A Week with a Ghost - A true story of my encounter with the paranormal.

A Week with a Ghost

            This is true as it happened to me in the span of a week. Each night it got worse and worse and the final revelation had me stunned still to this day. It all started early Monday morning. The night before was the same as any other night, nothing out of the ordinary and I went to sleep just fine, until 3 o’clock in the morning. I don’t remember dreaming or even hearing any sound that would wake me. I just sat up from a deep sleep and looked at the bedroom door.

            There standing in the doorway were two distinct black figures. I continued to stare thinking my eyes were playing with me until one of the figures moved. It looked as if it raised an arm up as if absentmindedly touching its own cheek. I quickly lay back down in the bed and brought the blanket up to my head as if that would protect me. I didn’t dare peek out until morning and the world was right again. But that was only night one.

            When I got home from work the next day I was alone but I still checked every room leaving the lights on as I go. I didn’t even realize I was scared until my boyfriend came home, saw all the lights on, and asked if I was okay. I had already told him what happened and he said he didn’t see or hear anything last night. Again, nothing occurred while I was awake until 3 o’clock AM rolled around again.

            The room was dark and my eyes were closed but my mind moved from sleep to awake quickly because I felt someone looking at me. Staring at me. I opened my eyes only a little to see a dark figure standing at the foot of my bed. Tall, broad shoulders, and dark enough that I couldn’t see the objects behind it. I shut my eyes quickly thinking if it didn’t see me looking at it then it would go away.

            It didn’t. It moved to the side of my bed silently and was standing right beside me. I was looking up at it looming over me but something strange happened. I couldn’t move my head. I couldn’t move my body. I couldn’t speak or whimper or anything. The black figure looked to be standing with its left hand hanging nonchalantly in its dark left pocket. I could tell it was a male and it bent over me. It leaned its featureless face close to mine and still I couldn’t move. Suddenly, I heard whispering. Not it whispering but many whispers speaking all at once so quickly I couldn’t make out anything they were saying.

            I felt a tingling sensation touch the top of my head and slowly trace down my spine all the way down to my feet as if someone were trying to feel me out. All I could hear was my own labored breathing until the dark figure disappeared and I was free to move. It felt like I was there in that place for hours but it only lasted a minute or so. Once I was free to move I stayed put in the bed but I was shaking uncontrollably so much so that I felt my boyfriend’s hand touch me and feel me shaking, he turned over and asked if I was okay. I couldn’t say anything, I could only shake with fear. And that was night two.

            By night three I thought two things, either I was going crazy or I was being haunted both didn’t seem like good options. I dreaded going to sleep, I dreaded waking up at three and what horror awaited me. 3 o’clock came and a dark figure stood at the foot of my bed again. This one was shorter and more solid. I closed my eyes and told it to go away; to leave me alone. I heard the whispers again but now I could feel a tugging on my foot. It wasn’t a malevolent feeling but as if someone was playfully tugging at my foot to get my attention. It still was a forceful tug. I opened my eyes to see my side table slowly slip upwards as I was being tugged down to the foot of my bed where the figure stood. I still pleaded with it to leave me alone and soon the whispering stopped and the thing let go of my foot. I slid myself back up to my pillow and went to sleep on this night three.

            Night four and at 3 in the morning I watch a dark figure stand by my window. It was the taller one with broad shoulders. I still couldn’t make out any features yet and the only recognizable thing was its hand in it pocket again. The left hand was always in the left pocket it seemed weird. This time it wasn’t looking at me; it looked as if it was leaning against the wall and looking out my window. I wasn’t scared this time. There were no whispers and my breathing was calm. I was pretty surprised then it slowly dissipated and I simply closed my eyes and went back to sleep. End of night four.

            I didn’t know night five would be the last of the encounters. But this night was definitely different. I woke up again at the same time and looked directly at my window. I saw my boyfriend standing there leaning against the wall. I could clearly see his face but something was off about him. He wasn’t in his night clothes but a suit. An oversized suit at that, he had a white button up shirt, a tie, slacks, and a jacket. His left hand was casually hanging in his left pocket too. He seemed intent on looking out the window at something. I opened my mouth to ask him what he was looking at, I was only able to say his name when he disappeared like vapor. I was shocked. But not as shocked as when I placed my hand behind me and felt my boyfriend sleeping there beside me. It wasn’t him standing at the window but something that looked exactly like him wearing an old fashion suit and his hand in his pocket, just like the dark figure. That was night five and just like that everything stopped. No more nightly visits.

            I only told my boyfriend about my encounters and no one else. I didn’t want people to think I was crazy. He had no explanation as to why I saw something with his face. The story stayed between us until months later and his aunt and uncle came to visit his mom from out of town. I did the girlfriend thing of stopping in to visit and my boyfriend brought up my ghostly visits. His aunt was interested and asked me more. I told her and his mother the whole thing from start to finish. I didn’t realize the two of them were crying by the end. They were speechless and crying full blown tears.

            I thought I had said something wrong and started to apologize to them but they said there was no need. That the two ghosts I saw were their mother and father, my boyfriend’s grandparents. I asked how they could be sure, I didn’t see faces until the end and all I saw was my boyfriend’s face. They said that every day for school their mother would stand at the foot of their beds and tug on their feet to wake them. Then my boyfriend’s mother brought out an old black and white picture of their dad. It was my boyfriend in the same oversized old fashioned suit and what really struck me was his left hand in his pocket. They said he always walked around like that because he had the habit of jingling change in his left pocket. And he looked exactly like my boyfriend except taller.

            I couldn’t believe it. His mom and aunt were grateful to me, they hugged me and thanked me saying that their parents visited their grandchild and maybe because I was open I could have gotten in the way. They may have used me to bring them the message that they are still here. I feel like that was the validation I needed to know that I wasn’t crazy after all.

Rock and a Hard Place 12- The Wall Fourteen-

The Wall Fourteen

            “This isn’t right, Rick! You can’t do this! This is not you, man.” Glenn yelled, his voice echoing in the underground facility.

            “Don’t you see, Glenn? This research will help us all. To be able to save those who have already been turned? How can we not act on that? The vaccine didn’t work, all it did was accelerate the change. But this…this is different.” Rick pointed his gun at Glenn, preventing him from reaching her. Maggie lay strapped to an exam table, her baby crying in the adjacent crib.

            “I won’t let you do this. You can’t have my daughter!” Glenn screamed as he rushed towards Rick. The two wrestled for the gun and fell to the floor.

            “Glenn, don’t make me kill you!” Rick roared as he kneed Glenn in the ribs.

            “Please stop! Please…my baby! My baby!” Maggie cried helpless to stop them from killing each other. She couldn’t understand how their group got to this point. They were so close until founding this city. A disagreement in how to run it caused this fracture that Maggie feared would never heal. Now, after weeks of being experimented on Maggie could feel the change start. Her body was dying but all she cared about was her family.

            Her eyes began to blur and it became difficult to breath. The sounds of her baby’s cries and her husband’s struggle pierced her failing brain. “Glenn, save them. Please…save them.”

            Rick was knocked unconscious no longer able to keep up with the younger man. Glenn pointed the gun at his head. How could he do this to them? They were a family, how could he? Maggie’s voice stopped him. She was turning and he would have to end her. The facility around them was on fire, the Dead Heads accomplished their mission of stopping the experiments but for how long.

            Even if Rick died someone like Betty “the Bitch” Patterson will just take his place. Rick can still be reasoned with, Glenn thought he wasn’t too far gone. He dragged Rick’s unconscious body outside the room, leaving him in the hall for his people to find. Glenn could hear their boots on the staircase. He turned back to the inferno and his dead wife. Maggie clawed at him as he walked closer; the love of his life looking at him with dead eyes. In the crib, their baby girl Beth cried for her mother.  

            “Glenn!” Carl yelled as he ran from the hole made in the floor that lead to the sewer system. “We need to go! Now!” Carl grabbed Beth and wrapped her in a blanket. The smoke began to choke him.

            “You go, keep her safe…please. They’ll be looking for her.” The fire raged behind him.

            “No, no. Don’t do this. She’ll need you, come with me.” Carl pleaded.

            “No, she’ll have you to protect her. Go Carl. I want to be with my wife.” Glenn’s eyes never left her face as he spoke and Carl knew he couldn’t convince him. He started back for the opening in the floor. He had to get Beth out of here before they realized she was still alive.

            Glenn smoothed back Maggie’s hair. He lowered his face to meet hers, she tried to bite him. “Maggie, I love you so much. Our daughters will be safe, we’ll watch over them together. I love you.” He kissed her cold forehead and squeezed the trigger, blowing her brains out the side of her head. Glen cried as he lifted the gun to his temple. The fire lapped at his heels but he couldn’t feel it; he was numb. Her face was the last thing he saw, he squeezed her hand and felt the ring there as he pulled the trigger and everything went black.

            Carl woke up on the sofa in the safe house. The dream lingering in his mind as he rose to meet the day. It took their group two exhausting days to cross the lower quadrants of New Charleston to get here in one piece. Much of the food and water stock piles were gone, ransacked by looters. The weapons cache didn’t fare much better; only a few guns and ammo were left, stored in secret compartments in the bathroom.

            Carl watched Marla as she slept on the loveseat unsure if he should tell her what really happened to her parents or her sister; a sister she has never known of for both their safety. Marla didn’t even know her mom was pregnant again. Beth is about two years old now and living in secret outside the Walls of New Charleston.

            “Carl, when should we get underway?” Daryl asked him wide awake since taking the early morning watch. Carl checked his watch, it’s just about 4AM; the sun had yet to peek over the horizon.

            “Give them another 30 minutes, then we set off.” The group was fatigued and it wouldn’t do any good to start the long trek to the inner wall exhausted. Hank and his daughter both lay on the floor on a mattress. Trinity sprawled across an armchair. Daryl nodded and went back to his post. Carl fought off sleeping again and instead went upstairs to an empty room with a wooded desk and chair. He pulled out his journal; well-worn leather and many creases with yellowing pages and a leather strap to close it. He smiled as if getting a visit from an old friend.

            He started journaling when their original group was still on the road as a way to get his thoughts out and reflect on what this new life is about. Now in his late thirties he found that journaling is also a great way to document Dead Head strategies and maneuvers. Carl wrote about what happened at the outer wall, Trinity’s confession, and the status of Safe House 11.

            Before returning the journal to its place in his inner pocket, Carl flipped to an earlier entry involving Maggie and Glen’s deaths then Marla walked in. Carl quickly closed the journal.

            “Couldn’t sleep?” Marla asked. She pulled her hoodie tighter against the chill of the early morning air.

            “I’m normally up at this time. You?” Carl asked.

            “Nightmare. I just…can’t believe this is really happening. I thought that life of running and hiding was finally over.” Marla sat on the twin cot against the far wall.

            “That life would never be over, Marla, not as long as there are walkers. You can’t let your guard down, ever. That’s what people in New Charleston are guilty of. Forgetting the world they live in.”

            “Or just wanting to relive the world they lost. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a normal life Carl. Growing up and only having to worry about grades and boys and clothes.” Marla fantasied.

            “But you didn’t live that life. You have no memories of that kind of life.” Carl scolded her and immediately regretted it when he saw that fanciful look fade from her eyes. Marla wanted that life, one she would never have. It just doesn’t exist anymore.

            “Why do you think I read so much? I’m not stupid Carl, I know that world is gone but do you always have to remind people how messed up this world really is?” Her voice cracked with emotion.

            “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Now was the perfect time to tell Marla the truth and in knowing what he knows perhaps she’ll understand. “Marla, I need to tell you about something. A secret that I’ve been keeping for a while now, even from you only for your safety.”

            Marla leaned in, Carl has always been an introverted leader. Cool under pressure, decisive but aloof almost to the point of being perceived as emotionless. He doesn’t impart secrets to just anyone, only those in his inner circle.

            “It’s about Beth.”

            “My aunt? What secret do you have about her?” Marla was confused.

            “No not your aunt. Your sister. Two years ago, your mom gave birth to a baby girl they named Beth, shortly after that your parents died. I took Beth outside the wall to live and be safe. She’s the key.” Carl was vague but could see Marla was trying to let everything sink in.

            “Where is she? Who has her?” Marla stood up.

            “She’s with Michonne.”

To continue….

Rock and a Hard Place 12- The Wall Thirteen

The Wall Thirteen

            Council Head Grimes paced back and forth in his office. Reports have been coming in from the outer districts of a possible breach and walkers inside the city. Rick already ordered the NCD out to take care of the problem but hasn’t heard anything back.

            “Hudson, any word?” Rick as desperately.

            “No, sir. I’m sure the situation is not as serious as the reports are making it out to be. The people are just scared. They haven’t had to deal with walkers for decades because of your heroism in establishing this city.” Troy heaped on the compliments.

            “Hudson, I’d prefer that you get your head out my ass and find out where my daughter is. One walker inside the wall is serious. The people are looking to us for help.” Rick stared out his massive window at the peaceful garden beyond; with the sun shining and pedestrians walking calmly in the streets, you would never think there was a crisis.

            “Of course they are. The NCD are doing all they can to contain the situation. The Dead Heads are pretty bold to try this. Perhaps we should expand our efforts to find their leader and take the head of the snake, so to speak.” Troy suggested hiding a smirk.

            “We’ll worry about that after we clear any remaining walkers. And find my daughter goddamn it!” Rick was losing his patience; his blue eyes lit with anger.

            “Of course, sir.” Troy backed out and left the office closing the doors behind him. He learned long ago when Grimes reached his breaking point, better not push him any further. Troy heard stories of what he was like before the city was established and it was enough to make his skin crawl. He spotted Councilman Betty Patterson standing in an alcove of the main hall.

            “Betty, how are you?” Troy plastered a practiced smile on his face.

            “Troy, walk with me.” Betty spoke in the soft tones that make men weak. Her long chocolate brown hair smelled of lavender when she pass by him, Troy inhaled deeply. “I heard there are walkers in Columbus Square, is that accurate?” She asked with feigned concern.

            “Reports are conflicting but,” Troy was interrupted.

            “Cut the shit Troy, you’ve been a bad boy haven’t you?” A knowing smile spread across her red lips.

            “If all goes well we can clear out the poor from the outer ring and topple the Grimes dynasty all the while blaming the Dead Heads for the suffering and the untimely death of our benevolent leader.” Troy spoke in low tones.

            “Does he know you’ve closed the gates to both walls?” Betty asked.

            “He knows nothing. He’s so absorbed in his own problems that he doesn’t see much else.” Troy assured.

            “What about the project? Has Subject J accomplished the mission?” Betty glanced around making sure no one was close enough to hear. Because they were in plain sight, the casual onlooker would think that two council members were simply conducting small talk.

            “J has come into contact with the Dead Heads but lost the target after a fight.” Troy informed.

            “A fight?” Betty turned to face him, cool gray eyes meeting deep black. “Idiot! We need her alive, you moron!” Betty raised her voice unintentionally, her words echoed in the wide hall.

            “I understand. I will informed Major James to send more NCD to,” Troy was interrupted again.

            “No! You’ll see to this yourself, Troy. This project is very important to me and I’ll not see it destroyed by the Dead Heads or your incompetence.” Her rose lips twisted into a snarl as she forced her words past clenched teeth.

            “Me? I can’t go out there! I’ve lived in Charleston my whole life even before the Wall. I haven’t gone outside the inner gates in years…” Troy pleaded.

            “Shit man grow some balls. Listen Troy, if you’re going to play in my sandbox, you’d best be prepared to get dirty. Now you’re going, I’ll notify Major James to expect you in an hour. You find that girl and bring her back to me now or I’ll make you sorry you were ever born.” Betty’s sing song voice was dripping with venom.

            Across the city a small group slowly make their way into the maze that is the outer Wall. Hank took up point holding his borrowed pistol firmly in front of him.

            “Take this next left.” Carl spoke softly directed behind Hank. The group moved swiftly keeping noise down to a minimum. Hank came to a stop just outside a closed door marked ‘Armory’.

            “There is usually four guards on duty, two forward by the door, one in the weapon’s cage and one positioned on the second level landing. Our goal is to take the two front guards and the one on the landing, if we don’t get him he can take us out from above. Last is the guard in the weapons’ cage but we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it. Ready?” Carl laid out the plan quickly and everyone knew their role.

            Jen and Trinity will hang back with Marla until the all clear was given. Daryl stepped up to the door, arrow already loaded.

            “I’ll take the bird’s nest.” The three men nodded acknowledgement and Carl reached for the door. He knew once he opened it a firestorm will erupt. Taking steadying breaths Carl twisted the knob and threw the door open with a loud thud, staying low to the ground he raised his weapon to cover Daryl as he ran further into the interior.

            No bullets met them, no alarms sounded, no men yelled for back up. Hank, Carl, Daryl and Jason stood in an empty armory with four dead guards; all shot in the head execution style. Their hands and feet bound behind them, their eyes blindfolded.

            Along the far wall was a message written in black paint. Scrawled on the wall was, ‘There is no life behind the Wall, Dead Heads.’ The weapon’s cage was bare, the wall racks looted; some clips and bullets littered the floor as if someone emptied the cache in a hurry.

            “What the hell?” Daryl exclaimed as he read the message. “They did this. They did this to make it look like it was us!” He kicked an empty clip against the wall in anger.

            “Gone, everything…taken.” Jason spoke solemnly.

            “My God, I can’t believe they would do this. That they would go so far…killing their own guards?” Marla spoke in disbelief. Even when Carl explained to her that the New Charleston government was responsible for the walker bomb days ago and that they have been leading a campaign of scare tactics to blame the Dead Heads she still couldn’t believe him.

            “So you all didn’t do this. The government did? But why, what’s their purpose of scaring people like this?” Hank asked as he walked around looking for any weapon they might have missed.

            “Because people who are scared are easy to control. They just want to be safe, you tell them what you need to do to keep them safe and the people will fall in line.” Carl explained unsure how his father could do this. He’s seen his father do terrible things to keep him and Judith safe but this wasn’t making sense. There is another reason for this but Carl didn’t want to say until he knew for certain. He had to get to the inner wall, he had to see for himself.

            “We did this.” A small voice spoke from the doorway. Hank’s daughter Jen was there but she too looked to her left and the speaker.

            “We did this. Me and Jiff and Kay and Connor. We were hired to do this, it’s why I didn’t say anything earlier.” Trinity walked out of the shadows and into the glare of all in the room. Carl reached her in few steps grabbing her shirt at the collar.

            “Who? Who told you to do this? Who was it!?” He yelled, his spittle hitting her face.

            “I don’t know his name, I swear. We got our orders from a Major something. He got his orders from a councilman I think. Honestly that’s all I know. Kay did most of the negotiating.” Trinity gripped his wrist trying to wriggle her way loose.

            “Carl!” Marla roared at him to let her go. Carl put Trinity back on her feet.

            “And what did you get out of it? What was the deal, girl?” Daryl spoke as he circled her, pacing back and forth. When Trinity didn’t answer Daryl stepped in front of her, loaded and arrow, and place the tip to her forehead in one fluid movement. “You better say something.” He warned.

            “Daryl, wait.” Marla tried to deescalate the situation. “Maybe she really doesn’t know, okay. Killing her solves nothing.”

            “Daryl, stand down.” Carl said calmly. Daryl didn’t hesitate, at Carl’s command he lowered the bow and returned the arrow to the quiver on his back. “We need to keep moving. We’re going to one of our safe houses, there’s food and water and some weapons. But there’s a whole army of walkers between us and it.”

            “Then what?” Hank asked.

            “Then we go to the inner Wall. There’s someone I need to visit.” Carl’s tone is steady and methodic.

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.