Introduction Whoever came up with the saying "ignorance is bliss", left out the most important part. Ignorance is bliss to whoever made you ignorant. It just makes it easier to get people to do what you want them to. Control is bliss. That sounds better. That makes more sense. Control is what they did. The media that is... The initial start of the outbreak was reported as isolated cases. Local events. Of course now, we know it was all a lie. By trying to avoid panic they created it. If only they had informed everyone. Maybe... Maybe things would be different. Maybe people would have been more cautious. It's to late now. Now, those who controlled are gone and anarchy is the new regime. Where there was money, there is only survival. Survive for what, you may ask? Who knows? I'm just happy to be alive. Even if it's life in a Zombie Apocalypse. ... Preface His hand trembled as he reached for the door. Desperately inching to grab hold of the handle, blood dripping down to the ground. Suddenly, he hears that terrifyingly familiar scream, followed by the slow moving, heavy footsteps, which seemed to be almost trailing, approaching closer to him. He couldn't be deterred, he crawled a bit closer to the door, his leg still bleeding. The Creeper peered around the corner. He could see it now. Its eyes had sunken into its face and the large dark circles under them were tainted in blood. The Creeper's leg seemed to be broken; his trap had almost worked he thought to himself. Just as soon as its eyes met with Decker’s did the creeper ferociously lunge at him. Any humanity was long gone from this damned creature. Decker quickly gave up reaching for the doorknob and grabbed for something much closer to him, his shovel. ... Chapter 1 - Countdown Three days before the outbreak In those days, I hated my life. I didn't have a girlfriend, I had no real friends, and I lived in a crummy apartment... Sure I had gotten what I thought was my dream job, a journalist on the local news. However, after only a year, I had been disillusioned by the firm and unforgiving pull of reality. Every story to be aired was monitored and filtered. Every angle was manufactured to sensationalize. Priority was given to the unimportant. I felt overwhelmed, I felt cheap. I felt like a liar. I remember thinking about my next story that day. I sat reading the paper; looking for a story I could follow-up on. Anything sad but not tragic, we can always make things tragic, anything scary like disease or war, anything about a celebrity, anything for the ratings really. I remember looking at the paper that day, because it was filled with an astonishing amount of fatal crashes, freak accidents and rioting. One headline in particular stood out because it was a local event that occurred late last night. Two victims. A driver dies when a pedestrian jumped head-on, into his moving vehicle. ... Present day The creeper was just above him now, Decker thrusts his shovel with what strength he had left and it found itself lodged inside the Creeper's head. The blood spilled out of the open wound along with some of its grey matter. Now to get into this room he thought. After resting a bit, listening to see if any other Creepers would show, Decker finally turns over and again attempts to reach the doorknob. Now appeased by the thought that he was finally safe, he took the time to crawl closer to the door, making sure he didn't drag his leg onto the blood on the floor. He hoisted himself to sit up against the door using the knob. Pain shot through him as he attempted to stand. The pain being so unbearable, he remained as he was and turned the knob and slowly opened the door as his free hand reached for the shovel. Just in case he thought. As the door opened, it also allowed Decker to pull himself into the room as it inched open. Slowly pulling his body into the room with his one arm, he held the shovel on his lap with the other. He peeked around the open door to see if anyone, or anything was there. Nothing. Seeing that the room was empty, Decker pulled in his legs slowly, trying to minimize movement to his injured leg. Suddenly a loud, sharp scream could be heard echoing from the floors below. Not waiting to see what had made the sound, Decker hurried his movement and quickly shut the door behind him. ... Three days before the outbreak Later that same day, I still couldn't come up with a story. Well, I had a story in mind but I didn't know what I could say about it. It was a clear-cut story and yet I still wanted to follow up on it. A man is running down an empty street late at night. Suddenly, a car comes into view coming up an intersecting street. The man starts running faster. The driver doesn't see the man and never does. At the intersection where both streets meet, the running man leaps head first into the driver side window of the car. The window shatters; the man's head is busted open. The driver is surprised and blinded by the splattered blood in his eyes and windshield. He swerves and crashes into an electric pole. He survives the crash but dies from attempting to exit the vehicle. Fallen power cables on the street caused death by electrocution. It was a perfect story. It was local, uncommon and sad. All I needed was an angle. Drunk driving? Freak accident? A successful run at suicide? Mental instability? Stressed related? I didn't know what to write. I had to investigate further. I had to get more facts. ... Present day Furtively, Decker looked around the room; he had to find a way out. He could see a small wooden table of simple design on his left that was probably used as a desk, in front of it, an old wooden chair with uneven legs. Against the wall in front of him, a tattered sofa with a small coffee table in the middle of the room in-front of it. There were no windows. Again, the high-pitched howl was heard, but this time it was much closer. The creature was in the hall. Decker looked up to the door. There wasn't a lock. This wasn't good, he thought to himself. Looking around again, he made his way to the sofa. As fast as his injured leg would allow him, Decker began to move the small sofa up against the door. Every inch and shove sent agony down his leg and up his entire body. Finally, having been pushing from the back of the sofa, he felt the resistance of the door behind him. Almost instantly, the bangs on the door began. It must have heard all the commotion figured Decker. Knowing full well that his make shift blockade wouldn't last, Decker reached for his shovel and used the corner of the spade as a hook to pull the little table by his side. What's a little more noise now that it knows I'm here? He thought to himself. After a difficult start, Decker finally managed to bring the table closer. He then flipped it over to its side and began hacking at the old wooden legs with the shovel. After a couple good hits, the first leg came off. He then repeated the same procedure with the second leg. Once he had done that, he then undid his belt and took it off. Using the table legs and his belt, painfully, Decker braced his leg. He shouted as he tightened the belt around his leg sandwiched between the two pieces of wood. One problem solved, he thought comically. As he started to stand, he turned to see that the door was beginning to crack and splinter. I can never get a break he smirked. Barely able to stand and exhausted to the point where only his instinct for survival and the pain and pressure on his leg kept him awake, Decker prepared for the worse. Now facing the door he watched as the split in the centre of it widened. Waiting in excruciating agony for the right moment to act. He only had one chance. He hoped that the creature would peer its head through the opening once the gap was wide enough. Just that one brief moment, for him to shove his shovel straight through the gap into its head. It seemed like forever. Again, the creature wailed a high-pitched cry. Almost deafening now that it was just inches away. Then suddenly, the banging stopped. A million thoughts rushed through Decker's mind. Only one persisted. What happened? He asked himself over and over. Silence had settled in. An uncomfortable silence. The type you noticed and couldn't shake off. The kind that made the world seem as if it had frozen and left you alone with your thoughts. Just as the silence became the new torment in Decker's mind, as abruptly as it had stopped, a loud "THUD" broke through the silence, followed by the cracking of wood. The door finally gave in and had even sent the sofa hurling at Decker, who stood only a foot or two from it. The impact and the surprise had knocked him backwards causing him to trip on the broken table behind him. As he fell he hit the back of his head on the edge of the coffee table. Silence and darkness were the last things to fill his mind. ... Three days before the outbreak I started digging in all the usual places. I called up the police station, the coroner, the morgue, and the family of the deceased... Of course I didn't expect to get much out of it, but you get use to it. After the fifth unanswered call to the recently dead running man, Joey DeFacto's residence. I decided to stop by the morgue to pay a little visit to an old friend of mine. Needless to say it wasn't my first trip to the big freezer. Overtime, I'd made good friends with the some of the staff there. One of which happened to be the Useless doctor. His name was Bob, as common as a name could get. He was one of the doctors running the morgue. I call him the Useless doctor because the docs are of better use to the living. The security guard at the front, Tyrone, greeted me; he could have been a bouncer with his physic. Not that he was muscular. He was the other kind of big guy and had an intimidating appearance. Luckily, after so many repeated visits, he warmed up to me. Or so I liked to believe. He never looked up at me from behind his deck, reading his paper. I liked to imagine he had a grave look under his cap. I signed the registry and made my way to Bob's office. I knocked on the door and noticed that it was already partially open. Bob's familiar voice welcomed me, as if expecting my arrival. - I'm told you called a few times. Bob said. I didn't answer. He was always well informed. Nothing escaped his vigilance. I guess that's why he's one of the best in his line of work. He noticed what others didn't. Just as I finally mustered what to say in my mind, he began to stand and spoke. - Very well then, I suppose you'd like to see the body. He walked past me and exited the office. I followed, closing the door behind me. We went down the long, eerie corridor leading to the storage room I called the freezer. It was a cramped corridor with stretchers on both sides of it. Not all were empty. We continued till we were at the end of the hall. Before we entered, Bob turned towards me. - Now then, before we go in there, I have to warn you, its pretty gruesome and the smell... The god-awful smell... You haven't seen anything like it. As a matter of fact, neither have I. And I like to think I've seen it all. At first I didn't think anything of his warning. It's just another body I figured. It's not the first I've seen. I thought Bob just wanted to give me the willies. I guess I forgot that Bob rarely made jokes. Not that his warning would have prepared me for what I was about to experience. He opened the doors and we walked towards the row of lockers. Meat lockers in a sense. We finally stopped at a locker with an examining table right next to it. The moment Bob pulled it open; the most horrifying, nauseating smell began to emit and to rapidly fill the room. It was unlike anything I'd ever smelled in my life. It was horrible. My eyes began to tear, my hands shot to my mouth and nose as my gag reflex kicked in. I could taste it and felt the smell filling my lungs. I looked up at Bob, who, in my surprise, had pulled out a mask to cover his face. I would have said something but I was afraid of opening my mouth. Then, the body came out. I couldn't imagine what could possibly have emitted such a repugnant smell, but somehow I understood when I laid my eyes on the corpse. Its head was partially gone from the impact with the car. He was covered in bruises of all shapes. Infectious puss leaked from every pore in his body. His skin was peeling and it looked as if he was decomposing. His skin was a mix of green, blue, purple and brown. Finally I managed to speak. - I thought you guys kept these bodies in cold storage to avoid this kind of thing. And don't you wash the bodies down? What's with all that fluid coming out of him? As if expecting the question Bob was quick to explain. - Believe it or not, we did wash it down. But the body just won't stop leaking. As for the look, that's how we got him, he already looked like he'd been decomposing for a couple days now. Then, a noise coming from the hallway caught our attention. ... Chapter 2 – Surprise Present day Cautiously, I began to push the now opened door. I wasn't sure what to expect so I opened it with the tip of my baseball bat. It gave a bit of resistance. When the opening was finally wide enough, I found out the cause of the resistance. It was a couch. It seems that Decker had barricaded the door with it and with good reason. When we got on this floor, a Howler was bashing against the door. Luckily for us, Alan had the crossbow with him. The first shot hit it at the base of its abnormally long neck. We'd gotten its attention. It turned towards us, its jaw dropped freakishly low before letting out a loud howl. Quickly, Alan managed to reload and shot an arrow right through its mouth. We hurriedly rushed at it and I swung my bat as it tried to bite me, taking advantage of the reach its long neck provided. It was the decisive blow. The Howler went down and just to make sure it wouldn't get up again I crushed its head under my heavy boot. When the door was wide enough for us to enter, I noticed a pool of blood on the floor. I called out quietly to see if Decker was all right. We got no answer. I went in first; Alan covered me with the crossbow from the doorway. My eyes followed the pool of blood to Decker lying on the floor clutching onto his shovel. I quickly called Alan and went to inspect the body. I could see he tried to mend his broken leg. There was lot of blood and I couldn't tell if all of it was his. Alan came over and checked for a pulse. He couldn't find one. Decker was dead. We were too late; he'd bled out. - Great... This is just great! I killed Decker. How the... I mean what do we... I didn't know what to say. My emotions had gotten the best of me. It was frustrating. Alan tried to comfort me. - We don't know that! Maybe be fell before we came in, his leg was broken. Maybe he tripped! If not us, maybe the howler would have busted the door open and killed him. We don't know! I could tell that Alan was in the same state as me. He just tried to reason himself into believing it wasn't our doing. My doing. There was an awkward silence for a moment. We stood there, not knowing what to think even less what to say. I suppose that's why we were taken by surprise. From the corner of my eye, I had barely gotten a glance at the approaching shadow before I found my self on the ground wrestling, trying to keep zombie Decker's salivating mug away from me. I pressed my bat against his throat, barely keeping him inches from my face. I screamed repeatedly at Alan. - Get him off me! Get him off! Alan was still under the shock, when he finally regained some sense he raised his crossbow and prepared to fire. - Stop moving! I can't get a clear shot! He replied. - Don't shoot! Get him off! Just get him off! I cried back. The last thing I wanted was Alan to miss and shoot me instead. Not that Alan was a terrible shot. He just wasn't an ace either. To be honest, I was more worried about the blood that would gush out of Decker's brain right onto my face. Alan finally positioned himself behind Decker and pulled him off me. I immediately swung my bat at Decker's broken leg. The wood shattered and he fell to the floor. I quickly got up on my feet ready to follow through but Alan had already pulled the trigger. An arrow lodged itself right in-between his eyes. After a while we just stood there. We weren't really sure what to do next. Everything's happened so fast that we've only been able to react so far. Now that we have some time to think nothing came to mind. What was there to think about? I guess Alan took less time than me to get a grip of reality. - What do we do with the body? He asked. I turned my head to Alan, as if unsure of what he meant although I knew clear as day what he meant. I turned my attention to Decker's motionless body. - We do like the others. We burn it. Grab the couch cushions and the busted table. I'll carry Decker. I finally said to Alan. I'd never felt like I did in that moment. The hall seemed to go on for miles and when we finally reached the stairs, it felt like we were descending an endless spiral to hell. We were quiet the whole way. Half of it was because we didn't know what to say and half of it were because you could never be too sure whether or not another one of those things were around. When we got outside, the streets were deserted and the sky was grey. Alan laid the table upside down on the ground. He then placed the cushions side by side on top. He then proceeded to walk over to a trashcan and picked up some scraps of paper. He rolled them up and pulled out his lighter and lit the makeshift torch. I laid Decker's body on the cushions and then removed his knee and elbow pads. I then took a step back. - Care to say a few words? Alan finally asked. - No. I don't think there's anything to say. I replied. And with that, Alan placed the torch between the two cushions and soon a blaze started under Decker. It would have been a moving moment, yet we couldn't stick around to bask in it. We were losing sunlight and we had to head home. At least, the closest thing we could call home in this dark world. ... Three days before the outbreak Tyrone appeared at the entrance of the freezer. He was much more imposing when he was standing. The paramedics standing beside him were almost dwarfed in comparison. - Hey Doc, the paramedics are here with the other body. Tyrone said to Bob. Bob pulled down his mask and gestured to the paramedic to come in as he spoke to Tyrone. - Thank you Tyrone. Let me know when the detectives are to arrive. With that, Tyrone nodded in acknowledgment and turned around before disappearing into the hallway. I shifted my attention to the body bag being transferred from the stretcher onto an adjacent examination table. One of the men took a clipboard from the stretcher and handed it to Bob who quickly signed it and returned it. I guess the medics didn't like the smell either, seeing as they never said a word and by quickly they headed for the exit. However, before they could reach the door, Bob stopped them and asked. - Why didn't you unzip the bag to confirm you brought the right body? The two men looked at each other. The tallest was the one to answer. - Umm... Well you see... It already smelled so horrible in here that we didn't want to make matters worse. The two medics then continued off into the hallway like Tyrone before them. I remembered asking myself how they could possibly have made the smell any worse than it already was. Any other smell would have simply been overpowered by the odor the body was emitting. I turned my attention again to Bob who'd already put his mask back up. - Who's in the other bag? I asked. Bob gestured to a cabinet behind me. I turned and walked over to open it. Inside, I saw a box of heavy-duty masks. I smirked as I put one on and walked back towards Bob. The smell wasn't as strong and that slight difference was enough to appease my nostrils. The sensation was short lived. Almost regretting having asked, Bob unzipped the body bag and the vile, putrid odor once again overwhelmed my sense of smell. It was worse this time. My eyes began to water. I couldn't even taste the puke that came up to my mouth. I turned away from the source of the smell. I couldn't even begin to phantom how much worse it could have been without my mask. Curiosity finally got the better of me as I turned to face the body. I took a step back purely for its psychological effect. I was relieved too see Bob do the same. I looked down at the body. Its skin was pale blue and it seemed to be cracking despite the clear liquid it seemed to be secreting. I was astonished as to how the skin condition resembled that of the previous body. - It seems like they were keeping this one in cold storage as well. I guess it was in an attempt to minimize the smell. Bob finally commented. - Minimize the smell I can barely stand to stay in this room as is! I snapped back. - Well consider yourself lucky then. Both the bodies were in cold storage to conserve the bodies and as a bonus, reduce the smell. In any case this fellow here is the driver of the car that Joey over there ran into. Bob said as he motioned at the other body. - How come they just brought this one in now? I asked. - Because he still showed some sign of life when they found him. Bob pointed out. - What do you mean? I thought he died electrocuted trying to get out of his car. How could he have survived that? I asked. Just then, a voice originating from the door made itself heard. - That's what we'd like to know and what you won't be hearing tonight. Said the man standing at the door. ... Present Day It was getting dark sooner than I had anticipated. I guess we were losing sunlight sooner seeing as it was now mid-autumn. I was starting to think if it would be better to camp for the night. There was still quite a distance to travel before we would reach the outskirts of the Block. The trouble was that there weren't many places we could easily secure with just me, Alan and Sam. Sam had been waiting for us at the campsite to watch the gear when we went looking for Decker. We were lucky to have her. She was one of the few survivors that can actually be useful during a recon mission. Alan was the one leading the way with Sam in the middle and me making up the rear. We walked straight down the middle of the street. It’s always safer than walking close to the buildings. It gave us more time to react if one or more of those things were to jump out of the shadows. Alan stopped abruptly and motioned at about 6 crawlers not so far away. Sam and I hurriedly joined Alan. I could see them more clearly now. There were 7 of them. They were tearing away at the carcass of an unfortunate victim of fate. Unluckily for us, there was no way around. The damn things somehow found themselves in the middle of an intersection. We only had one option. We had to face them. They didn't seem to be aware of our presence so we decided to prepare for the confrontation. Alan kept an eye on them while me and Sam geared up. I unhooked the hockey gloves hanging from my belt. I had modified them with a clip at the end for that sole purpose. Living in Montreal hockey gloves were common items that ensured great safety. They were made to protect your hands from wayward pucks and unpleasant sticking while still giving the wearer the ability to handle a hockey stick. Of course now they were used to guard my hands from bites and scratches and to wield my baseball bat. Sam did the same except she used them to wield two butcher knives. I guess she liked them since any other weapon would be heavy to use and she didn’t have the striking power to get one hit kills with a bat. The gloves made up for the short range since it kept her hands safe even if bitten. Our hands are essential tools in this apocalyptic world. They are the basis of any weapon we use so we pay close attention to them. But just as important was our face. Blood splatter is a serious issue. I put my scarf up to cover my mouth and nose. Sam and Alan did the same. Even though it was pretty dark I put on my aviators. Only Sam did the same since Alan had to see where he was shooting. Once finished we left our backpacks on the ground and the three of us began a slow and weary approach towards the crawlers. Alan only had a few arrows left so he brought Decker's shovel with him. We got as close as we felt safe. We got down on the street lying on our bellies and crawled a little closer to try and improve Alan's range. They couldn't be more than 30 feet away. Alan lined up his crossbow. The first shot hit a crawler in the shoulder. They were aware of us now. They turned towards us. Alan began to reload as Sam and I got up waiting for them. The crawlers were now running at us. One of them goes down as an arrow went right through his nose. Only six left I thought. They were getting very close now. Maybe only 14 or 15 feet from us closing in fast. Alan's last arrow stuck into a creepers leg. He put down the crossbow and picked up Decker's shovel. I began running at the creepers. Alan and Sam followed. The distance was closing fast. Time began to slow down. Seven feet away, I tightened my grip around my bat. Five feet away, I could now see the ugly features on the decaying blood soaked faces they wore. Four feet, my heart is racing as adrenaline rushes through my veins. Two feet away, I begin swinging my bat. The next second, impact. At that very moment, everything halted to a complete stop. I stopped breathing, I stopped thinking. My heart stopped racing. I'm not sure why, but the one thing that filled my mind at that moment was a song. A song I never fully grasped until that very moment. "There’s nothing to lose, when no one knows your name". The lyrics echoed in my head. Everything began to move again. My heart was racing, I was breathing but my mind wasn’t working. It became a radio. Playing a song for that very moment in life... My bat came crashing down on the first creeper. The sneaky bastard dodged and I just missed his head crushing his shoulder instead. Smart creeper... As I drew my bat up again, the damned thing took a shot at my hand, trying to bite me. It got a mouthful of air. "There’s nothing to gain, cuz the days don't seem to change" the lyrics rocked around my head. Just then, I barely jumped out to my left to avoid another creeper coming from behind me. I would have been done for if Sam hadn't called out. I got back on my feet and as I regained my balance, I looked to see the first creeper was already running at me. This time I brought my bat upwards and landed a hit right at the creeper's chin. Its head was knocked back and before it could come back down again, I swung my bat across its face and the creeper hit the ground deader than it already was. There wasn't anytime to think or to feel. I could only react. React and follow the tune of Billy Talent as it played in my head. Nothing To Lose. A song that was just a wandering thought but became my reason for that brief moment in time. "Never played truth or dare, I'd have to check my mirror to see if I’m still here". I just stood there. My bat lowered. I stared at the second creeper that had just missed taking my life seconds ago. It was coming straight at me. I let my bat fall to ground. The creeper lunged at me. I grabbed it by the collar and threw it to the ground. "There's nothing to lose, when no one knows your name". I swiftly jumped on top of the creeper keeping it pinned under my weight. "There's nothing to gain, but the days don't seem to change". Any reason in me was gone. I began to hum to the music as I landed blow after blow onto the creepers face. Blood splattered everywhere. I could barely see thought my blood-tainted aviators. I could feel the creepers face beginning to dissolve into mush under the constant barrage of my protected fists. It was blissful yet revolting. It was as thrilling as it must have seemed terrifying to Alan and Sam. That's if they were even still alive. It was the very idea of madness. The embodiment of the word in every sense. My eyes began to water yet I smirked. It was reason trying to break through insanity. It was my feelings trying to break free. It was what a man had become. It was what I had become. It wasn't me. It couldn't be. I heard Sam calling out to me. Alan tapped me on the shoulder. Reality came rushing in. I rose up slowly. Blood and pieces of flesh dripped off my gloves. I just stood there. The author of the bloody mess at my feet. I turned towards the bags and glimpsed at the other four zombies Alan and Sam had disposed of. I still made the biggest mess. I began to walk towards our waiting packs. I removed my aviators first, pulling out paper from my coat pocket to wipe them with. I tossed the paper and pulled down my scarf. - Let's keep moving. I mumbled under my breath. I couldn't let them see me like this. I placed my aviators into its case and put it back in my pocket. I guess Alan and Sam understood. They followed and we continued our walk back to the Block. ... Chapter 3 - The Block We walked for another hour before we reached the outskirts of the Block. No one really said anything. There wasn't really anything to be said. I guess the tension that came with the silence was too much for Alan and Sam. The occasional "I can't wait to just lay in bed." and "Man I wish we'd get there already." broke the silence. We walked into the block and didn't go very far before a familiar voice called out. - Don't go crossing a lake when you can't swim. The voice called out. - We'll just walk over the heads of crocs. Sam screamed back. - Watch out on Cote-St-Catherine Street. We just set a new one there. The voice called back. With that we continued onward. The Block is basically a city Block we'd converted into a fortress city. It was our home. Buildings joined together at the rooftops with makeshift bridges and zip lines. Escape vehicles were parked at different locations around the Block for a quick getaway. Worse case scenario we could take the boarded up metro. In the middle of the Block was a large park we had converted into a farm. It provided us with ample food over the summer. We had dug moats all around the park for last resort defenses. The dirt was used to fill sandbags and the fences from the ballpark were used to help complete the blockades we'd set up on some of the bigger streets. Unfortunately, the weather was getting colder and we'd need to rely on the smaller green houses and our stored provisions for the long winter months. The gate was now visible. Fences and sandbags were placed on either side of the wall forming a "V" shape with the wider part facing away from the Block. In case we were attacked, the entrance would be narrower and easier to defend. In-between them was a pick-up truck on which we mounted a large piece of wood that was composed of 2x4s that we had drilled together in layers and drilled onto the back of the truck. We added old metal traffic signs to the front of the wood and drove long nails through the whole thing from the back. Any attempt to bash on that baby would cost you some flesh after every hit. We also put a gap near the top of the rig. Also attached to the bed of truck besides the reinforcing rods was a stand on which we mounted a giant scissor like contraption we'd assembled using to saws. It was at head's length when facing it. The truck was placed back to the outside as well. It served as a moving gate door. A familiar face was sitting on the roof the truck’s cab. George was a military man that served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. On his last tour of duty, he lost his left leg from the knee down. I guess he felt the need to do the most boring jobs to make up for his handicap. He was a proud man and took the safety of the camp, more specifically that of his son and daughter very importantly. The Gatekeeper was thought to be a fitting nickname. We waved as he greeted us with his familiar grin. - Welcome back ya’ll! How’d the mission? He asked. As we got closer his grin began to fade. I could see the worry that began to set in when we didn’t answer back. What was there for us to say? - There’s only the three of you? Where’s Decker? George ventured. When we finally got up close to the back of the truck, he got his answer. He could now see our blood stained clothes and the extra pads and backpack we were carrying. I saw his eyes shift as they followed the objects we were carrying until they laid upon the shovel Alan now clinched in his left hand. - I see... I’m sorry. And with that, he tapped on the roof of the cabin and the truck began to roll forward. It stopped about a meter away from us. We walked through the gate with our heads down and our hearts heavy. We were finally home, but not all of us. A crowd began to gather around us as we stepped approached the truck. I kept my head down and could only assume the other two did the same. I couldn’t bear to look at them. I use to think that all the things I’ve seen before had me apathetic. I guess I thought wrong. I also use to think society had become jaded from the media. I guess I was just as wrong. The truth is, the fewer we became; the heavier each new loss seemed to be. Maybe it was because it didn’t happen not to someone else far away but to us, right here. To the people we knew. Or maybe it’s because we were afraid that we would be next, that the next death would be our own. For me, I guess it was the overwhelming feeling. The one thing no one wanted to think about and had pushed away deep within their self- conscious. To me, each loss simple brought us closer to the end. We are now a species on the verge of extinction. We are, a dying breed. I could only phantom how many of us were still out there. And I guess that’s what I was truly saddened by. The human race was ending. And I was among its last survivors. We stopped right behind the truck. Most of the other survivors were now here. We were surrounded. I could hear them murmur and whisper among themselves. Then, Alan threw the shovel down in front of us followed by the pads and Decker’s backpack. The crowd was now silent. It was as if they waited for someone or something and I knew exactly what they expected. Finally, I raised my head to look up at their faces. I don’t really understand why I did. I could feel myself shudder as I saw the anger, sadness and fear in their eyes. I imagined them blaming me. As if they knew what had transpired back in that room where we found him. I opened my mouth without knowing what to say. I tried to speak but I couldn’t. I closed my mouth again, gulped and tried again. I... We... I mean... Decker... We, we lost Decker. And, and I know it’s sad. I know how you all must feel, trust me. I knew Decker better and longer than any of you. He was... He was a good man and a good friend. I wish we could still have him with us. And, I, I know you wish the same. But he isn’t. And, we must continue to survive, and live. Because we cannot waste his sacrifice. And the sacrifice of all those before him. We need to persevere. We mustn’t lose hope! We cannot lose hope... With that, the crowd began to disperse. I just stood there reflecting on my words. What was there for us to look forward too? What sacrifice did Decker and the others really offer? I felt overwhelmed by the situation. One by one, the people walked away. Alan came up and grabbed my left shoulder. We were blocking the truck. ... Two days before the outbreak The next day, I woke up thinking about the previous night. What did Bob mean before we were interrupted and why was the RCMP interested in a local accident? Something wasn’t adding up. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen to start up the old coffee maker when there was a knock at the door. I made sure I finished setting up the coffee maker before I began my long tired walk to the door. The banging got louder and louder and I simply yelled out: I’m coming; I’m coming. Give me a sec. It is six in the morning and... I was cut in mid sentence as I opened the door and surprised to see the same two men that interrupted me last night. Hello gentlemen, how may you interrupt my daily routine again? I asked. They wasted no time in allowing themselves in before looking around in every room of the apartment. Please, do come in... I mumbled under my breath. I followed them into the living room and there they asked me to sit down; which I did quite reluctantly. And so there I was. In my boxers and bathrobe, sitting on my couch in the middle of the living room at six am on a Wednesday morning, having just woken up two RCMP officers standing in-front of me. The smell of freshly made coffee from the kitchen made its way into the living room. ... Present day So are you going to just stand there the whole time or are we going to talk about something soon so I can grab my morning coffee? I asked in an irritated tone. I’m not sure if you remember, but I’m Inspector Decker and this is Sergeant Pominville. We’re here to talk to you about what you saw last night. I woke up in the middle of night, as usual I suppose. The only exception is that for the first time in a longtime it was because of a dream. I couldn’t help but think back to what happened with Decker. I don’t really understand why, but it just happened to be the case. I know I had to move on. I had to if I wanted to survive out here. Emotions are obsolete. Only fear serves a purpose. Fear that you’re next. I should fear death. I cannot fear. Am I jaded? But I care. Is this hope? I have no reason to hope. There is no indication of better days to come, no sign of salvation. Perhaps I’ve gone crazy. Blind hope might as well be insanity. Or maybe it’s a new motivation for survival. Whatever it is, I need to forget the past. The past is no longer pertinent. The glorious past. All of our achievements, all of our science, our technological advances, our gadgets, our education, our medias and structure. All of it was for nothing. All gone because of a small imbalance in nature. Or perhaps a balance in nature. After all, we had elevated ourselves to such heights. Living among the clouds in our tall buildings, defying nature and flying, breathing under water and moving faster than any animal in our cars and trains. We hailed ourselves the predominant species, capable of altering our fates. We felt all mighty and all knowing with our medicine, science and guns. We claimed that we were the cause of our planet’s ills and yet, we also claimed to be the solution. We aimed to preserve the planet, when in reality we tried to preserve our own futures. The illusion of control, always in control, in truth, any alteration in the structure we had grown to live by could have untangled that fragile structure. If enough people believed, change would come. Laws and rules are based on an unwritten agreement that they will be respected. All these thoughts are pointless. Survival is the only thing that should occupy my mind. But... To what end? Knocking on the door. Knocking. At least we still have that. Not the knocking, but rather the decency to do so. Come on in, I answered trying not to sound tired. Alan’s head peered around from behind the door. Did I wake you? He asked politely. Of course not. I Replied. We have an issue by the old bank. I think it’s best you come and check it out. Alan said in an alarmed voice before walking out the door. As I followed Alan out the door, I wondered what the issue could be. We made our way up to the rooftops and headed towards the old bank. There, two other survivors were already awaiting us. Gregory, Steven, what’s going on? I said greeting the two scouts perched down on the corner of the rooftop. Over there Boss. Gregory replied pointing toward the bank and handing me a pair of binoculars. I took the binoculars and positioned myself beside Steven. Inside I saw two creepers roaming around inside, sniffing the air from different ends. The two creatures eyes finally met. They began to get closer to each other, each bearing his fangs. Then, in an instant, they began trying to take a bite at one another. The next I knew, both were on the ground, wrestling and biting at each other and even landing big heavy hits on each other. What about them I asked? This isn’t the first time they’ve stumbled within the Block’s perimeter or is it the first time they behave that way. Those things get hungry and when there’s no food around, they’ll eat each other. Is there anything else I should see? Right there Boss. Steven pointed a little further up the road heading towards the bank. A small group of three men. Two were armed with rifles slung over their shoulders and an axe in their hands while the other man seemed to be carrying around a shotgun. How long have they been in the area? I asked immediately. We didn’t notice them until they were just outside the Block. We were in the middle of a guard shift and the guys have been staying low. Alan replied for the other two men. Boss, they’re about to enter the bank. Said Gregory suddenly. I went back to observing the bank. The men had approached the bank and had probably seen the two creepers inside. They entered with their weapons at the ready. The creepers had already finished their bout and a winner had already been declared. As he chewed on his fallen opponents arm, he noticed the presence of the three men. He turned to face them; probably thinking here’s my chance to get some fresh meat. What are they doing? Why did they go in even after seeing the creepers? Asked Gregory. Cowboys... Steven said. What do you mean cowboys? Gregory inquired. He means, those guys are just after the blood. Alan replied. But why? What’s the point? To put their lives at risk for something so... so trivial! Gregory said obviously disgruntled. You need to realize Greg, not everyone out there is like us. We aim to survive and make it through the day. For those guys, the cowboys, this is their time. A world without rules in which they can do whatever they want. It’s about freedom. Freedom from a system that kept us so tightly bound that this is what happens when it disappears. I said mostly to myself. I’m leaving. It’s obvious what’s about to happen. Keep an eye on them and make sure we don’t come into contact with them. We don’t need their kind around here. I said to the men around me as I got up after looking away just as one of the creepers was having its limbs chopped off by one of cowboys. It was a sad sight. These creatures, they were once just like us. They were human. Maybe now, they are more human than we ever were. Simply following their instincts. Like animals, like nature intended. I guess you’d feel sorry for them. If it weren’t for the fact that they were on the top of the food chain. I didn’t want those cowboys to find us. I didn’t want to come in contact with them either. Sometimes, to survive, you don’t need to band together. I walked back towards my apartment. A room in a duplex. My room was in one of the bedrooms on the top floor whereas our make shift Meeting room was in the basement and on the main floor we had other rooms for storage. I looked around me and watched as the watch guards patrolled on the rooftops. The streets were quiet. It was getting pretty late again and light was starting to fade. Most of the other survivors had already turned in for the night. Once the sun was down, there’d be barely any light left to find your way to your own room. I got back to my room thinking about what we were going to do next. Eventually our location would be discovered by another group of cowboys that might not be very friendly. It was only a matter of time before we’d run into a situation we’d barely be able to control. I went back to bed thinking of what to do next. Where could we go? How would we find provisions? Soon, I could no longer think. Fatigue had taken over me. Sleep. I need to rest. ... Two days before the outbreak When I finally got to work I had yet another unexpected visitor waiting for me at my desk. It was the Chief. I figured I was going to be in trouble for being late again so I opted to give it to him straight. Sorry I’m late Chief, the police paid me a visit this morning and... Don’t worry about it. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about regarding the story you wrote. Please, come to my office. The Chief said cutting me off. I followed as he walked towards his office. The words Editor-In-Chief were written in black on the glass of his office door. I walked-in closing the door behind me as he went to sit down at his desk. It didn’t take very long before he said: Please sit. We have a few things to discuss. Listen Chief, I know my story doesn’t really sound interesting but I know there’s something there. And if you... That’s what I started to say, before the Chief once again interrupted me. Listen, I know you’re on to something. You have to be with all the heat you’ve managed to get breathing down my neck. A lot of different people from many high places are asking different things. Whatever it is you’re on to, try to keep a low profile. If you’re not careful it could mean not only your ass, but mine to. Now get out of here and find out what this is all about. I got up without saying a word and exited the Chief’s office. I knew my story was big; I just didn’t have a clue of how big it really was until just now. Now I really had to go and see Bob again. ... Chapter 4 – Hope Present Day I woke up that morning to sound of people busying around. I got up slowly, still half asleep. I finally came to when Sam approached me. Come on, we’re having a meeting downstairs! We saw helicopters! MILITARY helicopters! She screamed hysterically as she ran downstairs. Helicopters? Plural? And they’re from the military? There must be a mistake... I rushed downstairs to the basement to see what was going on. Already a heated debate had broken out between Alan and Hutch. We need to at least send a scouting party in the direction they were flying in! They were heading north and we already now these things can’t handle the cold all that well! Alan pleaded. We don’t even know how far out they could be! And we haven’t really been further up north! We don’t even know what’s out there! How can we risk the lives of others so carelessly? Hutch argued! Just how long do you think we can stay here? Our supplies are stretched out during the winter and everyday is spent hoping that not only those things, but also other people, the wrong people, discover our location. Retorted Alan. I guess that was my queue. Only one solution seemed obvious. I decided to speak up. Volunteers. What? Both Alan and Hutch asked looking in my direction. Because of the risk involved, as Hutch said, we cannot carelessly send people out there into the unknown. However, as Alan pointed out, this isn’t a permanent settlement. With winter coming up, it would be our best chance to go now, while it’s not to cold to travel but cold enough to see a decrease in those things activity. I volunteer myself to go on this expedition. I think that five more would do the job. It wouldn’t be a huge drain on our supplies nor put the defense of this place at risk. And for those of you thinking about it, I do not actually expect five other volunteers. I explained. Everyone in the room went silent. It was futile to explain the risk involved in this expedition. Even everyday, short scavenging raids were perilous in their own way. Decker was proof of that. This trip was going to be long, into unknown territory and without a real chance of achieving what we set out to do. Hutch was the first to respond. So to sum it up... Your saying that you don’t know how far out we’d have to go, how long we’d be away, how long the supplies would last or even how we’re going to get wherever it is we’re heading. Based on solely that, I’m coming along. He said grinning. I looked at him returning the grin. His wasn’t one of carelessness or joy, but rather, a sign of nervousness. On my part, I grinned because I was glad I would not be heading off this expedition alone. I’ll go. After all, you’ll need your top scavenger when the supplies run out. Said Alex, standing by the door. Alex was only 19 and had seen his whole family killed the day of the outbreak. When we found him, he was already fending for himself. He quickly became the best scavenger we had. He’d often go off alone, without our knowing, breaking the rules by sneaking out at night and bringing back goods the next morning. Are you sure Alex? If we’re going to do this, you’re going to have to be more cooperative in regards to the rules. You’re not going out there alone. You’re going to be out there with us and all of our lives will be at stake. I questioned him. No sweat Boss, besides, I scouted further up north than anyone here. I know the terrain better so I’m sure I can be of some help in that domain. At least for a while. He answered back fast, confident of his argument. In that case I guess I’ll have to go to, can’t let you boys steal the show. Next was Allison. She was one of those tough, do it just like the guys type of women. Unlike Sam, she was bigger, meaner and also had a bigger mouth. Anything that came to mind, she had to say. That makes four. Anyone else? Hutch asked. Me. Said Antoine, a usually quiet guy, standing in the back by the wall. A few murmurs went around when he volunteered. I can understand their surprise as Antoine was the type to avoid danger, but I couldn’t simply turn away his offer of help. So I spoke up to silence the room. So that makes five of us. We need one more. With six we’ll be able to each be paired with a partner who can watch our back. Once again the room was quiet. I knew what was going to happen next. I wish it didn’t but it did. I’ll go; I am the one who defended this idea. Alan finally said. Sorry Alan, but we can’t take you with us. We need you to stay here and keep an eye on things while we’re away. People trust you and they’ll trust your decisions. I replied. But... Alan tried to argue. The Boss is right Alan. Hutch said. You know I’m not willing to admit it, but you’re the only one who can run this place other than the Boss. He added. Hutch, if I didn’t know any better I’d say that was a compliment. Alan replied obviously still a little unhappy with the decision. The day start making compliments is the day I wake up in the past. Hutch shot back. And again, the room went dead. Although we were about 20 down in basement, it felt like only the five of us volunteers were truly there. I guess you can’t blame the others for trying to become invisible. They were use to the comfort and safety of the Block and you’d need to be pretty foolish to give it all up for a slight chance of something better in a world where better is an extra bite to eat that same day. I looked around hoping. If no one else stepped forward, one of us would have to leave the group. With only a four-man party, setting up safe camps for the night would be hard. The risk of a person losing their life without a partner to cover their back was basically doubled. I couldn’t allow someone to take that risk. I was about to give up when rather unexpectedly a Gregory walked through the door. I’ll go Boss. I’ve got the best pair of eyes here so you’ll need me out there to scout up ahead. Gregory said, almost gulping between each word. Then that settles it. We have our six volunteers. We leave in two days. During this time, make sure to pack up everything you believe will be necessary for the successful completion of this expedition. We’ll be taking the Saturn so that everyone can fit into one vehicle while also having room for a good amount of supplies. In any case, we don’t exactly know how long we’ll be able to travel in it due to road conditions so most of our stuff will be packed in our bags. I said with a sign of relief. And with those last words, the room went silent again. This time however, the silence seemed to carry different tones. Some were quiet because they tried to hide their joy, while the others were afraid for those heading out and what could happen while we’re away. Then, they all began to walk away, one by one. Until only the six of us volunteers remained. I guess one more little word of encouragement was necessary. Guys, I want you to take these last days off. Relax, say your goodbyes, pack your gear and make sure that you’re fresh and ready for what lies ahead. If we’re lucky, the roads will be open enough for us to get some good distance out of the Saturn. Best-case scenario, we run out of fuel before we end up wherever it is we’re going. I might just be speculating, but the base might very well be up in Quebec City. They have old fortifications there with high, thick long walls with easily defendable positions. Even with the best of luck, this trip will take us awhile. There isn’t even a guarantee their up there. If you want to back out, it’s now or never. I took a long look at each one of them. I could tell they were ready to do this. Nothing drives a person as much as hope. That intangible force that has dictated man for so long. Hope, one of the greatest weapons of mankind. Even now, we all have hope. Fragile hope. ... Chapter 5 – Revelation Two days before the outbreak When I got to morgue, police tape completely surrounded the building. A police officer was standing guard on every corner of each block close by. I was hell-bent on seeing Bob anyways until I noticed the two men standing at the entrance. It was those two cops again. That’s when I remembered what the Chief said. I decided to take a safer approach and called Bob up from my cell phone. When he finally answered I went straight to the point. Hey Doc, I’m right outside but there are cops everywhere! Just what is going on around here? I interrogated. Well you know, the usual, dead body comes in dead, but then, the dead wakes up and walks away. Bob replied with a sarcastic tone. What do you mean walk away? I’m asking you why are the cops all around the building. Does it have something to do with last night? I shot back brushing off his earlier statement. Listen. I’ve told you what happened. One of the bodies we were performing inspecting last night before the officers came in, well, it just disappeared. And when we reviewed the security tapes, we could clearly see him get up, walk around and exit the building. Even Tyrone was there when it happened. He tried to stop the guy but he bit him and got away! He’s at the hospital right now. Bob replied in a more serious tone. Are you being serious Bob? If so, poor Tyrone. Do you know which hospital he’s staying at? I asked hoping to learn more from Tyrone. That’s the thing; I don’t know where he is. Even if I did, they wouldn’t let you or even me see him. And to be perfectly honest with you, if I knew where they were keeping him, I wouldn’t even consider going there now. I’ve seen some disturbing things before, but this... This tops the cake. I’ve watched enough zombie flicks to know that when something’s begin to pile up, you better start running. That’s exactly what I plan on doing here. I’m heading up north to a chalet of mine. At least until things cool down or things escalate. I got to go. Bye. And with that, Bob hanged up. The first thing that came to mind was me asking myself what in the world was Bob talking about. Zombies? He couldn’t be serious. I had to find Tyrone. I had to learn his side of the story. ... Present Day The two days had passed by rather quickly. I spent my time packing, repacking and triple-checking every minor detail. I didn’t have any farewell’s I wanted to say. A goodbye felt like I would never see them again. I wanted to see them again. So there were no goodbyes from my end. The Saturn was all packed up. It was a 2003 Saturn Vue. It was pretty old but it was big and it was quiet. And around here, that was all the criteria I needed. Luckily, we had found an old gas refueling truck in one of the nearby gas stations. Since gasoline doesn’t tend to last very long, we also managed to find some additives that we mixed in to keep it useable. This wasn’t the best fuel but it was fuel we could utilize even after months of conserving it. Everyone was there ready to see us off. Only the Gatekeeper stayed in the truck to keep guard. Nobody really knew what to say. The moment was marked with mostly silent sobs and hugs. On occasion someone would give us a parting gift that they thought would be of some use to us. Other than that, the farewell ceremony went off rather quietly. What was there to say really? We all got into the tight fitting Saturn and began to drive off. Alex was at the wheel being the person whom could best navigate around the area, at least for a while, with Greg sitting in the passenger seat keeping an eye up ahead. I was stuck, sandwiched between Antoine and Allison. I guess I still had it better than Hutch who was sitting in the back with the larger bags. For some reason, I began to smile to myself. What a ridiculous situation we were in, I thought. And although I may have been enjoying that moment, I knew, that later down the road, any notion of joy would leave me. After all, this was only the beginning. To be continued...
Although it said to be continued, that was prolly the last update for a long time. Feel free to comment here now