• A Normal day with Zombies
    Markus stood on the edge of the metal building 50 stories up. He didn't look down or hesitate, he just jumped. He fell to the ground with ever increasing speed and landed on a car, breaking the top of the car and smashing it to pieces. People were standing around looking at his mangled corpse. Just looking no emotion. No caring or disgust, but soon the dream faded into oblivion and he woke.
    Markus sprung up in bed, drenched with sweat and breathing heavily. Markus thought to himself,
    "The dreams were back."
    Markus was horrified, no terrified at what his mind had chosen to do to him. His mind chose to torment him by showing him the one of the few things that scared him to this day. His own suicide. Yet like all the others it just seemed all too real to be true, but it was a possibility of what his future might entail. It was a possibility that scared the hell out of him. The sad thing was that if his life returned to what it had been at before he gained friends, he might.
    He could feel death's icy caress touch his skin while the thoughts were in his mind. To destroy the thoughts that haunted his mind, he went to take a shower. He left his messy dark room for the shower.
    The water of the shower was cold and wouldn't heat up that meant the water heater broke again. It seemed it broke every other week. He stepped into the shower regardless. The cold would help him get his mind off of darker thoughts. Washing away the dark thoughts in the water going over his thin stick like body, and long brown hair. After he had frozen all his extremities in the cold that was his shower, he moved towards his room to get dressed. A black Atreyu Congregation of the Damned cover art t-shirt and a clean pair of black jeans was this day's choice.
    He strolled down stairs and realized his mom was already gone. Gone to work already it seemed. She always was gone before he woke up in the morning. He stored that thought for hunger was on his mind. He walked to the fridge to examine what they had to munch.
    He noticed a carton of eggs and some bacon on the top self. Then he looked around for some butter to cook it in. He found bread on the counter. He discovered all the parts of his breakfast meal. Turning on the stove and putting the pan on it while lightly greasing it with butter, he cracked two eggs on the counter and emptied the contents into the pan. He pulled a plate from the cupboard and placed it next to the stove and put a few slices of bread in the toaster and add the bacon to the eggs. The sizzle and pop of the cooking bacon made waiting for the food all the more hard.
    The cooking took a few minutes to do, but it was worth the wait instead of cold, bland cereal. He looked at the clock on the stove and it read 7:23 in bold, red numbers. He head for school soon.
    It took awhile to get to the other side of Bathory, the town he lived in, where the high school was located, but it would be easy. Markus put on his shoes, grabbed his skate board and got rolling.
    Once school started it was the same boring spiel for the next 6 periods until he hit Advanced Cooking in 7th hour end of the day. This was one of the classes that he liked so far in high school, besides American Literature, British Literature, and history class, where he was a walking history book.
    Markus entered his cooking class, last class of the day, with skate board in hand ready to bolt out of the class at the final bell, it was on the east side of the building with the English wing so it seemed isolated. Markus walked to the table where his two person group was and set down his board. His Advanced Cooking class was a small class because so few people took it. It seemed like nobody even cared about how to survive after school with no parents to cook for them. At the table was one of his three only friends Martin, dressed in a tank top and grease stained blue jeans. Martin was a kind of heavy-set guy, light brown hair, and a slightly intimidating look about him. He believed that you needed to know every skill for every situation. Martin had taken first aid outside of school and now was taking cooking, electronics, and mechanics classes this year because he believed it was only a matter of time before either another country invaded us or an apocalypse happened. Whether it be a meteor or zombies he told himself he would be prepared. He was just paranoid like that, but thats what made Martin Martin.
    I looked at Martin and said, "So what are we doing in class today?"
    Martin replied, "Dunno, she said we'd be doing some thing with flour, tomatoes and meat."
    "I think I figured it out dude. I'm pretty sure we are making pizza"
    "If thats the case then its a two day project."
    "Yeah. So what do you want to do after school dude, its Friday?"
    "Wanna hit the skate park?"
    "Maybe depends on what happens."
    "Yeah you're right the zombies or Russians will invade."
    "Yeah right."
    At that moment Mrs. Edwards the cooking teacher stumbled into the class room looking unhealthy, pale, tired even a bit in pain, and glassy eyed. Amanda Nuzeil one of the other 8 people in the class, walked up to her and asked her,
    "Do you feel fine? You don't look healthy."
    Mrs. Edward looked at her with a hunger, like she had never eaten in her life. What she did nobody would expect. Mrs. Edwards grabbed Amanda and bit into bit into her neck. Amanda screamed in pain Markus upon seeing this picked up his skateboard, which he had set on the table. He then hit her on the head from the side. It knocked her to the ground unconscious. Amanda Fell limply to the ground due to blood loss. Both were bleeding profusely. Martin ran over to Mrs. Edwards to check on her. He was shocked and alarmed when he checked her bloody neck for a pulse and saw it was missing a chunk out of it. It was then that all of Markus's thoughts were colliding, and he thought Martin was right. Zombies would invade, and they were!
    Markus took out his phone and called his friends Rory and Rex in a three way call they reluctantly answered and both groaned, "What?"
    "Zombies!" Markus said
    "Huh?" replied Rory confusedly
    "Mrs. Edwards was a zombie. She ripped a chunk of flesh from Amanda's neck."
    "Yeah, no-one has shown up for Phys. Ed. yet," Rory said
    "So now what?" Rex said
    Martin stole the phone from Markus and ordered,
    "We get our apocalypse bags from each of our houses, in a group, and we grab the guns at Rex's, Rory's, and my houses. We will meet at the West exit. Now break!"
    Markus received his phone back and hung up it up. Everyone in the class room was looking at them in shock. Marcy Davis, another classmate asked, "Supposing that you are right, what the hand grenade do we do?"
    Markus looked at her and said, "Don't stay here! Get out of town, run like Hell is on your coattails."
    Martin nodded and they ran out of the room across the building towards the west exit.Upon leaving it they heard a scream moments later. Amanda must've stood up. They left and continued on. They ran past a few mobs of the Shambling hoards in the hallways. Markus pondered how all these people who were alive and well a mere 7 minutes ago could be in the ranks of the undead in such a short amount of time.
    While running, Markus notice bite marks everywhere on zombies, probably from being turned by another zombie. It also seemed that blood was every where on objects. There was also the smell of death in the air and Markus could, once again, feel death's icy caress. Markus and Martin were about halfway there when they heard a scream from a closet ahead of them to their right. Markus looked at Martin and said,
    "Delta entry plan"
    Martin replied with an, "Affirmative."
    Martin went to the door and grabbed the handle while Markus readied the skate board to hit the zombie that might rush them.
    Seeing this Martin swung open the door, but instead of a flesh eating zombie it was a person on the other side terrified for their life. It was one of goths that went to the school. Dressed in a long, black skirt, with a shirt that said, "The Bell tolls for Thee" with the Grim reaper pointing out at you, and skate shoes. She looked terrified as if she had seen a person die before her eyes. "Alissa.... Thorne," Markus thought aloud he went over to her and asked her how she had gotten here, but she hastily said, "We have to get out of here now!" Her tone was a bit shaken, but still ready and sane.
    Both Martin and Markus merely looked at each other and agreed. Markus helped Alissa get out of the janitors closet and the three of them began to sprint for the exit.
    Within a few minutes they reached the west exit and saw few zombies there, a couple of shambler's and a lot of corpses. Rex swung and hit the heads off of the last few zombies that remained. Rex and Rory looked pretty similar for body types. They were both thin, not stick thin but healthy thin. Rory had black hair while Rex had light brown hair. Rex was wearing jeans and a plain white t-shirt, now splattered with blood. Rory had immigrated to the U.S. 3 years ago from the U.K. and his accent would tell you that immediately. Rory was wearing a Doctor Who T-shirt and blue jeans. Rex and Rory were both holding a bloodied cricket bat.
    Rory exclaimed, "Reminds me of when I lived in england, except it was a friendly game of cricket not flesh eating zombies!"
    Martin questioningly asked, "Yeah about that.... got a few more of those for us?"
    Rex explained, "Yeah, your seventh rule of a zombie attack, always have more than planned for a zombie attack because there are bound to be survivors to find."
    He pointed to a pile of baseball bats. Markus stuck his skate board by between his backpack, which he had seemingly not taken off, and his back.
    Markus, Alissa, and Martin picked up bats to bludgeon the undead with. Alissa spoke up for the first time since coming out of the literal closet,
    "Before I go anywhere with any of you people there are some things you need to know. First off I can hold my own. Secondly call me Alyss. Say it like Alice. Thats A-L-Y-S-S. Alyss. Thirdly if we drive there is no music in the car besides metal, screamo, techno, alternative, or its silence. Fourthly where the hell do we go now?"
    Markus replied, "We grab Martin's car get our apocalypse provisions and get out of town. I'll drive if that's fine."
    "Yeah, sure," said Martin.
    "Wait wait wait. You guys just have bags ready for this type of situation sitting around in your houses, ready whenever," Alyss said in disbelief.
    "Back a few years ago when Rory became our friend, I droned on and on about how it would be essential for us to have a disaster bags ready. Whether it be natural, zombies, or foreign countries just in case it happened, and look what happened," Martin elaborated.
    "Okay so then if we are getting those things then what is the plan in total?" Alyss asked.
    "Okay, we are going to stop by everyone's place to get our apocalypse/ disaster bags, get gas if need be, and then we head out of town up to the mountains back east of the city for a time to see how things progress," Martin further elaborated.
    Martin then looked at everyone and announced, " Well lets not dawdle everyone there are zombies to kill and we just need to make it to the parking lot fifty yards that-a-way."
    He pointed west. Once everyone seemed steeled for the task ahead they all exited the doors. There were zombies everywhere and it was horrifying that this happened during the school day without them noticing. That non-withstanding they ran to the old beaten '98 Le Saber or the 'Light Saber' as they called it that was Martin's car, hitting zombies that got too close on the way there.
    Martin tossed Markus the keys and Markus caught them and hit the unlock button on the key chain. Alyss ran and got in the 'shotgun' seat. While the Rex, Rory, and Martin got in the back seat of the car. Markus put the keys in the ignition and started the car, backed up, and drove out of the parking lot.
    It was then that Markus asked Alyss what her address was so they could pick her stuff up. She replied, "9846 East mountain view road."
    Martin replied, " Dang, thats on our normal escape route out of town to the mountains. Thats a good few miles outta town. We'll get your stuff last. Okay Markus normal plans then end at Alyss's home."
    They proceeded like they had planned and rehearsed it a thousand times. Stop at Rory's grab the bag, 4 Sleeping bags, two three person tents, the 22 gauge rifle, and all the ammo for the 22. Stop at Rex's, snatch Rex's bag, his father's 12 gauge shotgun, 20 gauge shotgun, a few boxes of ammo, preserved and canned foods. Stop at Martin's home. Aquire Martin's parents' cabin key, his bag, his sleeping bag, three .45 pistols, a civilian model AK-47, extended 22 rifle magazine, 22 gauge rifle, canned food, a first aid kit, ammo, and tools. Somehow everything fitting in the enormous trunk of the light saber with much space to spare.
    Markus didn't have any guns at his house because his mother thought it a waste of money, but he had something just as important, cooking utensils, pots and pans for a fire, 2 full 2 gallon gas cans, his bag, cutlery, another sleeping bag, chlorine tablets for water purification, a water filter, a enormous amount of matches, and a satellite telephone. He went to his room grabbed his computer and a small blanket that had the 'Abby Road' Album cover on it.
    Then Markus emptied his school bag on the dining room table. He left a note on the table that said,
    "Dear Mother if you find this I am still alive and have the satalite phone. You know how to call me."
    Signed, Markus Alister
    He left his now splintered skate board on by the table with the school supplies. While walking out the door he looked at a picture of him and his parents before his dad had died in the fire of his old house 10 years ago. His mom didn't date after that. He took the picture out of the frame and put it into his pocket and continued moving provisions.
    With help from the others they got everything in the devouring car's trunk. Markus looked at Alyss and said, "Now its your turn."
    They all entered the car same as before and drove off towards Alyss's home and then to the mountain cabin outside of town where they would bunker down. They stopped for gas at a station that wasn't overran or was taken up by cars with shambling drivers. While filling the tank a few zombies tried to rush them, but Martin fixed it with 5.5 bullet from the AK before they even got close, splattering gray matter on the pavement with every shot. This proved that zombies could run and would make fighting them harder. With the tank of the car full, the odd group set off for the cabin in the mountains.
    The last stop on the way to the cabin was Alyss's house to get supplies for her. It was a good fifteen minutes on the way out of town on their trek to the cabin.
    Alyss spoke up and said, "Take this turn up here" She pointed to a left turn a few yards ahead.
    Markus proceeded with the turn down the gravel road to the lonely looking house at the end of the drive. Markus stopped the car, got out, and looked around.
    It was surrounded in a grove of trees when Alyss said, "My parents aren't home so there shouldn't be any undead here, but as you guys have been saying always be ready."
    She pulled out the pistol Martin had given her, she checked the clip, loaded a round into the chamber, and turned off the safety.
    Markus said to the rest of the guys, "Stay here and guard the car, make sure the keys are in the ignition just in case the carrier were to die I'll help Alyss with her bags and stuff. Yo Rory, I'll swap you the 12 gauge for the 22 with the 30 round clip." Rory's eyes lit up at this. He would have the monster gun not the peashooter. He quickly agreed, filled the clip to max and swapped with Markus.
    Markus looked at Alyss and said, " After you."
    She walked into the house followed by Markus. It seemed eerily quiet in there, but thats just because it was dark, lonely, and quiet. Markus thought this might be one of the reasons she was a goth. Thats when a question came to mind while Markus followed Alyss further into the house.
    "So what were you doing in the janitor's closet?" Alyss didn't reply but kept walking.
    Finally she commented, "I was attacked by a small group of them while walking the halls with one of my friends we thought it was just a group of jocks who looked sick, but when they took a chunk of flesh out of my friend's arms I was truly scared. I looked around and shut my self in the closet to be safe, thinking it would just go away. Within minutes you and your friend opened the door and I came with you. Two hours later I'm at home getting stuff because I might never return."
    "Its a weird prospect to think that everyone you ever knew might now be the dead... or undead. Well you ought to get packing I'll go with you to your room if thats fine."
    Alyss smirked then replied, "Whatever makes your dark days brighter."
    Markus followed her to her room which was surprisingly tame for a goth. Blue walls, no pentagram, no "Anarchy A", or devil signs. Just some band posters. Coincidentally there was an Atreyu poster on her wall. Same album cover as his shirt. She grabbed a large backpack, no a hiking bag, out of her closet and she started to fill it with practical clothes, nothing that would hinder her running from or killing zombies. She pulled out a pair of combat boots from her closet and swapped them for with the skate shoes she was wearing now.
    She continued to pack and then asked, "Can you leave me alone for a moment I need to change. Go to the end of the hall and grab the purple box in the door on your right. Its a hall closet. Also we never grabbed toilet paper at any of your houses so grab the 12 pack to hold us over for a time."
    Markus went to the end of the hall. and looked at the door on the right. It was made of oak and had an ancient looking door knob. He opened the door grabbed the purple box and toilet paper then returned to the room. He knocked on the door before entering and she said, "Enter." So he did.
    Alyss was wearing the same shirt but was wearing purple jeans instead of the skirt. Markus gave her the purple box. While she added it to the bag Markus asked, "Whats in it?"
    "Lady things," she replied
    "Fair enough," he said, " Now Shall we get going?"
    Alyss stood up and hugged Markus for a minute then stepped back, smiled and said,
    "Thanks for checking the closet."
    "The hall closet?" Markus replied confusedly
    "No, the closet at the school," Alyss informed
    Markus's felt warm inside for her gratitude, and maybe because of the thankful hug.
    "Anytime," Markus answered, "Well, lets get going." Markus smiled back. Then Markus picked up the toilet paper and Alyss put the bag on her back. She had a sleeping bag on the bottom with a quilt strapped to the hiking bag. Alyss left the room first followed by Markus who shut the door behind them.
    They approached the car and Martin opened the trunk and said, "Ditch your stuff here and get in. We should head in a couple of minutes. Markus you up to drive again?"
    "Yeah," Markus announced. Markus proceeded to help Alyss put here stuff in the trunk along with the rolls, no one questioned the rolls. Alyss hopped back in the front seat and said,
    "Well, let's go we only have three more hours of light left.” It was heading towards 5p.m.. And in the coming fall it would be getting colder soon and the light staying shorter and shorter. The trunk filled and shut, everyone loaded into the car. Markus buckled in and started the car. It would be an hour and a half drive to the cabin, but it would be safe there, for now.
    The drive was silent for the most part, but when they reached the top of a hill Markus stopped, turned off the car, got out and looked back at the city that was 10 miles behind them but was visible in the light. Everyone stepped out and looked at what he saw. Fires raged the town, smoke billowed from buildings. Bathory was in torment and there was no cure for it, aside from a few hundred bombs. They all stared at it with shock and awe. But in Markus's head one thing was running though his mind, and that was "Damn it was good that I have friends like this and got out alive."
    They turned their backs on the dark scene and went back to the beaten Light Saber and drove off toward their destination in the mountains.