Life with the Undead

Epilogue: A Knock at the Door

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

We have been busy planning our little village so it has been a while since I have written anything. There was an incident today that I felt was important to note however. A group of us were in the living room going over our blueprints/sketches when there was a knock at the front door.

It caught us all off guard. Finally I gathered my wits and went to see who was there. No one. Whoever it was had run off, but there on the doorstep they had left a gift; a bullhorn and a medieval helmet that were formally worn by Jonas, self-proclaimed horseman of the apocalypse.

I never did see Jonas’ body after Matthew shot him. But based on the special delivery, it seems like we may find out what happened to him soon enough.

Cake - I Will Survive

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Week 52: Growing Roots

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

It has been a long year. Since the outbreak began I have searched throughout Florida for Matthew, chased after him up the east coast, and finally reunited with him in South Carolina. From there we crossed Georgia and got our asses chased by a hoard of zombies all the way down to Mobile and over to Pensacola only to be taken back up to central Alabama by the Army.

In the process of this post apocalyptic tour of south east America I have seen people murdered, killed people myself, starved to near death, got gangrene, been through battle zones, dealt with drug addictions, contended with religious zealots, been infected, been experimented on, lost two fingers, and developed lupus followed by the lovely side effect of requiring the need to infect myself with the very cause of all these problems to begin with, Legion.

Needless to say I am tired of moving around. We all are. No more traveling. We are putting our feet down right here in Tallahassee. It may not be the best strategic position but it is also not the worst. And we have at least a couple of months of winter temperatures to try and fortify our surroundings.

Some of the group from Jacksonville has also decided to stay here. Kevin Morgan was an amusement engineer in Orlando (he designed roller coasters and such). Gene Ferris used to work at a plant nursery and knows a bit about gardening. Finally Sarah Mullins is also going to stay with us. She is actually a friend of Brenda’s who worked at the same hospital as a custodian. Counting me, Matthew, Brenda, Harvey and Harold, brings our population to eight and gives us a nice mix of people with various knowledge and talents.

Not a bad start if I do say so myself.

The Raconteurs - Steady, As She Goes

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Week 52: Tallahassee or Bust

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

We had not even made it fifty miles out of Tallahassee when we ran into a small group of travelers heading west on I-10.

Brenda recognized a few of them so we stopped to chat. They were from Jacksonville. It seems that the city has fallen. Despite their best efforts, Legion had made it within Jacksonville’s walls and the infection had spread from within. Word was a carrier had slipped through the quarantine procedures.

The group we were talking to was some of the refugees that had survived the outbreak. Actually I am not sure you can call them refugees when the world contains nothing but refuges, but they had left the infected city looking for safer sanctuary.

So much for our plans. I guess it is back to Tallahassee for us.

Week 52: Jacksonville or Bust (again)

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

We have gathered up our things and said our goodbyes. This was our home, but Jacksonville is the best hope we have for surviving in this treacherous world. At least it is secure and they have some semblance of civilization.

So today we head east to Jacksonville and leave our old world behind.

Week 51: Merry Christmas Maria

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 17:11:00 +0000

I brought our son back, just like I said I would. We love you and miss you very much, Maria.

Week 51: Return to Tallahassee

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 20:12:00 +0000

We arrived in Tallahassee today. Our house is still here and boarded up for the most part. The plywood over one window in the back has been pried away, but it doesn’t look like any zombies made it in. I think someone may have spent a night or two in it as shelter is all. As far as I can tell nothing is missing except maybe some canned goods.

I’m just glad to be home.

Week 51: A Winter Wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

We are close to Tallahassee now, probably only 50 more miles to go. It started snowing just a little while ago. That is just about unheard of here in the panhandle.

We are traveling east on I-10 and just came across a large horde of zombies all stuck in the cold. It is almost comical to watch them try to chase us in extreme slow motion.

Brenda and Harvey and I are going to suit up in plastic over our ski suits. I got an axe, Brenda has her bat and Harvey has two good sized machetes.

We are about to take out some frustration (and cut down the zombie population in the process). To quote Harvey, “It’s time to thin the herd.”

US Air Force Band & Singing Sergeants - Carol of the Bells

Amazon MP3

Week 51: The Ultimate Man Cave

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

We found it. Cletus McCoy’s trailer, complete with backyard shed. Funny thing is the shed was bigger than the trailer. And this was no meth lab. This was mad scientist Frankenstein lab stuff. Not to mention the secret basement.

The property itself was tucked away in the woods, nice and private. Judging by the sandbag walls and the equipment that had been abandoned, we could tell that the army (or maybe the secret CDC group) had been there, set up a perimeter, and then had been overrun by zombies.

Let’s just say that the news story about Cletus McCoy being some redneck who really REALLY liked Christmas was bullshit. Cletus’s method of demise may have been true, though. There were bear traps littered about and the transformer on the side of the shed had been blown.

Most of the stuff that had been in the shed/lab was gone. I assume it had been confiscated by the government. Seems that whoever took the stuff did not find the secret basement.

The weird thing is that Harold did find the basement. In fact it only took him five minutes. Like he knew it was there. Harold went around the exterior perimeter of the shed, digging in various spots until he uncovered the hatch and went right in.

I think Harold has some explaining to do.

…

Not sure what all Harold took from the basement. Looked like a lot of tubes, petri dishes and random equipment. A ruck sack of paperwork and computer hard drives too. I guess no one told him the power is out.

Fine by me. All I care about is that we are finally back on our way to Tallahassee. Maybe it is stupid or maybe it is twisted, but I really want Matthew to be able to visit his mom’s grave by Christmas. I hope it will give him some closure.

Week 51: A Sidetrack Before Home

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Our way has been pretty easy going now that it is so cold out. The hardest part is trying to stay warm at night. At this rate it won’t take us long to reach Tallahassee, except for the fact that Harold wants to make a sidetrack.

He wants to visit a secluded trailer just west of Montgomery. Belongs… or I should say belonged to a man by the name of Cletus McCoy. That is right, THE Cletus McCoy, first documented person infected with Legion.

Harold wants to look for clues; evidence to how this whole thing got started. I have to give it to him, Harold is very motivated to try to find a cure for this thing. I just wonder what price would be too high.

Week 50: Change in Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

We were half way back to the Army hospital when Harold found us. He had come to warn us not to go back. A group from the CDC had come and taken over the base. By force.

It seems they had heard about Harvey and me. Harold said that we didn’t want to get caught by this branch of the CDC. They were from some secret facility in Peoria, Illinois. Harold said they were the type of people that would make you their property and treat you as such.

So we decided to head back toward Tallahassee. The Army hospital I had been transported to had been located near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but with any luck we can be there by Christmas.

With Harold’s knowledge and Brenda’s medical training, hopefully we can prevent another lapse of sanity on my part.

Week 50: Sanity Returns

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

When I said that I thought I was “going insane” I was wrong. I had already gone insane. The realization was my first step back to sanity.

It seems that my immune system had waged an attack on my brain, to ill effect. I really did think those things. It all seemed rational and made sense to me. I escaped from my “captors” and began roaming around outside in near freezing temperature in nothing but a hospital gown.

Lucky for me it was so cold. The zombie I befriended only managed to chew off my pinky and ring fingers before Brenda, Matthew and Harvey found me. I can’t believe the way I treated them. I am too ashamed to write about it.

Somehow they managed to subdue me and bandage my hand. As the infection from my hand spread into my body my sanity started to come back. I guess Harold was right; my immune system needs to be distracted by Legion in order to prevent it from killing me.

Now I have to figure a few things out. What is the proper balance between being infected and not succumbing to Legion? How am I going to maintain a steady stream of Legion in order to maintain that balance? Maybe I really should keep a pet zombie around to bite me whenever I start to feel my sanity wane. That’s just a joke.

I wish Sarah was still around. Or some other carrier. I guess we will head back to the Army hospital for now.

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

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Week 50: Back in Captivity

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

~~They caught me, the dirty bastards. And they took my fingers. The nurse bandaged them up and tried to tell me my dog had done it. Stupid. Daisy has been dead for over ten years.~~

~~Now they are trying to take me back to “them”. So that they can “fix” me.~~

…

Jesus, I think I am going insane.

Week 49: My Barrel of Monkeys are Laughing

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 04:41:00 +0000

They are all against me. They are trying to get me. It is because I figured it out. This whole thing, the whole zombie apocalypse was part of their plan. It is all their way to bring about the new world order. To weaken the population and then enslave us all.

That is what all the experiments are about. All the unmarked rooms equipped with pneumatic tools and high-tech magic. With single-serving easy chairs to make you feel comfortable while they bleed you dry.

Well the joke is on them because I escaped. I won’t be their lap dog or test subject. And I can’t trust anyone. No humans anyway. The only one I have now is my pet zombie. She was not a part of this conspiracy; just an unwilling tool. Just like I was.

~~I think I’ll name her Maria. Or maybe Brenda. Or maybe Maria. She loves me so. I can tell by the look in her eyes.~~

~~Aww, I think she wants to lick my hand. Just like my dog Daisy used to when I was a kid. Here you go girl. That’s a good girl.~~

Week 49: The Official Diagnosis

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

It would appear that I now suffer from some kind of super form of Lupus. This is a condition where your immune system begins to attack your body, or at least parts of it. In my case it has been attacking the blood-brain barrier in my head and the cartilage in my joints.

These doctors and scientists have some pretty wild theories about what is going on. Really they are just wild ass guesses. They seem to think my mega-enhanced mutated immune system is stuck in attack mode. Now that the Legion has been cleared from my system it is looking for new battles to fight.

Whatever. Just admit you fucked me up and be done with it. I can’t get that mad. I mean my alternative was to die and become a zombie. Now my body is just going to tear itself apart. At least I won’t come back as a meat puppet when it is all over.

…

Harold has suggested a rather unorthodox solution to my problem. Harold seems to think I should just get infected with Legion again. Give my immune system something to fight other than my own body.

It kind of makes sense.

Week 49: Not Right

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 03:17:00 +0000

Something is wrong. Very wrong. This is the worst headache I have ever had. It’s so bad I’ve been throwing up. And now my joints are getting sore. Like I am getting arthritis or something. Doc Thomas assures me that I am no longer infected… at least not with Legion.

Week 49: Recuperation

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:53:00 +0000

I got to see Matthew and Brenda. Not just see them, but touch them, hug them.

And I also got to thank Harvey. He came out of the procedure just fine as well. Although he said everything is so quiet now. Not sure what he meant by that. Maybe his zombie radio is not working?

…

The doctors seem to think I am completely cured. There isn’t a trace of Legion in me. Doc Thomas even thinks I may be immune to it. Based on their findings, my immune system has been altered and it can now recognize Legion as a foreign entity that should be attacked.

Not only recognize it but actually defeat it. The human immune system just wasn’t strong enough to do this in the past. But mine reacts like it has been given a dose of steroids.

The doctors said they have never seen Legion so completely eradicated. They basically said my new and improved immune system made Legion its bitch.

Now if they can figure out how to fix this headache I have.

Week 49: Pulling Through

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

It seems I have survived the procedure. Otherwise I feel like shit. I’ll write more later.

Week 48: Ready, Set, Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

It won’t be long now. I asked the doctor for a few moments of privacy before they begin the procedure. It gives me a chance to write in my journal one last time.

Basically they are going to be doing a prolonged direct blood transfusion between myself and Harvey. Our arteries are going to be linked by an IV tube for a long time and hopefully whatever anti-legion stuff Harvey has in him will cross over into to me.

It is dangerous because due to our blood types there is a high risk of transfusion reaction. If that happens then my immune system could be diminished and that is why it could accelerate my turning.

The procedure is just as risky to Harvey, but he actually volunteered for the procedure. That’s right, Harvey is out of his coma. He has been for awhile I am told. Woke up shortly after Brenda and Matthew left. He even came in to talk to me earlier. Or at least he came in and I did most of the talking.

I just told him how grateful I was over and over again. He seemed to understand.

Then I got to see Brenda and Matthew. I love you both. I hope to God I make it through this, if nothing else, so I can see you both again. If I don’t make it, though, I want you to take care of each other.

So I guess now it is on with the show.

Week 48: Familiar Faces

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

More visits from Doc Thomas today as well as an assortment of others. There was a familiar face in the crowd, though. Harold came to talk to me.

Yep, Mr. Army Scientist himself. Guess they thought I might be more cooperative if I spoke with someone I knew. I suppose they were right.

Harold filled me in on a little of what was going on. Harvey was here too and they were trying to develop a cure using Harvey’s blood. They have been testing it out on me. I started to get upset about being a guinea pig but then realized there was no point. I mean, what are my alternatives; suicide or wait to become a zombie.

Harold explained that what they had been doing has slowed the process but they need to take it to the next level. For that I would have to be put under and there was a chance it could accelerate the turning instead of stopping it.

The army wanted my permission before continuing.

I said that was nice of them in the most sarcastic a tone I could muster.

I think I offended Harold. He got all flustered and told me that the only reason they had done what they have so far was because I was unconscious and could not give permission one way or the other. Harold said that they actually got permission from Brenda and Matthew, who told them to try whatever they could to save me. That I should be thankful I have been given what extra time they have afforded me.

Well I felt a bit like a jackass after that. I told him I understood and would agree on one condition. I wanted to see Brenda and Matthew.

He said that would be fine but it would have to be through a window. The army did not want to risk contaminating civilians.

I get to see them in the morning.

Week 48: The Big Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Someone came in to check on me, a doctor escorted by two armed soldiers. I guess they finally realized I was awake. The doctor’s name was Thomas. I’m not sure if it was his first or last name. He told me I was in an Army facility and they were going to take care of me.

I asked about Matthew and Brenda. The doctor said that they both were fine. Thank God. I wanted to see them but Thomas told me I wasn’t well enough and they still had to take precautions.

“Precautions?” I asked.

Then one of the soldiers piped in and told the doctor to hurry up. Thomas checked my eyes, tongue, a few other things. Then he got up to leave.

Before he got out the door I asked him what was wrong with me. All he told me was, “I’m not at liberty to say.” Then one of the soldiers shut the door engaging the lock behind them.

…

They wouldn’t tell me what was wrong so I decided to take the bandages off myself. Jesus Christ there are bites, two of them on my chest. I’ve been infected.

Week 48: Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 03:35:00 +0000

The bombs started dropping sometime in the middle of the night. We thought it was thunder in the distance at first. But it just kept getting louder and closer. When it became apparent that it was not thunder I had Matthew and Brenda get into the tunnel I was excavating and then I followed them.

One hit close and debris fell from the ceiling. I was having second thoughts about cramming everyone into the tunnel but about that time the bombs stopped. Or, I should say paused. As we were trying to crawl our way out the blasts began again.

I imagined this was what it had been like during the blitzkriegs of WW2. Another close blast and I was sure at the very least the bolts the held the iron bars would finally give way. We crawled our way back into the tunnel for lack of anything better to do. I put my back toward Matthew and Brenda so I could look out to the entrance of the tunnel to see if any zombies made it in.

Then it happened. One of the bombs must have landed squarely in the courtyard of the fort. The blast forced the zombies into the iron bars which forced the iron bars into the cell and up against the entrance of our tunnel. The heat was intense and suddenly all of the oxygen was sucked out of the air.

We almost suffocated to death. The heat from the blast had burned up our oxygen and the mass of zombies that had been pressed up against our entrance was preventing new air from reaching us. I slid down to the opening and began kicking. When that didn’t work I braced myself against the sides of the tunnel and placed my foot on the iron bars that were now keeping the zombie out of the tunnel.

I pushed with everything I had. There was no way I could move it but I had to clear the way. “Grenade,” I called and thrust my hand behind me. Brenda pressed the grenade into my hand and pulled the pin. I tossed it through the bars.

That is all I remember. Everything went black and then I woke up in some kind of room. I think it used to be a classroom. Now it has been converted to a hospital room/prison.

Yep, I am locked in here. I have been bandaged up, looks like my ribs and a head wound, so whatever it is they aren’t letting me die. I can only hope it is just some kind of quarantine procedure.

I don’t know what has happened to Matthew and Brenda.

The Ramones - Blitzkreig Bop

Amazon MP3

Week 47: Rusty Bars and Moaning Meat Puppets

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The cell we are in has three walls of stone, and the fourth wall is rusty iron bars. It’s probably 15’ x 15’. Subtract about 3’ because we need to stay at least an arm’s length away from the iron bars (lest a zombie reach out and grab us) and that leaves three people only 12’ x 15’ feet to occupy.

The horde of zombies pressed against the bars constantly moan at us and the rusty bars don’t look very sturdy. Our food and water supply are dwindling. It is enough to make you lose your mind. So I have been trying to dig our way out.

This cell was built into the perimeter wall of the fort. I estimate there is about 15’ of stone and dirt between the rear wall of our cell and the outside.

I managed to get three good metal legs off the small cot that was in the cell. I already wore the first leg down to a nub trying to get through the initial stone layer of the wall. Beyond that stone was gravel and sand. I have excavated about 3’ into the gravel and sand with the second leg which is now worn down half way.

If my math is correct then I will have to dig the last 3’ by hand. If we get desperate we can try using the hand grenade that Brenda has to blast through the remaining wall.

Week 47: Jonas’ Last Stand

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

My journal has been returned to me care of Matthew. We have been reunited, again, but our problems just keep getting worse.

I was not doing so great on my own. Jonas had me pinned. I was holed up in an old fort. I think it is called Fort Pickens.

Apparently Jonas had chased me out there ahead of his horde. It has been cold, so I guess the zombies were trailing behind him. I thought I still had time to prepare since I didn’t see the zombie horde anywhere near me. That’s when Jonas started shooting at me. I scrambled into the prison for shelter.

I guess you could call it a Mexican standoff. I was in the prison wing of the fort. Jonas was outside. There was only one entrance, one exit. I wasn’t going to let Jonas in and he was not going to let me out.

So Jonas had decided to just hold tight until his horde arrived. That’s when Brenda showed up.

I’m not exactly sure what happened between them; I was still watching the door to the prison. All I know is I heard Jonas yelling for me and when I looked he had dragged Brenda out into the courtyard and was holding a gun to her head. Jonas was yelling for me to come out or he would kill Brenda.

So I started to emerge from my hole. Just as I was doing that I saw Matthew emerge from the shadows about 20 yards behind Jonas. I couldn’t tell but it looked like Matthew had a gun in his hand. I tried to act normal, or as normal as I could, and just continued to step closer to Jonas. With each step I took, Matthew took a step closer as well.

So there we stood. Jonas was holding Brenda in front of him and a gun to her head. I was in front of Jonas, my hands raised and trying to keep Jonas’ attention on me. Matthew was behind Jonas, creeping closer and closer with what a gun in his hand.

Jonas smiled at me and told me to get on my knees. I obliged. I could no longer see Matthew. Jonas took the gun from Brenda’s head and pointed it at mine.

“I’m so glad I could do this up close and personal” Jonas said. Then there were three gunshots: two from Matthew, the third from Jonas. Matthew had shot him twice in the back at point blank range. Jonas’ shot had gone off its mark but still managed to clip me in the shoulder.

It was about that time the zombies arrived at Fort Pickens. They started pouring over the fort wall and into the courtyard. We scrambled to the prison and barely made it. Unfortunately we did not get the door to the prison shut in time. We retreated further into a jail cell in the back.

And that is where we are now. Me, Brenda and Matthew in a small jail cell with just some iron bars between us and what has to be thousands of zombies.

Matthew had grabbed his backpack with him in the scramble. There’s at least a couple of day’s worth of food in there, 4 bottles of water and the first aid kit. Brenda has patched me up as best she can and now all we have to do is wait.

God, why didn’t they stay put and just let me die?

Week 46: The Big Bad Horde

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Oh man, there are a butt-load of zombies on your tail, dad. I think Jonas must be collecting more as he goes along.

We are back on the water and we can see them all on shore. There is a big bridge going from Pensacola to some sort of island or peninsula. The zombies are trying to cross it and it is creating a huge bottleneck.

Anyway, we are going to use the boat to get ahead of the zombie horde. Brenda figures they are probably following you, so if we go to where the zombies are headed maybe we’ll find you.

…

On the other side of the bridge the stream of zombies seems to be leading toward the west end of the island. Thank God it is still cold. They are moving slow and the bulk of them have not made it there yet.

It looks like they are heading to some old fort. Looks like it was some tourist attraction, some old civil war fort I guess.

…

We have been scouting out the fort from the water. We don’t see you, dad, but we did spot Jonas. We’re not sure what he is up to. He is just sitting on the wall of the fort staring in. Maybe he is waiting for his horde.

We’re going to try and take care of Jonas. Get to him before the horde gets here. Wish us luck.

…

Bullshit! Brenda thinks she is going to make me stay here on the boat while she goes and plays hero. We’ll see about that. Soon as she is out of sight I am leaving to help.

Week 46: Arming Up

noreply@blogger.com (Arcade Fiction) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Brenda did concede that we needed more weapons if we intend on saving you. So we made a slight detour just outside of Pensacola. We got back on dry land and started searching for pawn shops, army supply stores, hunting shops; any place that might have guns. We found a few, especially hunting shops. They don’t call it the “Redneck Riviera” for nothing.

Most of them had been raided already and there was nothing but scraps left. The last one still had some good stuff, though. We got a couple of hand guns, a shot gun, a nice rifle with a scope and plenty of ammo.

Oh and Brenda found a grenade stashed in the back. I think we are set. Here we come.