tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86776546970189220372024-03-13T16:12:13.244-07:00Memoirs of the DeadPatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147107572919736563noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677654697018922037.post-55876392928872226332009-07-05T10:43:00.001-07:002009-07-05T10:51:40.075-07:00Memoirs Of The Dead pt. 4<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >Jackson and I had packed up about a week's worth of provisions in what cheap excuses for backpacks the store had to offer, and made our way to the roof of the establishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>During our scavenging we managed to rustle up two more pipes almost identical to the one we had used previously to defend ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The pipes had worked well enough before, so I figured; stick with what works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While on the roof of the store we could see almost all the way around the neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The zombies had filled the street in front of the store waiting for us to be their next meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luckily the creatures didn't seem too smart and their gathering in front of the mart left us plenty of room to escape in the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The only thing we needed at that point was a plan. </span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >I took a seat on the roof and retreated into myself, deep in thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I needed to figure out what to do and where to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There had to be somewhere secluded from all this mess, somewhere the zombies weren't everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There was only one place I could think of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The only place these creatures weren't around every corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Northern Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It seemed like a safe enough place to ride out this storm and yet still be habitable enough to enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I called Jackson over to explain what we were going to do.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">"Northern Canada." I told Jackson, "That's where we are going to be safest from these things."</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >"Alright dude but, Canada has to be, like, a million miles away."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He responded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"And where are we going to get the supplies we need to make it there?" Jackson added.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >He might have been a complete retard but he did have a good point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were definitely going to need enough food to make it, along with a good vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Among everything else I just hoped we could find a survivor to help drown out Jackson's idiocy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then it hit me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There was only one place we could get all of that, the National Guard armory. It would have everything we would need.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">"We'll hit the National Guard armory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We might even find survivors there." I stated.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >"That's right man, I forgot about that place!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson exclaimed almost too excitedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"I don't know about taking anyone with us though, I think we make a pretty good team--just the two of us."</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >I shuddered at the thought of making the twelve hour trip with only Jackson to keep me company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"We'll see what happens," I said, pushing the notion aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"Let's make our way while the sun is still high in the sky." I said as I started looking for a way down off the roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"We'll cut through the back yards and take back roads; I think we might run into less of those things that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Stay alert."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I made sure I was looking directly at Jackson for the last part to ensure he saw the seriousness in my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"Let's move out."</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">*<span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>*</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >The day seemed eerie as we made our way down the back roads, towards the armory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I remained quiet most of the time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Jackson just rambled on about himself; the things he liked, his girlfriend, his ex-girlfriends, his friends, his friends girlfriends and his friends ex-girlfriends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was like listening to a kid with A.D.D.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We kept moving, only stopping occasionally, making sure no zombies were around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Sometimes we would catch sight of a small group of the unnatural things and make our way around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One particular stop will be forever engraved in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of the creatures appearing to be a young woman was sitting on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In her lap sat the decapitated head of a person, which she stared at, puzzled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She looked as though she was deep in thought. Suddenly, her dead eyes lit up and she began to search the ground, and grabbed a large piece of broken asphalt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She lifted the stone at arm's length and came down hard against the head, cracking the skull open and spilling brain matter over the ground around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sight reminded me of a show I had seen, on one of the educational channels, of a monkey breaking open a coconut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That was until she began slurping her decaying meal off the ground then biting deeply into the brain itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of course, Jackson puked.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >Jackson and I pressed on from there, until we reached a large intersection directly in line with our path to the armory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The crossing was filled with zombies. We quickly ducked into an alley a few buildings away from the junction, taking cover in between some trash bins.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >"What do you think we should do?" Jackson asked me in a worried tone.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >I had never had to make large decisions like that before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every time up to that point it had just been common sense or adrenaline making the choices for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My head began to swim, keeping me from thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I wanted, suddenly, to be back at home wasting my life like I was yesterday. No worries and no care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Life had made its own resolutions, though, so I was stuck here now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I made the right decision then we would have no problems, but if I chose wrong we could die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had no Idea what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I needed somewhere to think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I saw a fire escape attached to the building we were taking refuge behind.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">"Let's get to the roof," I said "we will be able to see a lot from up there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Maybe there is a way around."</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:arial;" >We made our way onto the roof and looked off the edge down into the intersection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Zombies filled the streets, cutting off any passage across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I couldn't see a way around that wouldn't take the rest of the day, and we sure as hell weren't traveling at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No ideas for crossing the river of zombies came to mind, so I assumed we weren't going anywhere.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%;font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">"I guess we'll make camp here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Maybe they'll clear out tomorr…" I began but something hit hard on the rooftop before I could finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I turned and looked at the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There sat a rope with a shoe tied to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Puzzled, I quickly looked to the roof across the intersection from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There on the other roof sat two men and a woman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>A wave of relief washed over me like a warm rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>My worry left me not just because I was glad everyone hadn't been killed by those things but, also because I wasn't alone with Jackson anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had to hold back the tears of joy.</span> </span></p>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147107572919736563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677654697018922037.post-62182610418086461472009-06-28T19:07:00.001-07:002009-06-29T19:29:20.286-07:00Memoirs Of The Dead pt. 3<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>I don't remember much from that night we spent in the dollar store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The adrenaline must've hazed out a lot of the night. I do remember the moaning though, and the scratching; and thinking that it was going to drive me mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I've spent so many nights now in various safe houses around the countryside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nothing will ever compare to the utter terror I felt lying on the makeshift bed of blankets and pillows on the cold tile floors of that store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought the daylight would never come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The daylight, I would later find, could hold more horrors than any night could ever bring.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></u></b></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">DAY 2</span></span></u></b></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">The maddening moans and scratches coming from outside the store hadn't hindered Jackson's ability to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He lay there, dead to the world, snoring like nobody's business; oblivious to the end of days on our doorstep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sun was above the horizon and I knew I would be getting no sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I just sat there staring at Jackson sleeping like a rock while the rest of the world huddled in fear of the oncoming bus that was death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought Jackson was either an extremely gifted person or extremely stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I eventually settled on the latter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He came across as a brutish man on the outside with his 30 year old body and his redneck demeanor but, I knew on the inside he was a scared little kid unable to comprehend what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He was a coward in a fight, and an all around pussy when work needed to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was just my luck that I was the one stuck babysitting him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I figured at least, if it came down to it<span style="color:#ffffff;">, in a chase,</span> I could trip him for a quick escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nobody would miss him.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></i><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">I figured as long as Jackson was dead to the world I should at least try to find out what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I made a quick search of the store for a T.V. but there was none to be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The store didn't have much; just cheap-ass clothes and food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I did find a radio in the back room of the store that would work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I carried the radio to the front of the store where I had made my makeshift bed and plugged it into the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I remember thinking before I started listening to any grotesque reports I was going to need to get some caffeine in my bloodstream.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"></i></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">There was a soda machine in the front of the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was just lucky enough that I had a dollar on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I put my dollar in the machine and pressed the button for a soda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I pressed the button a few more times with the same effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was a little annoyed at the fact the machine took my only dollar. Hit coin return; nothing. Shook the machine; Still nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally, reaching the height of my anger, I unleashed a kick to the machine's front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The kick rattled the machine and the door creaked ajar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The aroma of death filled the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Filled with sudden fright I quickly searched around for a weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There was an umbrella stand by the registers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought its better than nothing. I ran to the stand, grabbed an umbrella and crept back to the machine. Grabbing the door I took a deep breath and jerked it open, the sight was nauseating.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">Inside the machine was the mangled, twisted body of what I could only guess was a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Her head was smashed down the center of her skull, turning it into a freakish canoe. Each limb was twisted and broken, some of them woven into the machine parts around them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I held back the bile rising in my esophagus. I could see an employee nametag with the name Martha on it. I quickly reached past Martha, half expecting her to spring to life, and grabbed my soda; closing the door behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I shook off the image and opened the soda, took a long swig as if I hadn't had a drink in days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I glanced through the glass doors to the creatures outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still there, waiting for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>The lower piece of glass that I had cracked coming into the store caught my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The constant bumping against it, from those things outside, had caused the fracture to spider out more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We wouldn't be able to stay there much longer.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">I returned to finding out what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I flipped the radio on and began to tune looking for any sign of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I stopped at what I guessed was a military broadcast that was in the process of trying to explain things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Apparently, these malicious creatures were called "Zombies".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The broadcast continued on to say that it was a infection of some sort that allowed the infected to turn ordinary people into creatures like them; though it was unsure if it was blood-borne, airborne, or chemical in origin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They also reported that the best way to kill them would be to pump as many bullets into them as possible or beat them until they no longer move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The radio also said there had been rumors that destroying the brain worked well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The report went on for a bit longer explaining the best places to take refuge and evacuation point locations.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">When the radio broadcast had ended, I noticed Jackson was sitting up in his improvised cot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He was looking around the store as if he had forgotten where he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He yawned and looked at me like he was going to say something, but just yawned again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I stared at him like I was watching a creature on the national geographic channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He was such an idiot.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Hey man, what's going on?" Jackson finally said to me through another yawn.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Uh, nothing."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was all I could produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Plenty of other answers like "the apocalypse" and "just waiting to die" came to mind but I let them go so as not to ruin whatever relationship we had at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I mean, for all I knew he and I were the only people still alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The radio broadcast could have been a recording and no one would be answering the telephones. </span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"What's your name, by the way? I don't think I ever asked." he asked me apathetically.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Grady."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I replied, followed by, "Hey listen, man, I think we need to pack up some stuff around here and move somewhere safer, maybe even look for other people."</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"You mind if I sleep another hour or so before we do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn't get much sleep."</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">I knew from being awake the entire night that that was a blatant lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson had managed to sleep for what was going on 9 hours now and he still wanted more sleep, and I thought I was a lazy bastard!</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"No man, the glass on the front door is cracked and if we stay here too long the zombies outside will get in." I said using the new lingo I had learned on the radio.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Zombies?" Jackson questioned me</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Yeah, it's what the news is calling them."</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"The news was here?"</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"></i></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Really?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">He is really that retarded</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It took a few seconds to process that genius statement before I could answer. </span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Nah, man, I heard it on the radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now get up and start getting ready; we should pack some bags up and head out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think I saw a roof access sign in the back room."</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">He looked puzzled for a second like I had just given a math problem to him and asked him to answer it.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Alright," he said to me, "but I'm going to need a drink before I can do anything."</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">I pointed to the front of the store and told Jackson there was a soda machine there deliberately neglecting to tell him about the dead body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He slowly rose to his feet and slid his pants back on, which I personally felt was a sight I really could have done without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He headed to the front of the store as I began mentally listing the things we should grab before we headed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The next thing I heard told me the day was going to be a good one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was the sound of Jackson screaming like a little girl, followed by the sound of him gagging up what little food was in his stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size:100%;">I grinned pleasantly to myself and yelled, "Say hi to Martha for me!"</span></span></p>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147107572919736563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677654697018922037.post-56370005596421101662009-06-14T08:32:00.001-07:002009-07-05T10:48:32.932-07:00Memoirs Of The Dead pt. 2<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">"Hey!"</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">My body jarred hard from the startling, and my mind snapped back from the dark thoughts that had been racing through my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I whipped my head to the side and was starring face to face with a tall, blonde-haired, blued-eyed man, who had just snuck up on me ninja style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He introduced himself as Jackson. He was a tall man with a closely groomed goatee, long, thick mutton chops and tattoos covering his arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He looked ridiculous. </span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">He told me he had locked himself out of his house and he had to sleep in his car because the locksmith and cops hadn't answered or some shit like that. I wasn't really listening because my eyes kept getting drawn to the store window. I tried to mention the blood but Jackson kept interrupting to finish his story.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">"Hey, you listening to me man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I said I need some help if it's alright with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you mind giving me a hand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I'm only like a few blocks from here." Jackson said to me.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I began to tell Jackson I had just come to the store to get some food because I was hungry, but before I could finish, Jackson cut me off again.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">"What the fuck!" Jackson blurted out suddenly.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I heard a bell ring behind me, before I could figure out what he had been talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I turned around, I saw a grossly pale figure standing at the door of the store, glaring at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The man standing was a good six feet tall and easily weighing in the 200lbs range, not moving, just staring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Blood covered the man's lower face and dripped from his jaw. The life somehow seemed drained from his dark, cold eyes. Before a single word could be said, the ghastly figure opened his mouth to speak.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"Uuuuggnnnhh!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The garbled mess of literacy that came from the man's mouth was chilling and curdled the blood racing through my veins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I could do nothing but stare in amazement the way a crowd stares in awe at a train wreck or an auto crash.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Jackson called to the man asking if everyone was alright, slowly moving towards him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Jackson moved closer to the man, but the man made no other attempt to talk or even move for that matter; he just glared at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson was a few feet from the man when he spoke again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was not so much speaking as grunt as if choking on something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I remember the choking sound was watery and sticky from the amount of blood that seemed to be coming from his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As he put his hand on the man's shoulder, Jackson said he just wanted to help.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The strange man exploded forward before anything else could be said, tackling Jackson to the ground and began clawing at his face and body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson was doing his best to keep the man's face back as he gnashed his teeth and lunged at him.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"Get'em off me, get'em off me!" Jackson yelled to me over the man's grunts and groans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I suddenly snapped back to reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I looked to the ground and searched for anything that could help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ten feet away, I caught the glint of a metal pipe lying on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Out of instinct alone, I ran to the pipe, grabbing it from the ground and hurried back to Jackson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I let my momentum build as I ran and swung the pipe with every ounce of muscle I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The swing hit home as it found the side of the attacker's face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Blood splattered all over me and chunks of flesh littered my shirt. The man flew off Jackson and landed in a mangled, twisted pose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I went to help Jackson back to his feet.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I ask Jackson if he was alright, knowing that no one is ok after being attacked by someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson said me he was fine as he panted and searched the rest of his body for injuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">"If his fingernails were any longer, I think I'd be fucked right now." I remember Jackson saying. </span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I looked to the spot where the man landed and saw he was already to his knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson yelled at the man that he was going to hit him with the pipe again if he tried to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The man slowly rose to his feet, back facing us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He didn't appear to be disoriented at all nor was he wavering on his feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As he began to turn toward us, the damage from the pipe became shockingly clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His skull was deeply dented and obviously broken, and as he turned further, I could see he was missing an eye as well as most of the flesh from around his socket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The eye hadn't gone far though; I stared in horror as I realized it was hanging down to the man's neck by its optic nerve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He grabbed his hanging eye without a sound and tried to shove it back into the eye socket. The force he used created a sucking noise from his socket and blood bubbled out as he continued to try to push it in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>The man made no sounds of pain or any indication that I had just collapsed part of his head. Jackson and I could only stare in amazement as he plucked the eye from its hanging cord like a grape from its stem after failing to fit the eye back into his head, then stared at it for a moment before popping it into his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A wave of nausea hit me as I could hear the juicy, swishing sounds as he chewed his ill-begotten meal and swallowed it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The man then turned his focus back to us.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The man was glaring at us again, only this time through the one eye he had left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He began moving toward us in a twitchy, shuffling manner, as if the blow to his head had fucked up his movement on the right side of his body. His pace quickened, and he raised his arms like he was trying to grab the first of us to get close to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Without thinking, I lifted my new found weapon and unleashed blow after blow upon the man's body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I landed hammering blows to his arms, legs and torso, but the man was unflinching, even to the sounds of shattering bone coming from his limbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally, in a frantic struggle to put the man down for good, I began to strike at the man's head over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My vision went red as the man fell to the ground and my bludgeoning continuously until the smoke cleared from my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was doing nothing more, at this point, then smashing skull fragments into the bloody pavement.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">"Jesus man, I think you killed him." I recall Jackson stating in almost shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"I think he's dead."</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I focused all the energy I had left to speak, but all I could muster was a pathetic, "Yeah."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I wanted to say something more like "of course he's dead, he has no fucking head" or "really, dumbass, you think" but I just didn't have it in me to say anything more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I did however; hear the sudden sounds of shuffling footsteps around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then, over all the shuffling, a sound echoed through the air I thought I never wanted to hear again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A chorus of blood chilling moans and groans emanated behind us.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">"Uuuuggnnnhh!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">My energy was suddenly back, and my grip on my weapon tightened. I whipped my body around to see a sight that would have made me scream if all the air hadn't already left my lungs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All around us were more pale-skinned, lifeless people moping towards us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Each of the people making their way to us was grotesque, missing various body parts and covered in blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There was no way I could kill all of them; there must have twenty of them at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I did the only thing that made sense to me at that moment.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">I yelled frantically at Jackson to follow me into the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The inhuman creatures were closing in on us as we made our way to the entrance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I made it to the door before Jackson and was half tempted to just lock myself inside, but for some weird reason, I knew I might need him, especially if there were any of those things inside.</span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">One of the creatures lunged at Jackson before he could make it to me, grabbing hold of his shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I yelled, tossing the bar to him to defend himself, not wanting to lose my ground at the doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson grabbed the bar out of the air and swung wildly at what appeared to have been a woman grabbing at him; the bar landed across her forearms and splintered the bones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Blood sprayed his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jackson let go of the bar out of fear, and quickly cleared the distance between him and the store. I jerked the door open, letting it swing and smack the brick wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The glass on the door cracked slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Putting it to the back of my mind, I grabbed the door handle, pulled the door close and locked it before the creatures could make it to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still out of breath and with the adrenaline pumping through my body, I said the only thing I could manage at that point. I'll never forget what I said.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">"Nice job, pussy, you dropped our only weapon!"</span></p>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147107572919736563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677654697018922037.post-12687356087819268792009-06-10T19:08:00.001-07:002009-07-05T10:47:48.787-07:00Memoirs Of The Dead<span style="font-family:arial;">Day 1<br /><br />I remember the sunlight burned my eyes as I groggily came out of the deep nap I had covertly slipped into. The house was quiet around me. I couldn't hear my parents upstairs, but then again the basement ceiling muffled most of the sounds from the house anyway. I felt like lying back down and napping another eight hours, but I needed to piss and was hungry. I was hoping my mom had breakfast made for me because I sure as hell didn't plan on making anything. I was always lazy like that. I fumbled my way up the stairs to see what the day had in store. If only I had known it was going to be the day my life was going to change forever I would have put on clean underwear.<br /><br />I entered the kitchen; I couldn't hear anything going on in the house. I looked through the kitchen for something to eat. The fridge was sparse with nothing but condiments. I checked the pantry, followed by the cabinets with nothing to show. Getting fucking annoyed at the fact there was nothing to eat and my stomach was empty, I called out to my parents. Nothing. There was no movement and no sound. I called a few more times with the same empty response. I figured my parents must be at the store getting food, so I searched for a note. After looking in the usual places, I came up empty-handed with no idea where my parents were. I remember giving them a few, quick rings on their cell phone, but when that failed, I gave up and plopped myself in front of the TV.<br /><br />I had been watching TV for what was close to 3 hours before my still empty stomach began to rumble again. Since I had been sitting there, starving with no idea where parents were hours, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I decided to head the dollar store down the road. I would've taken my car, but I hadn't had it running since high school. So I had a 10 minute walk instead of a 2 minute ride, but life has got a funny way of fucking you before you even know it.<br /><br />The streets seemed quieter than usual as I strolled down to the store. No birds chirping, no bugs buzzing. Nothing. The walk seemed eerie even for the middle of the day. I felt my flesh chill and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I sped my pace. I remember looking for some sign of civilization to calm my racing heart. I felt like a child awake in the middle of the night, staring nervously at an open closet, waiting for the beast within to appear in some hellish manner. The suburban road felt abandoned, and the houses along the road felt haunted as if I could sense something watching my every movement through the darkened windows. As I rounded the corner of the intersection, I could see the Dollar symbol on the store and it immediately calmed my anxiety.<br /><br />Closing the distance to the store, the windows seemed darker than usual. I racked my brain thinking whether there was a holiday that could've kept the store closed but drew a blank and continued to make my way to the entrance. A few hundred feet from the store, I could see a mysterious shape on the glass doors. A blob of some sort like someone had thrown black paint against it. The closer I got to the doors, the more the blob began to change colors before my eyes from black to red. Within a hundred feet of the store, I could see that is wasn't a blob at all; instead it looked as though it was the smear from a bloody hand or some other injured body part. I froze dead in my tracks, unable to comprehend why there would be blood on the store front doors. I looked around, noticing the parking lot around me was empty. Had someone been hurt? A quick flash in the corner of my eye snatched me from my thoughts. Fucking Movement! I thought there may have been something moving inside the store. I waited in dead silence. Terror was building in the back of my head. Tunnel vision set in. Gooseflesh overtook my skin again.<br /><br />So many thoughts were running through my head at that point I couldn't even comprehend what I should do. My mind became overwhelmed with curiosity and I began to inch closer to the store. My eyes darted back and forth from the blood on door to the blackness inside. Another flash in the corner of my eye, and I was sure I had seen movement. I was now within 50 feet of the store. I peered hard into the dark abyss of the store. My heart thumped hard in my ears, and I forced my eyes to focus. A silhouette appeared from the darkness.</span>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147107572919736563noreply@blogger.com0