd with a district further away from the inner Wall. There should be groups of people at the local bar, a few milling around trading goods and services, but there was no one. She also didn’t see any sign of attack or the NCD. Perhaps Councilman Hudson got the report wrong. Judith continued to walk further into the square her steps echoing in the empty street unaware of the looming horde of undead just beyond the park.

To Continue….

Rock and a Hard Place 12- The Wall Five

The Wall Five

            “What were you doing out so late, Jen? I was worrying my ass off waiting to hear from you. If you walk out like that again…I’ll…” Hank couldn’t finish; he was seething. Jen would go off on her own before when they lived in the settlement but that didn’t antagonize him more than here. There are so many people here, too many potential threats. Jen didn’t have an explanation and soon ran to her room to sulk, Hank let her go.

            “Marla, thank you for bringing her home. If anything were to happen to her…”

            “She’s being a teen; no one got hurt.” Marla spoke unsure of how to broach the subject. “So, you wanna tell me how you did on your placement test?” She smiled.

            “Oh, yeah. Come in, I’ll get you something to drink.” Hank came back with two room temperature beer bottles. “Compliments of a friend, a welcome to the neighborhood gift. Unfortunately, my fridge is being temperamental.” Hank explained.

            “It’s okay, I could use a drink. It’s been a rough day.” Marla sighed as she twisted the top off.

            “Well, I got Close Combat Trainer. I guess it’s exactly what it sounds.” Hank blurted out.

            “You made the NCD force, that’s impressive. I wasn’t sure because of your age that…I mean, not that you’re old, it’s just that you’re….well….old?” Marla smiled awkwardly unsure how to remove the foot she just inserted into her mouth without tearing anything.

            “Yeah, I know, I am older. Before the world changed, 55 wasn’t that old actually. Now…now it seems like the human life span has become increasingly shorter, so 55 is ancient to you young kids.” Hank smiled but inside it was a terrible thought to think that his daughter may not make it to 55.

            “I’m not that young, I’m 24. That’s practically middle aged.” Marla laughed. Her thoughts were in turmoil thinking that perhaps asking Hank for help wasn’t a good idea, not now that he’s made the NCD. However, if Marla was able to get him on their side, having someone inside the NCD may be more beneficial and worth the risk.

            “Hank, tell me what you know about the Dead Heads.” Marla thought it better not to wait any longer even though she almost laughed at the expression on Hank’s face.

            “Well, not much. I just heard that they’re dangerous, that they don’t approve of life behind the Wall; they caused that walker attack when we first arrived in the city.” Hank spoke as if he was giving a report.

            “Would it surprise you to know that I was once a Dead Head?” Marla tested him.

            “You? Well, no actually, it wouldn’t. But…”Marla interrupted him.

            “Hank, I need your help. The lives of my friends, your daughter, and the whole city could be in danger. Please, just hear me out. The Dead Heads are being set up.” Marla mirrored her earlier conversation with Pete. Hank leaned in to listen thinking perhaps it was a mistake to move to the city as Marla began to speak a polite knock sounded at the door.

            “Excuse me.” Hank stood to answer the caller and was greeted by a screener and his team.

            “Good evening citizen, we are here to conduct a random screen. Please have all occupants present for the screen.” The man wore a white lab coat over blue slacks and button down shirt. He spoke through a medical face mask that muffled his words.

            “What’s this all about?” Hank asked a little put out at having to submit to this.

            “Hank, just do as he says, please.” Marla was beside him, her hand on his elbow.

            “I’ll get Jen.” Hank left to walk upstairs. The team of four spread out throughout the lower floor sifting through articles of clothing, papers, and drawers. The screener tested blood from Marla first.

            “Marla Goode, says here your shift ended hours ago yet you’re still here at your newbie’s home?” He asked.

            “Yes, I’m finding out how he did on his classification exam.” Marla didn’t want to give him any more information. Hank reappeared at the bottom of the stairs.

            “Jen’s gone. Her window was open.” Hank said with worry.

            “That’s unfortunate, it’s curfew for minors. If she’s caught on the streets now, she’ll be arrested.” The screener smiled; Hank was nose to nose standing over him in two strides.

            “Hank,” Marla tried to diffuse the situation, “we’ll find her.”

           

            Judith Grimes rode the train from the outer wall; the late day chill caused her to pull her jacket tighter. She always gets anxious when she meets her brother, with so much going on in the city that most people don’t even know about, it could get very dangerous to continue these meetings. But Carl needed her, now more than ever, and she was going to stand by him.

            The train rambled from the outer wall through the various districts full of newbies and non-conformists. Judith viewed them from the window and wondered why they were here; why was anyone here. The train stopped at the last station before entering the inner wall. Judith sat still as screeners and guards entered to check the credentials of the remaining passengers.

            To enter the inner wall you have to either live or work there and carry the right identification issued by the Data Collection Agency with whom Judith worked as an employee.

            “Miss, your ID please.” The young guard spoke through a military grade mask. The guards wore them for protection against any biological threat civilians in the city may pose. She handed him her ID and she passed through the checkpoint without incident. The train continued on its route and Judith felt a sense of dread in her stomach. She always felt this way when she went to see the head of the council.

            Judith was the only one of the Dead Heads to be able to get behind the inner Wall but she also has access to the council chambers. As she left the train station and walked the clean streets, passing polite and happy people, she entered the Council Hall. The ornate columns and the capital with its graceful scroll brought to mind pictures of Greek Architecture she had seen in books.

            These were the last few remaining shadows of human engineering, a sign of a civilization long dead. Judith walked to the reception and asked to see the Head Council member.

            “He’s expecting you, Ms. Grimes. Go in please.” She spoke politely. Judith walked the familiar halls and entered the tall dark oak doors. There sitting behind an oversized wooded desk was the target of the Dead Heads and the supposed reason for suffering behind the Wall.

            “Hi, dad.” Judith spoke with a small smile.

            “Judy, I’m glad you’re back.” Rick Grimes stood to greet his daughter.

To Continue…

Rock and a Hard Place 12 The Wall Four

The Wall Four

            A lone alley against the outer wall led to an abandoned warehouse where guards stood on watch at strategic locations. These were the Dead Heads, a moniker given by the self-appointed ruler of New Charleston and the Dead Heads liked it. The people thought the council of representatives elected this person but the Dead Heads knew he had taken power when the opportunity presented itself. He rules under the guise of a benevolent and unbiased leader but the tragic state of those who were consider poor and weak proved otherwise; this was true in the eyes of the Dead Heads leader, Carl Grimes.  

            Marla followed a familiar path through inconspicuous check points to reach a meeting place that was permanently etched in her mind. Here; in the middle of all this desolation of overgrown streets and empty buildings, stood a small indoor glade with a pond and sweet smelling flowers. Carl had meticulously restored this greenhouse to serve as a mediation area for him after having to make such harsh decisions. This was also the place her parents were transported to after being shot; this sanctuary was where they died together, holding hands.

            “Marla, I’m so glad to see you.” A woman’s voice echoed in against the foliage covered glass walls.

            “Judy, how’ve you been?” Marla embraced the woman with light brown hair that appeared red in direct sun. Judith Grimes is Carl’s little sister and was born about a year before her. Judy was her true childhood friend and Marla felt bad that by cutting ties with the Dead Heads, she also had to cut ties with her.

            “Can’t really complain. You know, taking it one day at a time. How’s life as a…umm…handler?” Judy seemed unsure.

            “Close enough, I’m a City Liaison but most newbies call us handlers…” Marla was interrupted.

            “That’s because you show the newbies all the benefits of living behind the Wall but none of the consequences.” A man’s voice spoke from the shadows.

            “Carl, that’s not true. Life behind the Wall is what we make it.” Marla had been having this argument with him since their group arrived in the city.

            “Of course, if you have the power and influence. What you sell the newbies is a lie, Marla. They come thinking they have a chance here, we know different.” Carl stepped closer. Marla marveled at how much he looks like his father. Brown hair and brown eyes with a strong jaw. He has the bearing of a leader and an air of confidence about him. Carl Grimes is the type of person that when he talks, people listen.

            “Look, I’m not having this argument with you again. You said you needed my help, first you need to explain to me what the hell is really going on.” Marla demanded and the three sat down for a talk.

            Elsewhere in the city, Hank McAdams asked his daughter something he never thought he would have to ask her; whether or not she’d done her homework. That world of schools and homework to Hank seemed so far away. Jen got angry and walked out the front door. He let her go to blow off steam; was this really the third day he thought.

            Jen McAdams walked down to the market, she just wanted to be out of the house. She watched as people walked to places, from places; everyone had something they had to do, somewhere they had to be. Living in camps and settlements, life revolved around the next meal, the next horde of walkers to put down. Jen had to admit, she kind of missed that.

            “Hey.” A male voice interrupted her thoughts. Next to her, leaning on a pole, was a young man in a tattered gray shirt and vest. His jeans were fitted and his shoes were mismatched but practical.

            “You talking to me?” Jen asked.

            “Yeah, my name is Kay.” He smiled.

            “Kay? Really?” Jen smirked.

            “Yeah, because my group found me at K-Mart when I was little. So they called me Kay.” He stepped closer.

            “Good thing you weren’t found at Wal-mart, Wally.” Jen’s smile spread. Kay and Jen sat on the curb and talked a little. He told her how he came to be in the city, she told him how much she missed the settlement but that her dad wanted them here.

            “I hear ya. At least it’s good you still have your dad. I don’t have anyone.” Kay paused. “You wanna go blow off some steam?” He asked.

            “What do you mean?” Jen asked, her interest piqued.

            “There’s this place some of us go to when we want to…kill something. It’s on the outskirts of town just by the outer Wall. Where we can get at some Zeeks and…you know.” Kay was talking about killing some walkers…for fun. Jen thought she should feel sicken; it’s what her dad would feel, but she had to admit, she missed killing walkers.

            “Let’s go.” Jen said without further hesitation. The pair walked to the nearest bus terminal and rode it towards the outer wall. More and more passengers got off until there was only Jen and Kay left. The last stop was in an empty neighborhood. The streets were bare save for a few burnt out cars. Once they got off, Jen followed Kay in silence beginning to second guess this little adventure.

            They arrived at an old high school, the signage called it M R Rivers. Inside the abandoned hallways and classrooms were a group of kids in the gym. Jen counted about nine of them with a walker in the center.

            “Come on man, hit him! Hit him!”

            “Aww you missed!”

            “It’s coming!” The kids laughed and squealed as a boy in the center fought the walker with a knife.

            “Come on Jiff, get ‘em!” Kay yelled as they entered the circle. The boy called Jiff dodged a lunge by the walker; it’s rotting flesh falling off from exertion. Jiff spun on his heels and buried the knife to the hilt into the walker’s head. Dark blood ran down to the floor as the group cheered. Their cried echoed in the huge room when the walker fell with a wet thud.

            “Hey Jiff, this is Jen.” Kay introduced them. Jiff was taller than Kay with dark black hair cut short and blue eyes. He wore jeans and a Ramone’s band tee.

            “Don’t you mean Jeff?” Jen asked.

            “No Jiff, I was found in a Jiffy Lube.”

            “Of course you were. So Jiff, what’s the deal here?” Jen asked.

            “Just what it looks like. A place to play. The people here are so soft. They lost touch with the fact that Zeeks are still a threat. We come here to….keep our skills sharp.”

            “Cool.” Jen looked around and felt a familiarity with these teens. They were like her, feeling trapped by rules and regulations. “I want in.” Jen smiled.

            Hours later Jen stumbled out of the school knowing they were going to meet up again next week. Jiff said it was getting harder and harder to get Zeeks from outside so they don’t meet as often as they once did. Jen felt anticipation for next week’s meeting and she was so absorbed in her thoughts that she ran right into an authority figure that could cause her trouble.

            “Jen? What are you doing here?” Marla asked the young McAdams girl knowing how far away she was from her home.

            “Marla…I…I was just exploring the city.” Jen lied.

            “You shouldn’t be this close to the outer wall. It’s not safe.” Marla spoke quickly worried that Jen may have followed her to the meeting. She didn’t want to put the child in danger. “I’ll make sure you get home. Come on, it’s late; curfew will start soon.” Marla led the way back to the bus stop and they boarded the last transport.

            The summer sun just began to set turning the sky from bright blue to deep orange. Elsewhere in the city people were going about their daily lives not having to worry about how to save the city from itself like Marla. She was going to need help but there were few people she trusted. Maybe good help won’t be in old friends but new ones. Marla hated to bring innocent people into this conflict but if what Carl said was true, every life behind the Wall will be at stake. Luckily she was bringing Jen home, so she had an excuse to talk to Hank. Marla just hopes this is the right course of action.

To Continue….