sparkfrost: (Zombies ahead)
[personal profile] sparkfrost
Below the cut is the zombie story I mentioned last week. I hope you like it!


“How much farther to Foxtrot?”

“A couple more hours, probably about 10 miles. Why? Getting tired already?

“Not tired, but damn I’m hungry. C-Rations do not count as real food. The sooner we get there the sooner I can eat!”

“Well if you want to get there in time for dinner we’d better start trotting.” Kalen laughed softly and swatted his arm.

“Puns, Dom? Really? You are so stupid, you’re lucky I put up with you.” He grinned back at her.

“Stupid like a fox!”

“Oh, that’s it, you’re fired. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.” But even as Kalen scolded him she was smiling over her shoulder with humor in her eyes.

The Foxtrot mission was their fifth in as many weeks. Every time they reached a base there was another assignment. One more supply run that had to be completed before spring had fully taken hold. Even so, they were cutting it close- on their last mission they’d practically tripped over a thawed out Zack, and only Kalen’s quick reflexes and quicker trigger finger had saved Dominic from a bite. Foxtrot would have to be their last mission- once they delivered the medical supplies they would have to book it back to Alpha base. Unless they wanted to spend eight months cooling their heels at a backwater camp, they had to beat the thaw. Dominic and Kalen would have turned down the Foxtrot mission as too dangerous, but there had recently been a pretty big ‘quake in the area, and CB messages from Foxtrot reported several serious injuries. The base’s doctor was skilled enough, but was quickly running out of the more specialized supplies. If this supply run wasn’t made, Foxtrot would lose people to infection, and Dominic was not going to be responsible for loss of life. Not any more than he could help.

Foxtrot would have normally been a quick mission. It was twenty three miles away from Delta Base, and easy enough terrain. But the earthquake had opened up new trenches, and formerly secure ground was liable to give way. Dominic and Kalen had slowly worked their way through several of the rocky gaps, but it had put them hours behind the normal schedule of the run. They had finally reached level ground and were trying to make up for lost time. Kalen set the pace at a steady jog, and Dominic followed slightly behind on point, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Zack hunted based on sight, but as long as they saw the zed head first, they could keep ahead of it. So Kalen watched the ground ahead of them, wary for repeats of their last mission, and Dominic kept his eyes on the horizon. From ahead of him, Kalen sighed.

“You know, I wish I had $200 right now. Hell, I wish I had money.”

“What’s the point of money now, Kalen? It’s not like there’s anywhere to spend it at.”

“Yeah, I know. But, before… right before the outbreak happened I was saving up for an electric guitar. A Gibson. I had this band…”

“Oh yeah? What kind of music did you play?”

“The shitty kind. We were terrible, it was pretty bad. We were all new to our instruments; I didn’t even have an electric yet, just an old beat up acoustic. But we had something, you know? So I was writing music, and practicing with them, and saving up for this gorgeous Les Paul, and then my drummer turned and tried to kill us all. She damn near succeeded.”

“What happened?”

“I killed her. She was my first- she was the first person that I had to kill. I know everyone says that the first is hardest, but mine was my best friend. Now they’re all just- they’re all just bodies, even the ones who are still alive. I barely even have to look any more, I just know to aim at that one sweet spot, and then it’s just another decomposing body. But I can’t forget the look on Megan’s face. She looked surprised, and I always wondered why. It’s not like she felt anything, not at the end. I guess I just wanted to know why.” Dominic was taken aback. Kalen had always been close-mouthed about her past, to the point of telling people to shut the hell up if they started to pry too deeply. He had always respected her boundaries, understanding the importance of keeping certain skeletons shut in their closets. But now she was crossing all of their carefully established walls, and so easily that he couldn’t help but respond.

“Mine was my mother.” Kalen slowed, turning to stare at him, and he quietly kept going. “Eyes front, Kalen. We had been moving for a few weeks, trying to get to the government safe zones. The highways had already gotten too clogged, so we were on foot, trying to keep ahead of the New York swarm. Some asshole though, this guy had been bitten but kept going. Thought he could outrun his own death, I guess. He turned and bit her before we could take him down. So she was bleeding from the wound, and knew she wouldn’t have long- the bite was too high up, she had a few hours, tops. And she asked me. She said she loved me, and that if I loved her, I wouldn’t let her become one of them. She told me she loved me, and I killed her.” Dom paused for a second, breathing deeply. “I can’t do the live ones, even when they ask. Every time, I see her face. I just can’t do it.”

Dominic scanned the area, avoiding Kalen’s eyes. She was the second person he had ever told. The first was Alpha’s shrink, and only because they wouldn’t let anyone out on missions without a full psychiatric workup. He was only ever paired with someone who was able to grant mercy. It was mercy, and he knew that. Mercy to be cleanly killed before you became the boogeyman, the monster who tried to kill everyone you loved. He knew that, and he still couldn’t pull the trigger. So he was always sent out with someone who could, and Kalen could. She was glancing back at him now, a look of pity on her face. Years from now he would remember that moment, and wish that he had reminded her to keep her face forward. But he was embarrassed by what he had revealed, and so kept his eyes off hers, supposedly scouting their surroundings. And so he didn’t see when the look of pity turned to shock, but he felt the ground shift as he heard her cry out in fear.

The world was lurching, tilting sideways, the solid ground had crumbled and they were sliding down. Dominic reached out to grab her arm, and held on as hard as he could while they were surrounded by a grinding roar. After what seemed like hours of falling and being pelted with dirt and small rocks, they finally slid to a stop. As the dust cleared, Dominic looked around to try and see where they had landed. They had fallen into one of the new quake trenches- they had been traveling along this one for the last hour, trying to find a place to cross. The ground must have been weaker than they thought for the weight of two bodies to cause it to crumble. There was no way they were going to climb out here- one wall was too sheer, no handholds or grips that he could see. The other was a steep slope of gravel and scree. They’d be lucky to make it halfway up before falling back down. They would have to walk along the trench until they found a spot to climb out of.

“Kalen, are you ok? Everything where it’s supposed to be?”

“Yeah, I’m ok. Sore as hell, and my ankle is going to be pissed at me tomorrow. But I’m alright.”

“Good. We’ve gotta get moving, find a way out of here before-” Dominic froze. He had heard something. Kalen looked around fearfully.

“Where was it coming from? Which direction?” Dominic shook his head. It had echoed too much, bounced too many times off the walls to tell for certain which way it was coming from.

“I don’t know,” he whispered, “keep listening.” It sounded again, closer. Echoes were bouncing back and forth, getting louder.

“Dom, we have to move. It’s getting close, we have to start moving.”

“I don’t know which way! The wrong way and we’ll run right to it!” Their decision was made for them as the sound grew louder and the thing lurched into sight. But it wasn’t alone. At least 30 Zacks were stumbling towards them, and the multitude was what had caused the echoes to bounce so much. All of them were moaning eagerly, rheumy eyes fixed on Kalen and Dominic as they slowly advanced. Kalen screamed.

“Shit, Dominic, run!” They ran, and the Zacks followed, moaning in hunger. Dominic took a shot over his shoulder, and there was one down. But the rest kept following.

Zack would eat anything, even the no longer animated corpses of their former brethren. The ones in front who could see Dominic and Kalen running and were moaning in hunger, they would not stop. But those farther back that were merely following the horde would stumble over the downed bodies and feed on them instead. If Dominic and Kalen could keep shooting the leaders they might be able to get enough distance. The sides of the trench were steep enough that Zack couldn’t follow if they climbed them. Handholds had started appearing, and Dom thought they could get away- if they could just get far enough ahead. Kalen was shooting and each shot found its mark; 3 more down. The horde was 30 yards behind them, and the trench was narrowing ahead. They had to climb, it was now or never.

“Kalen, go up first! I’ll cover, start climbing!” She didn’t waste time arguing, just holstered her gun and started up. Dominic kept firing into the crowd, taking down a few more Zacks. Once Kalen was ten feet up Dominic began following. Five feet from the bottom, eight feet from the bottom, and Dominic started breathing easier. He could hear Zack scrabbling at the rock below, but kept climbing, his eyes on Kalen’s feet. Dominic saw her put her weight on a jut of rock, and saw that rock start to shift. It seemed like everything happened at once. The root she was using as a handhold ripped free, her foot pressed harder onto the rock as she reached up again, and with a grating crunch the rock came loose from the wall and Kalen fell screaming. Dominic hooked his arm through the tree root he was holding onto and reached out to grab Kalen as she slid past him. She grabbed his arm with one hand as she clawed for purchase with the other. For a moment he thought they would be fine, and tightened his grip on her arm. Then a shriek of fear and pain tore out of Kalen’s throat, and he looked down to see a Zack with blood-covered lips raise its head from her leg.

“Oh God no, Kalen, no!” his muscles screamed along with him as he heaved Kalen out of Zack’s reach. She was panting and sobbing as they slowly crawled their way out of the trench. Her leg wouldn’t hold any of her weight, and Dominic ended up half-carrying her by the time they finally made it over the edge. Kalen flopped onto her back as Dominic frantically ripped fabric from her leg. Maybe the blood had been from someone, something else, maybe the tough canvas had protected Kalen, maybe… the sight of torn and bleeding flesh stole that last hope. Kalen had been bitten. There was nothing he could do. He didn’t even bother trying to hide his tears. They both knew what had to happen.

“Dominic, go.” Kalen was crying too, but looked determined. “Get out of here. There’s no point dragging this out.”

“Kalen, I can’t leave you-“

“You can, and you will. You still have to get to Foxtrot, and the sun is going to set soon. You hate traveling at night, so go.”

“No, Kalen, I can’t leave you here like this. I… I can’t let you turn.”

“I’m not going to turn.”

“Kalen, everyone turns-” She stopped him with a hand over his mouth.

“I know, Dominic. I mean you don’t have to stop me. I’ll do it.” He shook his head free from her grip.

“Oh God, Kalen I can’t let you do that! Its mercy, I know it is; I’ll do it for you.”

“Dominic, no. You think I want you looking in my eyes and seeing your mother? I’m not going to make you do that!” She paused, panting harshly. “Damnit, this hurts. Dom, I’m going to do it. Just- don’t watch, ok? I don’t want you watching.”

“Kalen, please-”

“It has to be done! There’s no way in hell I’m becoming one of them, and I’m not going to let you do it! Just- just go away.” Kalen was crying hard now. “I don’t want you seeing this. If you’re my friend you’ll leave.” Dominic nodded, unable to speak. He pressed a kiss to Kalen’s forehead and hugged her goodbye. Her hands gripped hard at his back and she cried into his shirt. He pulled back far enough to lean his forehead on hers, and whispered his mother’s favorite prayer.

“May it be Your will, Lord, to lead her, direct her steps, and to support her in peace. Lead her, tranquil and serene, until she arrives at where she is going. Listen to the voice of my appeal, for you are a God who responds to prayerful supplication.”

“You have to go now.” Dominic nodded. He ran a hand over Kalen’s hair, stood, and walked away.

Dominic walked away from the ledge, each step harder than the last. The sun was starting to set, and a flock of crows had settled on some long-dead power lines ahead of him. A shot rang out behind him, causing him to flinch and the crows to scatter into the sky. He watched them turn and wheel for a long time. They were graceful, like dancers, and very black against the golden clouds. He turned and walked back to Kalen.

She was lying on the ground, gun still cradled loosely in her hand. She must have placed the muzzle in her mouth- other than what she had smeared there before her face was free of blood. But tears had created clear tracks through the dirt that coated her cheeks, and black gunpowder flecked her lips. Being careful not to touch the back of her head- just aim at that one sweet spot- he smoothed her hair back and wiped her face clean. Dominic didn’t have time to bury her, and Zack would dig right through a cairn. He would have to burn her. Luckily there was a decent amount of deadwood around- a couple of trees hadn’t survived the quake. Dom built a small pyre and carefully lay Kalen down on it. Her fingers were still curled slightly from holding the gun. Dominic undid the chain’s clasp and took his St. Christopher medal from around his neck. Placing it in Kalen’s hand, he curved her hand more securely around it. Whispering another prayer, he lit the kindling in the center of the pyre. Flames licked hungrily at the dry wood, and Kalen was soon surrounded by fire. Dominic couldn’t stay to watch- the flame would attract any Zacks in the area, and he still had to get to Foxtrot. Scooping up Kalen’s abandoned pack, Dominic jogged away from the now roaring fire.

No more trenches opened up under him, and after an hour he saw the small cairn that marked the trail to Foxtrot. Before he entered the forest, he turned to look back at the plains. There was a faint gleam on the horizon where Kalen still burned. Dominic stood silently watching it then turned his face away. There would be time to mourn later. He still had miles to go.


Date: 2009-04-22 08:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nomoreuturns.livejournal.com
No, it was not okay. It was motherfucking awesome...I got all sniffly at work. I could break it down and tell you what I like about each part, but basically it comes down to: this = ♥

reposted because typo :( sorry for spam

Date: 2009-04-22 10:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anothersadsong.livejournal.com
so, so sad. so, so good.

Date: 2009-07-10 11:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sparkfrost.livejournal.com
Wow, I suck, I totally forgot to respond to this! Thank you so much for reading, and I'm glad you liked it!

I swear, I totally didn't mean to ignore your comment for three months!

Date: 2009-04-24 12:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cariadwyn.livejournal.com
Done so well it would be a great page in World War Z

Date: 2009-07-10 11:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sparkfrost.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! (And I am so sorry I didn't respond earlier, I don't even know what happened!)

I'm glad you mentioned World War Z, that was definitely my main inspiration for this story.

Sorry again for taking forever to respond!

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