ZombiePalooza - Anthology

#TeamInsidesAndEntrails Pt. VI - @RaeKitano's "Non-Believer"

Vera pulled into the drive and turning the engine off, listened to the birds in the nearby trees. Nothing about the environment had changed, yet the blood on her car said otherwise.

"I'm too old for this shit," Vera murmured before getting out.

An inspection of the car showed an awful amount of blood bleeding down the panels. Vera ran her fingers across the red sticky substance and drew it to her nose to sniff. A vile putrid odour tainted whatever it was, prompting her to remove the handkerchief from her pocket and wipe off her fingers. Another glance at the car and Vera realised she would need to clean it before Marcy saw.

Vera tracked across the front yard and grabbed the hose before turning on the tap. She hosed down the bonnet and driver side panels, using her hand to scrape the chunks stuck to the surface. It was disgusting work, causing her to dry retch twice, but when the car was clean again, Vera felt satisfied.

With a deep sigh, she ventured back inside to face Marcy. In the front hall, Vera removed her sodden shoes and socks as Marcy appeared in the hall, walking stick tapping against the floor as she approached.

"What happened to you?" Marcy asked.

"You won't believe it."

"Vera, are you all right? You don't look well."

Marcy took Vera by the hand and Vera stood to face her.

"I'm fine. No peaches though."

Marcy's concern deepened the lines on her face, and Vera said, "Let's sit down and I'll tell you what happened."

If Vera thought Marcy would be angry, it was far from the truth. Fear etched Marcy's expression and when Vera finished telling her what happened, she took Vera's hands and examined them.

"You didn't get any on you, did you?"

She winced, remembering the stubborn chunks she'd touched. "Only when I washed the car down."

Marcy gasped. "Oh, Vera. You should have left it alone."

"But it was all over the car. I couldn't leave it there."

"Come with me, we should disinfect your hands in case it's contagious."

Vera didn't understand the fuss, but followed as Marcy made her way to the bathroom.

"Here, give me your hands." Marcy lathered anti-bacterial soap over Vera's hands, carefully cleaning between her wrinkled fingers.

"Not as supple as they use to be," Vera said.

"Oh, shut up. They're as beautiful as the day I met you."

Vera smiled, watching Marcy gently massage one hand after the other.

Marcy turned the taps on, holding Vera's hands under the warm water, speaking quietly, "When we're done here, we'll pack some things and go like I suggested. We can stay with my brother until it's all clear to return."

"I don't see any problem staying. We can lock the doors and windows. I doubt they'll be able to get in. That is if they are real and not actors."

"Oh Vera." Marcy shook her head. The sadness on her face wasn't missed by Vera.

"Sorry about the peaches."

"Nonsense," Marcy sharply replied. "Sorry I sent you out. I should have known better."

The pounding in Vera's head grew, and she gripped the vanity as pain rippled through her body.

"Are you okay?" Marcy asked, taking hold of Vera.

Vera shook her head, her eyes focusing on Marcy. There was an expression on Marcy's face Vera had never seen before and a flash in Vera's chest left her mouth dry and a headache brewing.

"Go rest in the living room. I'll quickly pack," Marcy said.

"You don't believe all this, do you, Marcy?"

Marcy walked Vera back into the living room, almost pushing her into the old blue reclining chair next to the pink floral recliner.

"Doesn't hurt to be safe. They've been reporting this outbreak for months now, spreading across the country. If they can contain it early, then they have a chance of stopping it. The least we can do is listen to the advice."

Vera huffed, her palms clammy, the headache fogging her thoughts.

Marcy bent over Vera, patting her shoulder. "You rest up. It won't take me long, then we'll go."

Vera gave a nod and as Marcy turned to go, Vera reached out and grabbed her hand.

"I love you," she said.

Marcy squeezed Vera's hand gently. "Do you need anything?"

The sound of blood beating in Vera's ears grew louder, and she shook her head to clear it. Marcy took that as an answer to her question and left Vera, returning to the other end of the house. Vera's body burned as a raging fire spread beneath her skin. The flesh on the back of her hand began to blister and Vera tore her nails against the skin as blood flowed - then slowly came to a stop. Vera clenched her hands on her lap, forgetting her purpose. Despite herself, her thoughts turned to hunger. An insatiable urge tore through her mind. From the bedroom, the rhythmic drumming of the heart had Vera salivating. The smell of fresh food enticed her from the chair.

The path forward was cluttered with obstacles, but Vera pushed them aside as her determination grew. Movement from the bedroom drove Vera forward until the prey appeared before her.

"Vera, what the...?"

The sound of the beating heart intensified. The prey fled to the bathroom, and enticed by the smell of fear, Vera staggered on.

Two more hearts beat, theirs as loud and violent as her meal, approached the end of the house. Crouched on the cold tiled floor, entrails in hands hovering between cracked lips, Vera crammed the blood-drenched flesh into her mouth. Blood stained her hands as she dragged her fingers from her mouth, diving in again to the lifeless aged-body crumpled in the corner of the room. There was no need to move, as the food came towards Vera, supplying her more than enough to feed in the coming days.

"Holy shit man. You were right."

Two men stood in the doorframe, staring down at Vera. Their appearance was lost on her as the steady beating of their hearts pounded inside her mind. Vera retracted her hand from the body at her feet, forcing the dripping flesh from her fingers into her mouth.

"Disgusting," the man spat.

The rude man nodded. "Told you the stupid old bat would want to wash her car when she got home. Touched the blood no doubt."

"Hurry up and get it done. We need to head over to Main and North, they're reporting an outbreak there."

The man lifted the metal rod in his hand as Vera lowered her hands, ready to pounce on her prey. As she launched forward, a single shot rang out.

-*-*-