Rock and a Hard Place 12- The Wall Twelve

The Wall Twelve

            “Jason, you missed one.” Marla pointed at the walker on the ground at Jason’s feet. It stumbled towards him in vain trying to walk to what remained of its limbs as the walker was missing its legs at the knee.

            “Oh, a Dragger.” Jason spoke as he stabbed it in the head with a hunting knife; a crudely drawn skull and crossbones emblazoned its side.

            “A what?” Marla asked confused furrowing her brow.

            “A Dragger, ya know, a walker with no legs.” Jason spoke as if this was common knowledge.

            “A walker with no…you actually have a name for that?” Marla asked surprised but slightly amused, the beginnings of a smile tugging at her face.

            “Well I can’t really call ‘em ‘walkers’ now can I?” Jason smiled. Sometimes he could be a bit arrogant but he was young and headstrong. For those people unlucky enough to be born after Year One, this world of walkers and Draggers was all they knew. So of course theirs would be a somewhat warped sense of humor.

            Marla looked up at Carl leading the group north to the outer wall, his walk is confident. He wasn’t born after Year One but was young enough to be considered raised in the change. He was one of the lucky few who still had a mother and father at a time when whole families were being wiped out. The relationship between he and his father was complicated, a rollercoaster of amazing highs and awful lows. But the one beacon of light for both of them was Judith. Marla’s thought drift to Judith and she wonders what happened to her childhood friend.

            Miles away in a dark junk filled basement Judith sit with her back against a wall listening to the sound of walkers shuffling their dead feet across a concrete floor. Her eyes adjust as much as they can to what little light penetrated the blackness and her head was clearing. Judith allowed herself short shallow breathes just enough to breathe but not enough to draw unwanted attention. She couldn’t stay here, she couldn’t die here.

            She slowly slid up against the wall into a standing position, if she had a knife she could take out the walkers one at a time then make her way to the flight of stairs and door. Just then, a shaft of orange light beamed down the stairs and screaming could be heard at the door. A woman’s body flew end over end just like Judith had landing on the floor with a thud. Judith used the opportunity of light to glance around the room, attempting to commit to memory the layout while she inched towards the stairs.

            The walkers converged on the whimpering mass on the floor. They were getting close but Judith got there first grabbing her up and pressing her against the wall. The girl was older than Judith with matted brown hair and deep black eyes. She put a finger to her lips, the international sign of keep your damn mouth shut. The woman obeyed.

            Behind them, they watched as the walkers investigated the now empty space where the woman had been as the shaft of light slowly disappeared. She was taking her time closing the door, was the crazy woman upstairs upset she didn’t hear any screams of pain and torment? Was this her form of entertainment?

            “Keep quiet. If we stay calm we can find a way out of here.” Judith whispered directly in the woman’s ear.

            “I’m not going anywhere, hon.” She answered back. Judith looked at the pained expression on her face and followed her eyes down to the woman’s leg. As the last of the precious light faded, Judith saw a large bone protruding from the woman’s calf just above the ankle. When you’re on the run, a broken leg is a death sentence and the woman’s black eyes echoed that thought. The light went out.

           

            Hank didn’t know how to start this conversation with his daughter and felt this was surely not the time but when we’re they going to have another time?

            “Jen, why did you leave the house?” Hank began tentatively.

            “Now?” She simply asked looking around at the group. In a time where living people are in short supply one made quick friends or quick enemies. Hank looked at the girl Jen had been traveling with he recalled her name was Trinity.

            “Yes now. Why don’t you listen to me anymore? I’m just trying to protect you.” Hanks spoke in low tones as the pair fell back further to have more privacy.

            “How? By bringing me into a city full of walkers and locked gates?” Jen immediately regretted the words as they left her lips.

            “That’s not fair.” Hank whispered. He already blamed himself for putting her in more danger than when they living on the road but to actually hear his daughter say that hurt him deeply.

            “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that….it’s just…” Jen stated but was interrupted by Carl raising his clenched fist in the air. The group stopped and converged on his position. It seemed like the outer wall had been looming over them for hours that Hank didn’t even noticed they had arrived.

            “There’s an access door just beyond that little house with the red roof.” Carl pointed. “There’s usually a guard stationed inside.”

            “Isn’t there another way in?” Hank asked not wanting to walk blindly into a fight. He glanced at the wall that seemed to rise into the clouds.

            “It’s either this or wander up and down the wall looking for another.” Daryl added. “We don’t have time for ‘another way.’”

            “How are we gonna do this? We’re black on water and ammo.” Hank informed. Even though Carl didn’t serve in the military before the change he knew what Hank meant.

            “We only have what’s already loaded but once we get inside we’ll have all the resources we need.” Carl responded.

            “Yeah,” Daryl said as he loaded a fresh arrow. “I just hope this doesn’t turn out to be a real Charlie Foxtrot.” He looked at Hank.

            Hank never pinned Daryl to have been in the military before. “Yeah, because no one likes a cluster fuck.” Hank smiled having found more confidence in going against this well armed enemy.

            Judith played out scenarios in her mind over and over again. None of them ended well. She and Mandy were still pressed against the wall trying to avoid contact with the roaming walkers. After Judith’s quick survey she determined the only way out was the way they came. Up a flight of stairs to a locked door and a crazy knife wielding maniac spouting government conspiracies.

            “Here.” Mandy whispered as he felt for Judith’s hand in the dark. Judith felt a heavy object in her palm, the warm leather of the hilt and cool metal of the blade proved to be knife.

            “There are 10 paces from here to the stairs. If you run you can make it.” Mandy whispered again. Judith didn’t know how she planned to run with that leg so she positioned herself to put Mandy on her back until she stopped her.

            “No, not me. You can make it. I’m giving you a chance.” She whispered hotly in Judith’s ear and the meaning of her words began to sink in.

            “No.” Judith pleaded.

            “Go,” Many urged her on. When Judith made no moves, Mandy forced her hand.

            “RUN!!!” Mandy screamed and held the word in a visceral yell. Judith obeyed knowing she could do nothing as the walkers closed in on Mandy. Judith counted the ten steps to the left, her right hand gripped the knife, her left hand jutted out in front of her replacing her eyes in the dark. On the tenth count Judith’s hand smacked into the banister and she began her climb. She could hear Mandy being ripped limb from limb but she didn’t stop yelling insuring Judith the time she needed to get away.

            This was a one-time deal, if Judith wasn’t able to burst through that door she’ll end up trapped on the staircase with walkers looking for their next meal. She sprinted up those stairs and with all her force and newfound anger for Mandy’s death she lowered her head and shouldered the door that bowed and broke under her.

            Wood splintered inward as the door gave out and the crazy woman was waiting in the kitchen after hearing the screams. Judith didn’t give her time to process what was happening as she used her momentum to dive for the woman knife first. Judith watched as the gleam from the blade disappeared as it buried itself into the woman’s chest.

            She let out a gurgling gasp and blood spewed out of her mouth an onto Judith’s face who was close enough to whisper to her, “For Mandy.” Judith yanked out the blade as the woman’s body fell to the floor. She wasn’t going to leave it in her.

            The woman continued to gasp for air as Judith knelt beside her and stabbed her in the head. She will be one less walker behind the walls of New Charleston. Judith wiped the blade on her sleeve as the sound of walkers coming up the stairs was her signal to leave. She closed the front door behind her and used the blood on her face to write, “Dead Inside,” as a warning. She made a mental not to return to this place and end Mandy’s suffering. Judith continued on her journey to find her brother.

To Continue….

Rock and a Hard Place 12 - The Wall Eleven

The Wall Eleven

            “Okay, I’m just gonna say it…what the hell was that?” Jason, a young kid with scraggly hair and adolescent beard spoke as the group tried to catch its collective breath having a moment’s pause.

            “I’ve seen that thing before,” Hank said walking Jen to a guardrail to sit. “Back at the orphanage when we jumped to the next building, that thing was in the hallway. I thought I could take it out like any other walker but….,” he looked at Marla, “it was different. It can….think.” The words left Hank’s lips and even he had a hard time believing it.

            “Can think? That’s impossible, the virus kills the brain and only reanimates the base functions like eating and moving but not any of the higher functions.” Carl informed the group drawing the conclusions he remember from his time at the CDC when he was a child. Dr. Jenner showed them exactly what this virus does before he tried to kill them.

            “I didn’t believe it myself but I fought this thing. I saw how it moved and fought back. And now...it’s changed. You all saw what I saw. Not only did it change but it kill those men because it wanted to not just to eat them.” Hank put a comforting arm around his daughter. He felt her subtle shake beneath his palm. They’ve faced tough obstacles before but the only real danger was letting your guard down around walkers and other survivors wanting what little you had.

            This new threat now was a combination of the two. Intelligent walkers that kill for fun instead of food. They didn’t want your supplies either, just you dead. The thought of it was more than some can handle and Jason immediately threw up the miniscule contents of his stomach.

            The group was silent, all seeming to try and contemplate the events of this morning. All that could be heard was labored breathing and groans of dismay. “We need a plan of attack then. The city hasn’t fallen completely, there is still hope.” Daryl spoke.

            “He’s right. For right now we only know of one of those things and with enough fire and man power, I believe we can kill it.” Carl stood up, his leather gun belt groaning with the movement. Hank noticed he carried rather large Colt Python, the silver gun gleamed in the sunlight and made Hank conclude this weapon must have sentimental value because for practical use against walkers there are other weapons that would be more effective.

            “What should we do? There are only eight of us and I’m running a bit low on my ammo.” Christy said despondently as she rose from her seat. “Frank and Terry are dead, the rest of the Dead Heads are scattered and with that signal jam we can’t radio them.”

            “Signal jam?” Hank asked.

            “Yeah, we use to be able to keep in touch with short wave radio, on a different frequency than the NCD, but since all hell broke loose, the signal has been jammed. We can’t send or receive any transmissions which leaves me wondering ‘who’ wants to jam all the signals.” Carl informed.

            “So, our signal is being jammed so we can’t radio for back up, our forces are spread to the wind trying to contain this outbreak of walkers that no one can explain how they even ended up within the city limits, the gates of the outer and inner walls have been sealed and the thousands of citizens are turning into walkers all around us. Oh, and let’s not forget our friend the super walker. I don’t mind saying it but shits really hit the fan today.” Jason so eloquently reiterated. 

            “It has but we can fight back. The first thing we need to do is replenish our weapons.” Carl turned to face north and the looming outer wall in the distance.

            “The armory.” Daryl echoed Carl’s thoughts and stood beside him.

            “Yes,” Carl rotated to face Hank, he assumed he was about his father’s age and the thought of needing his father’s guidance hit him instantly. Carl quickly stomped out that idea being that he and his father haven’t been on speaking terms for several years or more. Not since the day their small core group splintered.

            “Where you came in Hank, there is an armory on the outer wall. Its where the confiscated weapons and contraband from new arrivals are stored until they can be transferred to the inner wall armory which has a more sizable collection and security. Even though the outer wall armory is smaller it’s also less guarded. We should be able to take it with just this group until we can find others.” Carl laid out a convincing plan but Hank was unsure.

            “What’s the catch? There is always a catch.” Hank asked.

            “Always suspicious, you would have made an excellent addition to the NCD.” Carl smiled at him.

            “How did you know…of course you would know that being the leader of the Dead Heads. I’m sure you keep tabs on everything here.”

            “The catch, Hank, is we have to walk to the outer wall. Without the trains and buses being operable and without cars being allowed in the outer distrcit the walk will be long and dangerous. Not only that but I’ve heard reports that the outer wall was the…epicenter of this disaster. Walkers were coming from that direction all the while citizens were trying to escape the city there as well. More than likely, we’ll meet a lot of resistance.”

            Hank looked down at his daughter, his one reason for coming to a ‘safe’ city to begin with. He got her into this and now would be taking her into the middle of this invasion of walkers. Jen looked at him and seemed to read his mind.

            “We have to do it, dad. We can help these people. They can help us.” Jen pleaded with him.

            “Then let’s do it before I change my mind.” Hank smiled.

            “Carl what about Judith?” Marla asked and Carl’s expression changed.

            “I don’t know where she is. Judith is smart, she’ll make for one of our safe houses and she can handle herself. Doesn’t mean I’m not scared to death not knowing what happened to her. Once we get the supplies we need, we’ll search for her.” Carl hoped.

            Judith ran to the three story building near Hampton Park and desperately shut the door before the herd of walkers reached the area. Judith had been dodging walkers all night but hasn’t been able to reach the DH headquarters. Wave after wave of walkers came as if someone opened the outer wall flood gates and invited every Zeek in the area in. She hasn’t been able to send any message to her brother at all.

            “What the hell is happening?” Judith whispered as she locked the front door. As long as the walkers didn’t hear a sound they’ll move on.

            “It’s the end of the city you know.” The nonchalant female voice startled Judy that she had to cover her mouth with her hand to stifle the scream.

            “Yup, I’ve been sayin it since I’ve been here that the city will fall. All the rules and regulations Grimes put into order wasn’t gonna work. That crazy ass loon. What did he think; a curfew and identification passes was gonna bring civilization back from the brink? Asshole.” The woman was blonde and thin wearing torn up jeans, chucky boots, and a T-shirt with ‘Death to All’ written in red letters. Fitting. But it was all Judy could do not to tell this woman to shut the hell up about her father.

            Most citizens of New Charleston blame her father for their troubles. Judy knows different. She knows her father worked hard and sacrificed so much to make this city livable and to maintain it there needed to be rules.

            “You agree, don’t cha?” The woman asked her blue eyes flashing with insanity.

            “No…no I don’t agree. Laying blame doesn’t keep us alive now. There’s an outbreak and we have to work together to survive. The NCD...” Judy was cut off.

            “Ha! The NCD? That’s a laugh. There not gonna do shit! They’re under orders you see, from Grimes to keep these Zeeks here in the outer district while they remain safe behind the inner wall.”

            “You’re crazy; my…I mean, Councilman Grimes wouldn’t authorize something like that.” Judy was shocked hearing this. 

            “The hell he would!” the woman walked closer bringing the light of her flashlight into Judy’s face. “Those snotty, uptight, selfish assholes behind the inner wall had their eyes on the outer district for years. Wanting to remove all of us poor people so they can set up shop here too. Selfish bastards!” She yelled.

            “Keep your voice down. You want the walkers to hear you?” Judy whispered panicked.

            “They are just gonna sit and wait this out and allow the Zeeks to do the job. There’s no NCD coming kid, no help at all, just death. We’re all gonna die here, you and me too.” Her tone changed slightly from one of insanity to perfect clarity and malevolence. Judy’s guard went up and she began to inch back towards the door she just locked; her well-worn boots deftly missing the tripping hazards littering on the ground.

            The woman advanced, “I tried to tell people that, I tried to explain it but they all thought I was just crazy. Like you. But I tried to tell them.”

            “Look, I’m just going to leave, I’ll find somewhere else to hide out, okay. You can have this place all to yourself.” Judy tried to reason with her.

            “I have a great place for you to hide. It’s just here, I’ll show you.” The woman moved with lightning speed and was on her in less than a second. Her hand clamped down on Judy’s wrist so hard she felt it would break with one twist. The woman yanked her further into the home and towards a door in the kitchen.

            “Let me go! Let go of me you bitch!” Judy let her free hand ball into a fist and fly, the woman dodged the blow and sent an elbow into Judy’s face. The jolt made her see stars for a moment as her head sailed back. She could taste the salt of her blood in her mouth.

            The next thing she knew, she was standing at the top of a staircase leading down into the dark bowels of the home. Without much fanfare, the woman sent Judy flying into the abyss. Her shoulder made contact with a stair and she tumbled end over end unable to stop her momentum. Her head was first to hit the bottom and the stars returned for a second viewing. Her mind seemed to swim in and out of consciousness and she didn’t know how long she lay on the cold concrete floor.

            A moan in the dark dragged Judy back to reality and she struggled to lift herself up. Another moan sounded, another and another. She stayed quite but knew she had to leave the area where she made the noise. Judy silently slide her body across the floor to the left, not really being able to see but feeling where she was going. The walkers in the basement would be attracted to the bottom of the stairs where she landed and that’s one place she didn’t want to be. From the different moans, Judy estimated about five walkers inhabited the basement but without a light source Judy wouldn’t be able to get out. For right now she just had to hide until she could figure out her next move.

            She thought of her brother and her father and hoped she would see them again.

To be continued….