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…. 

Rock and a Hard Place 12 "The Wall" Three

The Wall Three

            Marla, the handler, called Hank early the next morning to let him know she was caught up at classification. She was sending another liaison to show them to the testing facility and that she will meet them. A young man showed up at the door promptly at 10 o’clock to chaperone them.

            “You okay?” Hank asked as the three boarded the bus. Todd, as he introduced himself, seemed nervous.

            “Yeah. I just don’t come to this part of the city often. I’m still in training to become a liaison actually.” Todd spoke, his voice seemingly about to crack either by the anxiety or puberty or both. Hank smiled to ease him. Jen had not said a word since getting on the bus. When Hank asked her what she had done yesterday she simply responded with nothing.

            At their stop, Todd quickly told them to wait on the steps, that Marla will meet them to take them inside. He barely said goodbye before rushing off. The August day was hot and sticky, it almost seemed as air barely flowed in the crowded streets. Not many cars used the roads, most people were on foot or took the bus. High above them, the elevated train rumbled by and as Hank’s eyes followed he noticed a cemetery across the street.

            A woman in a blue blouse caught his attention and Hank realized that it was Marla. Telling Jen to stay and protect the stair she was sitting on, Hank walked over to the cemetery a little put out that Marla wasn’t here to show them where to go. She was kneeling down next to a plaque with her back to him. Standing over her, Hank read the epitaph out loud to announce his presence.

            “’Glenn Rhee & Maggie Greene, Husband and Wife, We didn’t just Survive, We Lived.’ That’s beautiful, who were they?” Hank asked.

            “Umm, they were…really good people.” Marla was a bit startled and seemed tense. “They fell in love after the world ended. They got married in an abandoned prison and managed to stay together even through the worse of it. I like to come here sometimes and just look at the plaque. It reminds me that life finds away.” Marla spoke softly.

            The engraved words showed the couple died together about two years prior, in Year 23 A. When the world ended, all sense of time passing was inconsequential so survivors simply called that first year, Year One After, as in after the world ended. And so this modest unit of measuring time became standard and today was August 15 Year 25 A.

            Hank and Erica did meet and get together before Year One and remember how life was before things changed. Jen was born March 19 Year 8 A, she wasn’t planned and in fact Hank was worried about how he would handle a newborn among the dead but he soon found that keeping Jen alive was his reason for breathing, his reason for waking up day after day after his wife died. Now she was 17 and more importantly…alive.

            “We should go, classification starts soon.” Marla didn’t hear Hank walk up behind her so absorbed in her thoughts. Marla would come to this gravesite once a week to pay her respects even though she was told not to. For her protection, she was told to stay away from the cemetery but she had cut all ties with the Dead Heads when her parents died. She even changed her name from Greene to Goode. Her parents were so involved with the Dead Heads, they put their cause over their safety and their cause got them killed.

            Marla left the McAdams pair to complete their testing, she felt that Hank would score well given his military and police background. He may even make the cut for the NCD if they looked past his age. There are not a lot older people left in the world and all that wisdom tends to die off with the aging generation.

            Marla sat a little café in the southern quadrant; she was a frequent patron here where you could almost get a glimpse of the Charleston Harbor beyond the inner wall. Marla has crossed behind the inner wall sporadically for work and it is such a major adjustment from where she lived.

            The streets were cleaner, cars were more frequent, the rich and powerful lived well behind that wall. A clean shaven man dressed in a white tee and jeans sat opposite of Marla. She wasn’t afraid, just annoyed that he would make contact now.

            “Hi Marla, you look good.” He said with a smile.

            “What do you want, Pete? I told you, I’m done with this. I just want to be left alone.” She said in low tones; luckily the café was mostly empty today.

            “He wants to see you. We need your help.” Pete sat forward his hands folded on the table.

            “I don’t want to see him, not after what he did in front of Processing. I was right there Pete, I was almost killed by a walker. If it wasn’t for a newbie I’d be dead right now. Tell him that for me, as the leader of the Dead Heads I don’t want anything to do with him.”

            “Why don’t you tell him yourself? He just wants to meet with you because we need help.” Pete pleaded.

            “To hell with this…”

            “Marla,” Pete grabbed her arm as she was getting up to leave. “We didn’t do that, Carl would never put innocent lives on the line like that. The Dead Heads are being set up.”

            “Are you sure?” Marla paused to consider it. Carl had always been passionate about the cause but he was never reckless. Marla knew he was getting desperate but maybe he wasn’t capable of this terrorist act. “Pete, tell Mr. Grimes I’ll meet him in our usual place.” Pete let go of her arm and Marla left her favorite café with apprehension. What did he have to say to her?

            This is a man she grew up with, traveled with, he was a part of her surrogate family of survivors. Carl at least deserved chance to defend himself but she was risking her life even speaking with him. The New Charleston government didn’t know who the leader of the Dead Heads is or what he looks like but he is public enemy number one and surveillance since the walker bomb has picked up significantly.

            Random screenings have increased, an earlier curfew has been put in place for all non-officials, and higher restrictions have been placed at both walls. Marla has to admit, she is interested in what the hell is really going on.

To Continue.

Rock and a Hard Place 12 "The Wall" Two

The Wall  Two

            “Here it is.” Marla exclaimed as Hank and Jen approached a small two story brick duplex. The shutters were falling off and the railings needed a coat of paint but the roof looked sound. They weren’t able to walk to the home, Marla took them on a bus to a neighborhood that was closer to the outer wall.

            “This is all ours?” Hank was waiting for Marla to tell them they would be sharing with another family or something. He was surprised when she confirmed that this home was only theirs. “How do we pay for this?” He asked.

            “With your assignment. But that’s tomorrow.” Marla unlocked the door and handed Hank the keys, he noticed she had a set for herself as well. The house was sparsely furnished but clean. No cockroaches or rats from what he can see.

            “Can’t wait to see my room.” Jen said sarcastically and walked upstairs with all the excitement of a prisoner going to solitary confinement.

            “Teenagers.” Hank half smiled at Marla.

            “Well, you two should rest for the remainder of the day. Explore the city of you like unfortunately you can’t requisition a car yet until you have more credits but the buses and trains are free. Here…” Marla handed Hank a card with her name, address, and phone number.

            “The phones work here?” Hank asked in amazement.

            “Yes they do but only inside the city grid. Just call me if you need anything and I’ll be here tomorrow to show you to classification. Ten o’clock. Also, thanks…for saving me.” Marla smiled, turned and walked away.

            “You’re welcome.” Hank said quietly closing the door. His hand was still on the knob when a knock sounded from the other side. Thinking Marla forgot something Hank opened the door and was surprised to see Chuck Wells.

            “Hank! Nice to see you.” Chuck smiled and let himself in.

            “Charles Wells? What the hell are you doing here?” Hank smiled and hugged the friend he thought was dead. “I thought you were dead. We were told your group of runners were cut off from Union settlement, that there were no survivors.”

            “There was just me. Nice place you got here.” Chuck walked into the living room to the kitchen and opened the fridge which was his habit every time Hank invited him to his home. “Of course no beer. When I first got here that was the first thing I did with my little bit of credits, I went to the bar and had an ice cold beer. One of the benefits of being behind the Wall.” Chuck instead grabbed a bottled water and sat on the couch placing his feet on the crates that served as a coffee table.

            “So how long have you been here? Union settlement was 5 years ago.” Hank asked taking a seat in a chair opposite of Chuck.

            “I wandered around a bit for a year and a half then came here. Mostly for the beer and women.” Chuck laughed.

            “How’d you know I was here?” Hank asked.

            “I go to Processing from time to time to scope out the lists of newbies coming in. Saw yours and Jen’s name so I waited for you. I would have come up to you sooner but you were with your handler. So I just followed you until she kicked rocks.”

            “So…how do you like it?” A loaded question and Hank wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer.

            “It’s….different. Let’s just say, I haven’t had to kill a Zeek in all this time but there are rules, curfews, and jobs. Remember jobs? The one thing I liked about the world going to hell, I didn’t have to work. Now, they give you ‘assignments’ they call it. Just slave labor if you ask me.” Chuck snickered.

            “So what is your assignment?” Hank was interested.

            “Waste disposal.” Chuck growled.

            “Sucks.” Hank had a big grin on his face because Chuck worked for waste disposal before the world changed and he always commented on how he hated his job. Hank had to chuckle which turned into a full blow laugh.

            “What the hell is going on down here?” Jen stomped downstairs and stopped short. “Chuck? Chuck!” She ran and hugged her dad’s friend who was like a second father to her.

            “Jen honey, shit look how tall you are.” Chuck smiled. They may not have been blood relatives but they were family.

            “Where’ve you been, you ass?” Jen asked. Hank told her he got away in Union and has been here. “Dad I’m gonna wander around, see what’s what. Okay? I already got our phone number off the receiver so if I need anything or something….” Jen was speaking fast as she walked to the door.

            “Hold on. Hold on. Marla said there’s a curfew for minors, you need to be in by 10pm; you got it? Jen?” Hank stood.

            “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ll be fine.” Jen slammed the door behind her and was gone. A part of Hank wanted to lock her in her new room until he figured this place out, but he brought her here for a new life so he had to trust that she’ll be safe.

            “Teenagers.” Chuck mirrored Hank’s earlier statement.

            “Chuck, what can you tell me about the Dead Heads?” Hank got serious sitting back down on the chair.

            “Dead Heads? So you must’ve saw their work outside of Processing. Shit, I didn’t think they would take it that far.” Chuck shook his head.

            “Yeah, that’s what Marla said. What’s their deal?”

            “Come on, we need a drink on me.” Chuck exclaimed and they walked down the street to a little corner dive bar. The sun was shining and the streets were full of people coming and going. Patrons sat in the bar and drank beer, there were old flat screen TVs over the bar where they sat.

            “Tommy, one for me and my friend here.” Chuck yelled to the lone bar tender who didn’t look old enough to shave let alone tend bar. They settled on stools as Chuck continued.

            “No one outside of the Dead Heads know for sure, but from their flyers and graffiti they think the New Charleston government is controlling people’s lives.”

            “’There is No Life Behind the Wall’ that’s what the flyer said.” Hank told him.

            “Yeah. Rebels some call them. They find any way to disrupt life here. One time they took out an entire power grid. Scared the hell out of the Stiffs. That was funny.”

            “Stiffs?” Hank asked.

            “The people who’ve been here too long. Anything like the power going out, they start crying like babies. I tell you, they wouldn’t last 5 minutes outside this damn Wall.”

            The bar tender with red hair placed two golden glasses in front of them. “Chuck, keep it down, remember what happened last time?” He walked away. Hank couldn’t wait to take a drink of that beer. Living on the road, you need to keep your wits about you which is why he hasn’t had a single drop of alcohol since the outbreak but there was nothing he loved more than a cold beer after a hard day. When the amber liquid touched his lips, he smiled.

            “Good huh?” Chuck laughed at him. He knows Hank is a good guy and would never jeopardize his daughter by drinking while they were out in the open.

            “What did he mean about last time?” Nothing was going to get past Hank, not in this place.

            “Shit, it was nothing really. Just a bar fight. I don’t like to be censored and some Stiffs don’t like to hear the truth. Hell Stiffs wouldn’t know the truth if it bit them on the ass. I mean, look where we are.” Chuck gestured with his arms held up.

            “Umm, a bar.” Hank stated sarcastically.

            “No I mean look where they put us. The newbies are always near the outer Wall. The poor and unimportant are always the furthest away from the inner wall.”

            “There’s an inner wall?” Hank was stunned. “I didn’t see one.”

            “Processing is not close enough but there is an inner wall, it’s not as big as the outer Wall but it’s there; closing off where the city officials and the rich live. They call it a second line of defense but that’s bullshit. That wall has nothing to do with defense….against Zeeks. Just against us. Once you’re rich and important enough, they may move you up to the big times.” Chuck took a deep gulp of his beer.

            “I don’t want to be rich, I want to be alive. I’m just gonna keep my head down and my daughter safe, that’s all I want.” Hank drank his beer contemplating an inner wall. Why would there be an inner wall except to keep the people apart. Hank would have to learn more about the ways of this city if he planned on raising his daughter here. He knew he was already going to get an earful from her when he tells her about going to school. Jen’s going to have a real shit-fit.

            “Screeners!” Someone yelled from the other side of the bar near the windows. Hank looked out to see two men dressed in white slacks and white button downs with white lab coats coming into the bar. They had a squad of NCD boots behind them. Some of the bar patrons got up calmly and walked out of the bar on the other side. Hank thought, what the hell is going on.

            “Good afternoon gentleman, this is a random screen. If you would all cooperate this will go quickly and smoothly.” Lab coat smiled and proceeded to begin screening. The room was tense as everyone left sit still waiting for their turn. Even Chuck kept his mouth shut and his eyes were vacant.

            The screen finished up without incident. “Thank you for your cooperation.” Lab coat smiled that same smile and the team walked out. There was a collective sigh of relief from the entire bar.

            “What the hell was that? You mean they can screen you whenever they want? Why if we passed the screens at the outer Wall and Processing?” Hank asked.

            “Because that doesn’t guarantee you won’t become infected while behind the wall. Remember if you die, you turn to.” Chuck responded.

            “But no one here is dying.” Hank pointed out.

            “You think so. How do you think those Dead Heads got Zeeks behind the wall?” Chuck lowered his tone to barely a whisper. “They didn’t, it’s impossible to pass the screeners with infected.  Dead Heads created those Zeeks. They found some poor slobs and killed them, let them turn, and the rest is history. I don’t think they will stop. I think they’re just getting started.” Chuck was no longer smiling and Hank was now afraid.

To continue.