Chapter FIVE - Sanctuary

Never As We Imagined

Chapter FIVE - Sanctuary

I sucked in air heavily, I had been doing this for a while...

“One, Two, Three...” I said out loud, my hands clasped over each other, they were stained velvet, it sickened me inside knowing that most of it wasn’t even my blood... worry flooded my mind... is this how it’s going to end?

FLASHBACK

“QUICK! Get the UV torches on NOW” I yelled

 i spun around to alert the girls of the incoming attack  when I noticed almost in slow motion a black shadow fly past my head followed closely by bits of splintered wood.

It was too late.

The door forced open blowing me and Whetu forward past Leah and Tequila towards the back wall, we hit hard leaving holes in the browned plaster. I was dazed... I could barely hear over the sound of one thousand wings now quickly filling the room... “AHHHH!”

... My eyes widened.

I got to my feet pulling myself together; I saw Whetu was already making wild slashes at the shredwings and flashes of light seeped through gaps in the thick black cloud swarming around the room “Shit” I thought “I’m completely vulnerable!” I grabbed my dad’s knife from my side sheath and started making wild slashes at the cloud trying to desperately cling onto life.

I don’t remember how long I was fighting for or even if I was actually hitting those flying beasts... I only remember my heart beating so hard that it hurt, my ears deafened by the noise, my bloodlust cry lost... drowned out, my arms getting weary and my lungs screaming for air. I no longer knew what was happening, what to think or how to react...

All I felt was Fear.

The noise died down...

I open my eyes in what seemed like both the longest time in my life and the shortest, the girls were on their knees covered in fleshy tears, not many large ones but many small cuts... I scanned the room; hundreds of dead shredwings lay on the floor, smoke drifting of their charred bodies, the lights pointed towards the hole in the wall where our barrier once stood.

I fell onto my side in exhaustion wincing in pain from the impact... i lay there in silence wondering how we had just survived... all of us...

...my eyes shot open.

“WHETU!” I said crawling to my feet and rushing over to the unresponsive object lying face down on the ground, blood pooled around his torso. “Leah! Get over here!” I called in desperation; I flipped my friend over so that I could examine the extent of his wound... he wasn’t breathing. Leah slid down beside him “Start CPR while I work on this!”She said with urgency, I sat there wondering if this was real, my last friend was dying right in front of me... “what do I do?”

“Aaron! Focus!” She called loudly in my ear.

“...TWENTY NINE, THIRTY!”

I counted the compressions out loud how I had been taught, went down and gave two breaths then started compressions again, I wondered whether he was even alive or not , Leah was setting cloths around the piece of wood that sat of to the left side of his stomach impaling deep into his midsection, she stopped to tell Tequila to get something from her bag... I couldn’t hear her though, words and numbers just echoed in my head...

“1...5...10...15...20...25...30... Two breaths” that went on for the most tense few minutes of my life

“Don’t give up on us bro”.

‘Kila came back with a briefcase sized bag and pulled out a small hand sized Defib unit, Leah pushed me back and proceeded to hook the gel pads up to Whetu’s chest , the electronic voice commanded for everyone to stand clear.

“Com’on bro.... you can’t fucking break your promise to us!”

*Beep* 

Whetus body shook slightly from the shock

"Unsucsessful fribulation, press flashing button"

*Beep*

Again Whetus body shook

"Unsucsessful fribulation, press flashing button"

*Beep*

Whetus body shook once more... i held my breath...

....”Normal heart rhythm acquired, seek medical attention immediately” the robotic voice commanded.

The room fell silent.

Time seemed to have stopped at that moment; there was no sound, no movement. Everyone was still, I looked around at the room, tears flowed from Leah and Tequilas eyes, my sight blurred but i quickly wiped any would-be tears. I stood up and walked up to the massive hole in front wall picking up Longsword and my dad’s knife on the way over.

“Patch him up.... Leah” I said, my voice wavering “Well move him in the room and barricade the hallway door.”

“Ok”

The wood creaked  as I stuck my hand and pushed it out of the way, I grabbed my knife out and tested the tip against my thumb, I pushed hard and it broke my skin like it was paper, blood oozed from the small cut. I watched as the blood trickled to the end of my thumb and fell down to my shirt...

My whole body was in pain, I examined my clothes and the state of my skin; my clothes were torn beyond repair, no longer fulfilling their intended purpose of keeping me warm, I looked at the parts of my body where I felt pain... Cuts and gashes and blood seemed to cover every inch of my exposed skin. My attention turned to the pile of bodies piled up on the front porch.

“Hrrrnnngggg.... hrrrnnngggg”

I extended the blade quickly and precisely towards the corpse that was stupid enough to reveal its presence to me. I continued to do so to all the bodies I could see, stabbing and slicing at the rotting heads finally allowing them their eternal rest... not that I really cared what happened to them.

“Ok he’s all patched up, Leah’s in the room with him, he’s still asleep though.” Tequila explained “We should start barricading the hall now.”

“Yeah” I said wearily turning around “It’s close to dawn so well move him to the next safe house we can find when he wakes up, I’ll stay up and keep guard... you guys go have some rest ok” I nodded slightly towards the hallway, she was in no state to argue, i watched as she stumbled over a few bits of wood and leant against the wall “Are you sure?” she said.

“Yeah... wait... no...” Tequila looked at me with a look of confusion “huh what are yo-” I quickly silenced her “Sssshhh!... Do you hear that?” I said as my eyes widened and I started panicking “Quickly! Get your lance!” I yelled with panic lacing my every word.

“HHHHRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!”



END Chapter FIVE

Chapter FOUR - Nightfall

Never As We Imagined


Chapter FOUR - Nightfall


“Memories… god damnit” I muttered quietly looking over a weather worn 2011 edition black diary, the edges of each page were creased and the binding was bent and mangled.

“um… guys…”

Everyone’s eyes crept over to my direction… mine found their way to the grassy ground.
“Thanks for sticking by me…” I said in a coarse weak voice, my eyes became teary but they didn’t shed... not anymore.
Everyone just nodded without a word knowing exactly what I was feeling, how we all felt.

We had all come a long way since E-day, no longer were the days where we would spend lying in the sun making shapes with the clouds, no longer could we sit and watch our favorite anime or argue with siblings.

The colorful days of the past were gone leaving us only with the scarlet stained sunset that sat before us on the horizon, reminding us of our constant solitude… Just us, no one left.

“It’s time to go Bro” Whetu said in his usual fun tone “We have 45 mins before sundown”

“Alright, I’m hungry anyway hehe” Leah said with an upbeat squeak, looking to us all “Yeah I said picking myself up of the ground and stretching. I took the diary and put it into a little black case that hooked onto my belt. “Well, another entry done” I said extending a hand to the two girls “Here, lets get inside”

“Hai”


“Ok all the doors and windows are boarded up!” Tequila yelled down the short hallway “Yep and the beds are nearly done too!” Whetu said coming out of the far bedroom propping himself up against the door frame “Hows dinner coming?” He asked the door across from him, “Nearly done guys, just gotta serve it” I replied “Leah all done?” “Yep, were good” She said placing a candle up onto the shelf.

“Dinners a bit late but here you go” Whetu looked over his shoulder at me “Yeah bro serve up the girls first, I’m just going toilet” I turned to face the table and placed the plates of baked beans down on the table “Sweet” I whispered as I checked my watch, “18:57... Here they come” sitting down to my seat on the table.

*beep* my watch notified me of the turning of the hour.

All eating ceased… more appropriately we couldn‘t eat.. The noise was unnerving to say the least, Every night at about this time the shredders came out to hunt, the sound of a thousand wings flooded the now dark sky drowning out all noise within a kilometer of the black cloud that flocked above all the once heavily populated areas.

I knew Whetu didn't need to go toilet, at this time he would always find an excuse to leave the room. Once the sound of Shredwings were gone he would return. I never once questioned it but tonight I got I weird feeling that he was holding something heavy on his shoulders… "Maybe I shouldn't have read that diary out loud" I thought. “Hey” I said over the noise “I’m going to look for Whetu, be back in 5, k?"
 The girls nodded.

I walked out into the hallway to find him standing at the far door, looking down at the ground with his arm encasing his face. He didn't notice me yet so I just stood in the shadows. He looked distressed and he kept rocking so that his head would hit the wall.
His fist was bleeding. 
"Bro… what’s up?”

I walked towards him as the noise of the shredwings died down

“I’m sorry my sister…I…I…”
The glimmer of a single tear made itself visible as it fell to the ground.

I stopped dead in my tracks… He was crying.


“My bro..” I whispered walking up to him and placing my hand on his shoulder pulling him into an embrace “Whatever you may think about that, it was not your fault… you loved her… and you did what you had to” I said calmly but firm, my voice not wavering so to try and reassure that i was speaking the truth.
“I…I…I’m…so sorry!” He said pulling in closer and letting his tears flow from his heart, burying his head into my shoulder he screamed long and loud into my shirt dropping us both to our knees.

All I could think was how could I not have seen this sooner.

...

“How is he?” Tequila asked watching me walk in, concern riddled her face “Leah’s got him, he’ll be good.” I replied with a deep sigh, “How did I not click… Damnit, you idiot!”. I stared down at my plate, the food was cold and stale.



*knock…. crrrreeeaaaak*

“Hey do you hear that?” Tequila asked alarmed “Oh no…”
I gasped and stood to my feet “It can't be…” Whetu and Leah ran into the kitchen “They're trying to come through the front!” Whetu yelled in a serious manner “Get the torches in the bedrooms!”

*bang…. crack*

“They've broken through!”

The front door splintered and a single hand reached through; grazed, torn and rotting.
“Tequila! Aaron! Get in here with those torches!” Whetu yelled “They're coming through!”
I searched around the bedroom and grabbed our weapons and two torches “I got them!” I practically screamed back racing down the hallway down to the front room where everyone was stationed.

“Here” I said passing over my rebar and a torch to Leah then turning to tequila passing her makeshift lance over “Thanks” she said moving towards the door jabbing the sharpened iron point through to the incoming horde “fuck you!” she yelled at her victims, still trying to move through the small gap broken in the front door. “Hhhrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnggggggg” the Zees all harmoniously chanted whilst pushing and beating at the barrier separating us from them.
“My turn!” Leah said unsheathing her rebar and slashing at the grey limbs desperately clawing at the door, now creaking under the weight of the bodies piling up on the other side. Blood splashed across the debris with every slash and stab of the iron blade.

Suddenly the zees cries stopped and they backed away from the front door “What the…?” Leah said with a confused look, we all copied her facial expression and wondered “what just happened here…they don't just give up…” I looked at the hole with wonder in the door “Cover me” I said passing my Longsword over to Whetu, he nodded and walked forwards beside me…

“Slowly” I said walking towards the small gap in the door, the stench of the dead becoming stronger and stronger… I looked around… “Do you hear that?” I said as my eyes grew wider.


The sound of beating wings.

“get the UV torches on..." I yelled



"NOW!"


























Too Late.





END chapter FOUR

Chapter THREE - How precious life is.

Never how we imagined


Chapter THREE - How precious life is.

Diary entry 2 - February 17th  2012

The infection started from some sick French guy who was breeding dead birds with live birds. The result was a retarded featherless bird… half dead looking. It attacked its creator and turned him into the first Zombie, no way it will reach here. The authorities are doing everything they can to exterminate the ‘zombies’ Another month and this would have all rolled over.

Man my memory is shit, something important is happening today… I was supposed to get something for someone… I just forgot what it was… oh well I’ll remember sooner or later.

…

Diary entry 21 - April 24th 2012

The reporters are saying to stay indoors and lock all exits, the infection has made its way to New Zealand but it is being contained, the other countries have gone to hell.
Im gong to find everyone and we will take cover in the kohanga, that place it secure enough… right?.

…

Diary entry 34 - June 1st 2012

Well its Whetu’s birthday and I honestly don’t know what to do… I saved their lives a week ago. While we were travelling around to collect mine, Tequilas, Leahs and Whetus family a zombie attacked and ended up biting my little brother. I didn’t know that once you are bitten that you turn… I don’t know what to do… I haven’t seen Whetu or Tequila in 6 days after we buried our families in the kohanga garden. Leahs just been crying in the room. I take her something to eat every breakfast lunch and dinner.. Im glad Quintin, Cheyenne and Conrad are still here helping me get through

What I did was right?… wasn’t it?

…

Diary entry 37 - June 15th 2012

My birthday… One sad fucking birthday if you ask me. A week ago the power went out and it was confirmed that the infection was out of control. The wingless birds have spread here so we can’t be outside at night, they seem to be scared of the light so we stay inside with all our candles lit. Whetu returned a night ago whilst Tequila came back four… I don’t want to ask where they have been. I know they hate me but I had to do it to save their lives. They couldn’t kill their loved ones and I couldn’t let my friends die.
Im so confused right now…
 At least I know they are safe

Well world
Its 2:00am and I feel like dying

…

Diary entry 39- June 20th 2012

Whetu, Leah and Tequila are back to normal again, they understand now why I did it. And they thank me that they are alive but I still feel so guilty.

Yesterday I saw a man get ripped to shreds by those featherless things. Im going to call them ‘shredwing” because that’s what they do, they flock around the night sky and swoop down on anything that steps foot into the darkness. Its horrible. The remains are nothing but scarred bones and shreds.

Well we started travelling around to other areas of new Zealand looking for survivors, ive been documenting the different types of zombies that ive encountered.
Here it is:

Common - These zombies have no special traits, they just rush and bite people. They don’t really pose a threat alone but you rarely find one that is… alone.

Shredwing - These birds flock at night, they travel in extremely large numbers and shred their prey to pieces, they are sensitive to light so if you stay in it you are safe.

Hunters - These Zees are fast and precise, oddly enough they don’t bite you, they just beat and scratch you but enough of that will eventually kill you. They seem to only drink blood as well. I need to learn more about these ones.

Animal Zees - Animals that are zombies, they don’t pose any threat unless provoked or if they are starving, they will normally attack only their own species as well. Weird.

Fatties - These zombies are strong but slow, they also vomit blood at you that attracts other zombies to your location. They seem to be the mafia bosses of the zombies.

Well that’s it, so if I die.
Hopefully this helps someone somewhere.

…

Diary entry 40 - June 23rd 2012

I killed my brother yesterday.
He was bitten and turned . I buried him today.

I really have no one left.

Tequila has been a big help, she knows what to say in these situations.
Thanks a lot.

...


Diary entry 41 - June 26th 2012

  
...Cheyenne broke down today and ran off. 
No one knows where she is of if she is even alive.. poor Whetu.
I hope she is ok, we are going to look for her tommorow....



...

Diary entry 42 - June 28th 2012

Quintin was a hero, he saved all of our lives by sacrificing himself.
We found Cheyenne... she wasn't in a good state. She was attacked by those shredwings. 
Whetu ended her suffering.
Now there is only Him, Leah, Tequila and Me left.
There is no one we love left alive, no hope at all. We are all thinking that it would be easier to just end it now.

but… we cant give up, Quintin died for us. He showed us how precious life is, so I know Im not going to let anyone give up, I promise I wont let them get hurt bro, no matter what.

I never break a promise.

…

Diary entry 49 - July 24th 2012

Well its Leahs 19th birthday today hehe we couldn’t forget it… more like she wouldn’t let us forget it haha. Bloody marnis.
Ive been gathering up some ingredients, im going to bake a cake for us. To celebrate in style.
Something we haven’t done in a long time...

Happy 19th Leah... well make sure its a good one

…

Diary entry 61 - September 26th

Got attacked by a hunter this morning, Whetu saved my ass again man... he isnt going to let me live this down…


END Chapter THREE

Chapter TWO - Dawn

Never how we imagined


Chapter TWO - Dawn.

The darkness was soon replaced by a familiar orange light that pushed through the boarded windows into the eyes of the three sleeping figures. “Morning” I muttered noticing that Whetu was already up standing by the door, “morning my Bro” he replied. The other two stirred from their sleep “dammit… alright im up” Tequila said groggily, pulling the blanket up to her chest and sitting up. “Well... where are we heading next?” I asked Whetu  “Hastings is a ghost town” Whetu looked at his the map, surveying the possible places we could head and marking hastings with a giant red X “The next closest place is probably Palmerston north so we will head there”
We all nodded.

“Leah you're on breakfast, you and Tequila go to the next few houses and try to find some food alright” Whetu said with command “Aaron you go find a car, ill pack up all of our stuff, you know the drill. Radios on at all time… don’t ever let you guard down”

“Hai! Hokage-sama!” I said sarcastically “Will do haha”

The other two joined in on the laughter, Whetu just stood there frowning through squinted eyes.

I walked outside first, just me, my forged iron rebar, my dads hunting knife and a 22. Strapped to my back, I noticed two Zee’s down the south end of the street “two Zee’s 50 meters away… all mine!” I yelled enthusiastically taking my .22 aptly named 'Longsword' off my back and taking aim, the two zombies heard me loud and clear and started sprinting for their next meal

*BANG*

“One….

*click*

*BANG*

..Two hehe” I smiled.

“HRRRRRNNNNGGG!!!”  
"What the!" I jumped forwards in fright away from the sound “DAMMIT! One snuck up on me! reload!” I thought “RELOAD!”

Too late

The zombie pounced knocking me over, my gun slid onto the pavement, the hunter gave a bloodthirsty scream before viciously clawing at me, all I could do was bring my arms up to block my face “AHHH! HELP!” I yelled towards the house

A flash of light was all I saw before the zombie stopped attacking me and went limp, blood trickled slowly from its mouth. “huh?” I thought… “How did it…” then I noticed the small star hanging out of its left temple “WHETU! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME!” I yelled over at the door, a figure walked smugly out from the darkness of the house. “Hey a thanks is in order… don’t you think? And besides! I don’t ever miss!”  he retorted
“I hate when you use shuriken though… I was there when we were practicing! Don’t tell me you don’t miss!… but thanks bro” I submitted

“Yeah, watch your back from now on aye?”

I walked over and picked up longsword of the ground, strapping it to my back I scanned the street for any vehicles… none. I looked at my forearms… bits of skin were missing but nothing too bad… hurt like hell but its better than a bite. I pulled my rebar blade out from its sheath and walked down the street, I looked down the next few roads… “nothing”

I pushed the big grey button on my radio “Nothing bro, im coming back, we can search after breakfast as a group… sweet”

…
…

“Yeah my bro the girls are back, Ill come meet you on the corner”

“Sweet”.



“Really! Eggs, baked beans and toast ? Oh jeez” I said mouth watering “AWESOME!” I laughed, my stomached growled at the feast that lay before me “Yeah I know right! YUMMY!” Tequila smiled “Well lets not waste any time!” Whetu said with a hint of excitement in his voice “Thanks Leah!” He added turning to the youngest in the group “Yep, no uh problem” She said with a big smile on her face.

“THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD!” We all said in unison

After breakfast we gathered our backpacks, we didn't have much to carry but our weapons and spare clothes, we each had Water, a Torch, Walkie Talkie, Markers, Fire lighters and other miscellaneous items. That’s all we really needed, every day we would drive around cities and towns looking for survivors, looking for supplies and before 4pm we would find shelter in a house. From there we would board up all the windows, doors and any other way in and out. Eat dinner and then sleep.

It was the same everyday, wake up, search, lunch, search, dinner, hide…

Survive.


END Chapter TWO

Chapter ONE - Bonds

Chapter ONE - Bonds.

“Hey Aaron!? When you're done talking to yourself can you come help me out!” An irritated voice called from across the room “yeah ‘Kila i'm comin” I replied.
I stood up from in front of the eye and small LCD screen , the dim display copying my every movement. I looked around the room, soft orange light  penetrated the cracks in the wood that covered the windows, made visible from the clouds of dust that filled the near empty rust colored room. A figure stood over at the only doorway, she slowly stepped  forward into the light. "Baka" She sighed..
“What do you need help with?” I asked calmly walking over towards her, she was about up to my chin, not bad looking either…
“I need help barricading the front door, its nearly dark.”

“Tequila, 22, our support… both in a firefight and in other… circumstances. Invaluable to the team… well I guess that every member is in this situation, Saved our asses on more than one occasion and im goddamn determined to return the favor”

“Arigato”

“No prob, Hey bro!” I yelled of into the darkness of the hallway “What’s for dinner?”

…
…

“Nothing too flash” the darkness replied

I looked back at Tequila who was rechecking the makeshift barricade, making sure it wouldn’t fall if forced.. She nodded at it, confirming that is was stable. “Yo…” I whispered gaining her attention, I motioned towards the kitchen “yep” she replied in the same quiet tone.

As we approached the kitchen the smell of food overwhelmed the musky, dirty smell of the abandoned house we were staying in for the night.
I opened the door to a dimly lit room, four candles were placed in different locations all revealing the thick layers of dust that covered every surface… all except the table and bench beside the stove. The ground was littered with bits of wood and glass, a velvet stain ingrained into the center making it very clear why this place is deserted.

I also spied in the corner of the room what i took to be probably the most unfortunate rag in existence, used to clear the bench and table, caked in unknown browny-rust coloured dirt, scrunched up and discarded… poor thing.

 I looked over to the ‘tall but still shorter than me’ man standing over the gas oven “so what were we having?” I asked curiously “well along with this can of spaghetti I found we have… a can of spaghetti” He replied with a hint of disappointment “Hey whets its all good, at least its something aye?” I said reassuringly

“Yeah but im SOOO hungry!” He said playfully, lightening the mood.



“Whetu, 21, the Heavy… the guy you could count on to have the most blood on at the end of each skirmish, damn luckiest son of a mother that ever lived. I rely on him to get us out of trouble…
He is my best friend after all.”

“Well here it is, grab a plate” he said grabbing two “Leah, dinners ready in here” he sat down at the table “cheers bro” I grabbed the other two and passed one on to tequila “thanks” she replied.
Just then Leah walked in to the room “The back is clear, no uh zombies there hehe” She said quirkily
She was a little shorter that Whetu but not as short as Tequila.

“Leah, 19, Medic… not the strongest or best aim but damn good when it came to general healing. She would normally be the one to cover my back when times are rough… things have been rough though…. Since E-day she hasn’t really been the same”

We all sat down at the small wooden table, the fire from the candle setting the stage for the dancing shadows that plastered the walls behind us. “Thank you for the food” We all muttered before digging into our small meals. We try to keep things as normal and homely as possible in this hell… its all we really can do to stay human.

“Music anyone?” Whetu asked pulling a small blue ipod nano from his pocket, it was outdated a few models but he was loyal to the little blue machine, It was a prize from back in the old days, he won first place at the ‘2009 rising star youth awards’, one of his many achievements in his short life. He switched it on to the tune of ‘Sink or swim from Maisey Rika’

The room grew quiet as the happy tune filled the void. We all just stopped eating and stared at our cutlery… we each had the same things on our mind… The old days.The playful music brought back memories of a much happier time, one we all took for granted.
Back when life was good and simple,
Back when life was fun…
when we had…

Family


...

I snapped.

“DAMMIT!” I yelled, standing to my feet so quickly the chair fell backwards, I grabbed my empty plate and violently delivered it off the table, onto the ground and stormed out of the room.

“Don’t worry about it… ill get him” a soft voice said over the dead silence of the room

“Me, Aaron, 20, Sharpshot… Im the guy who everyone relies on in those really tough spots. I sit at a distance and comb my way through priority Zee’s… I guess ive saved everyone about as much times as Ive been saved. Talk about family is out of the question for me…I guess everyone kinda despises and is grateful for me in a way also… having killed their all families when they couldn’t… and my brothers…dammit all”

It was going to be another long sleepless night.





END Chapter ONE

Prolouge - End Day

Never how we imagined

Prologue - End Day


“2012, The end of the world… heard the rumours, never once believed that shit myself... Well until 'it' happened. 
4.5 billion dead within the first 3 months hehe… well almost. 
It wasn’t earthquakes or tsunamis… heck I would have put my money on nuclear holocaust before this… That would have been great huh?…

Nah...if only we were so lucky...

Zombies, Zombies, Zombies…”

Introductrion.

Sup
This is a story i done for my mate Whetu, it was based on a facebook app result we got.
Its a story about our adventures if there was a zombie Apocalypse and what we would be doing.

Its not the most upbeat story. But its realistic.
Enjoy.