Day 02: Scavenging

“Almost out,” Matthew announced as he, JC, Natalie, Aisha and Portia trudged down the murky tunnels beneath the city. In recent days, the group had discovered that the sewers were devoid of undead…well, mostly. And with them running the length of the entire town, they made for easy navigation on scavenging runs. They smelled about as foul as one would expect but, a decent shower once home cleared away the fetid stench and soiled clothing.

Looking down the dark tunnel Matthew could see a smoky silhouette of shadow in a vaguely human-like shape. He appeared stooped over some object in the distance unaware he and JC were approaching. With very little light entering into the compact space, it was difficult to make out much.

Regardless, the man turned and looked directly at them and it was then that they saw the gore splattered over his clothes. The zombie set upon them in a flash, reaching and clawing at Matthew’s face while JC pulled to get him off. In a panic, he heaved his fist forward, knocking both the man and JC to the ground. Instantly, the monster turned its sights on JC, wrapping him up as it opened its jaws wide, preparing to take a bite. “GET THIS FUCKER OFF OF ME!” JC shouted, pushing at the man’s neck to keep its maw far back.

The creature let out a long, shrill shriek and its motions became even more frenzied. JC squirmed on his back as the man began overpowering him in the darkness, holding him down; trying to sink its teeth into him. Matthew rushed toward them, with his Bowie in hand, and rammed the 12-inch blade through the top of the zombie’s skull. The screaming instantly stopped as blood trickled down its face and JC threw him off to stand.

“Oh my god, that was close,” Natalie said as she Aisha and Portia caught up to the two. “Are you ok? Did it scratch you?”

Matthew stepped closer, inspecting JC to ensure he was clear before shaking his head toward her. “Where did you three get off to? I told you to stick close.”

“We found a storage closet with some interesting supplies,” Aisha answered, showing him the full bag at her side. “Portia was able to pick the lock and get us inside.”

“And my father said I’d never amount to much with a life of crime,” Portia winked at Aisha with a grin before slinging her bag over her shoulder.

“Guys, as fun as this little chat is, I think we should probably head out now. All that shouting had to have alerted others in the area,” JC said. “It sounded more like a hunting call than a cry for distress and I don’t plan on being around when its friends respond to that signal.”

“JC’s right,” Matthew agreed, grabbing Natalie and Aisha’s bags before leading the way out of the passage.

Carefully, the group entered the main shaft, stopping just below the ladder leading topside and listened for the telltale moaning of a gathered horde. When they heard nothing, they continued on, heading for their trucks. Natalie watched the sunlight creep in through slits in the manhole cover and paused momentarily feeling her emotions take over.

The past two years had been a rollercoaster ride and she had her share of ups and downs. Sometimes feeling overwhelming gratitude for having survived as long as she had through the apocalypse but other times, she’d be overcome with indescribable grief, sorrow and fear over everything she had lost.

Glancing at the street around her, she kept watch as Aisha and Portia packed their individual vehicles with supplies and JC and Matthew replaced the manhole covers. It was a dangerous thing being outside for too long these days. And even though she didn’t see any zombies in their immediate vicinity, she still felt incredibly exposed. 

The sound of the walking dead was much clearer out in the open, and each zombie seemed to have a distinct, sorrowful cry. No other sounds were audible. The great technology of modern life had been ground down to dismal, inhuman suffering.

The scary thing was she had become used to that fact. As the girls finished loading the vehicles, a loud, feral screech erupted somewhere from the north…really close by. “What the fuck was that?” Portia asked, peeking her head around the back of her truck. It sounded nothing like the monsters to which they had grown accustomed. Fear edged along her spine as she joined Natalie near the front bumper. “We need to get out of here. Now. You guys about done?”

“Almost there,” Matthew groaned, still straining to move the last cover in place.

Natalie felt Aisha’s hand slip around her arm. “I really hope we don’t find out what just made that noise.”

But her fear was met with the sudden appearance of three ravenous zombies slowly meandering near the park entrance. “Aisha, get in the car,” Natalie said, focusing her attention at the new threat. 

Taking a step back, Aisha stopped dead in her tracks as she turned blindly into a festering corpse. Its skin was melted from its facing, dripping down its chin like cheese and sauce on a hot pizza. Its mouth opened to reveal a set of rotted, gnashing teeth that bit and chomped as it reached its bony fingers toward her. Aisha screamed and the group’s eyes all met her with trepidation.

“Get in the trucks!” Portia yelled, rushing over to Aisha with an axe in hand. Natalie didn’t have to turn to know that they had now attracted the attention of a number of zombies from across the street. Portia raised her weapon overhead and brought it down swiftly into the monster’s forehead, splitting it in half. Blood splattered her shirt and neck and she jumped back as a black slime oozed from the creature’s wound. “That’s new,” she commented, and moved to follow Aisha, jumping into the front seat of the SUV.

As she had guessed, upon hearing Aisha’s scream and seeing the combat ensue a crowd of rotting bodies was now dragging their feet toward them. The first two made it over quickly but several more were shambling as fast as their putrefied legs could carry them. The bloodiest of the duo stumbled onward to give chase and she hurried into the passenger side of the other truck. 

“Matt, move it!” JC shouted as he hopped into the driver’s seat beside Natalie. Cranking the engine, he prepared to mow down the other three zombies in front of him as he waited for Matthew to join them.

Matthew dragged the final lid into place and made a mad dash forward as JC pulled out of the alleyway. Gripping the passenger side door of Portia’s truck, he scrambled to get inside. The vehicle lurched forward and he fell onto the pavement. “MATT!” Aisha shouted as he worked to get to his feet. The last thing she saw as the vehicle exited the alleyway was a mass of arms grabbing him and jerking him out of sight.

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