Zomb-Pocalypse 4

Chapter Ten

I can honestly say that I have never been so happy to see a zombie in my entire life, as I am to see the frozen monstrosity Silas and Ryan pull out of the box of the pickup- truck.

"You couldn't have picked anything a little prettier?" Abby complains as she eyes the one legged zombie the boys produce with a frown of disgust.

I have personally never used the word 'pretty' to describe any zombie, but I do see her point. His leg isn't the only thing missing, his skull looks like someone tried, unsuccessfully to kick it in for him, as a result his head is all misshapen skin and he's missing not one, but two eye balls. I have to fight back the urge to gag as I look at the twin stringy cords that hang out of his empty eye sockets.

"This isn't a beauty contest." Silas snaps. "We grabbed the first one we saw." He lets out a little huff of effort as Ryan trips in the snow and they both nearly drop the zombie in their effort to find their balance.

"His missing leg and eyeballs will slow him down if he does come back." Ryan points out defensively.

"Yes, and he might even trip on that piece of intestine wrapped around his ankle." Abby points out.

Regg steps out of the house and makes a face at the zombie. "Jesus Christ, that's the one you two picked?" He demands, making Abby and me grin from ear to ear.

Ryan opens his mouth to relay his message about how this is a safer zombie than any of its two legged counterparts, but Regg cuts him off. "I don't want to hear its life story, just make sure you lay it down on a tarp first." He says as he skirts around the the zombie and starts heading towards Jack's cabin to grab a couple things for Jack. I stare after Regg and wonder if he's grabbing the stuff because Jack is still recovering, more slowly than the rest of us, or if Jack just doesn't want to go back inside the cabin.

Abby holds the door open for them, while I go and run to get a tarp. I spread it out on the floor in front of the fire, as close as I dare and then Silas, and Ryan deposit the zombie in the center. We move the couch back to a somewhat safe distance and then all sit down to keep vigil.

An hour in, I start to notice the smell of decay. "It must be working,." Abby says wrinkling her nose and I have to wonder if we are making a big mistake doing this inside the cabin.

"Should we really be doing this inside?" I ask, unable to resist voicing my thoughts, and the boys both nod in unison.

"It would take a lot more wood to build a big enough fire outside, and we already need to warm the cabin anyway." Silas says without taking his eyes off the zombie.

Another hour slowly ticks by and I'm actually starting to feel hopeful that this winter weather was the end of the zombies. There will still be lots of zombies in the warmer climates to deal with, but maybe we could build a wall in the north and keep them all out. Having a safe space will be helpful while we figure out a way to eliminate the rest...

"Did that thing just twitch?" Ryan asks, jumping up from the couch and I'm abruptly pulled from my utopian- world thoughts. I don't want to admit that I was day dreaming on zombie watch, so I keep quiet, and struggle to keep my nerves in check.

I hear a shuffling behind me and even though I know the zombies in front of me, I spin around. This zombie has me freaked out. Jack, Megan, and my Dad are all leaning in closer to take a better look.

Silas stands suddenly and my heart sinks. "I can't be sure." He admits with a frown and Ryan nods.

"Maybe it was just a trick of the light." Ryan says hopefully.