Surviving The Dead: Heartland Zombie Apocalypse Vol. 1 (30 page)

Zephram back handed Malta again, “Keep your trap shut.  These bodies are going to stink.  Get busy digging girl.”

Malta was in a pit of despair.  The horrors inflicted upon her the past couple of weeks were far worse than dying at the snapping jaws of the creepers.  At least that would be quick, this torment just went on and on.  Her wrists and ankles were raw from the hours she was kept tied up.  Her face covered in bruises from the slaps and punches this madman would throw if she displeased him.  The worst part was when he raped her, and that happened a number of times each day, he liked to bite and pinch her, so that her breasts and buttocks were swollen with bruises.

A week ago he thought he had the bracket complete, but it was too flimsy to stand up to the running chainsaw and the bracket fell to pieces in moments.  The following two days Zephram took out his frustration and anger in an even more frightful and perverse manner.  Malta first feared then prayed that she wouldn't survive.

This day Zephram believed he had a bracket sturdy enough for the job.  Since Malta was nearly comatose from the repeated abuse, Zephram only bound her hands and attached a tether around her neck.  Malta came to enough to realize she could move about a bit and by standing on the bunk she could wrap the lead going to her neck around a coat hook.

“I'm coming Kip.”, Malta stated simply and stepped off the bunk snapping her neck.

A while later Zephram came in and this time when he tried starting the camper it fired on the third attempt.

Zephram went back to Malta, “Time for a little celebration now girly.  Ah shit why'd you wanna go and do a fool thing like that.”

For a moment the idea of having his way with the chomper hanging from the coat hook appealed to him.

“Don't be a damn fool.  You cannot be that hard up.  We'll get out of here and soon enough we'll have cooze to spare.”

“Yeah you may be right.”

With the maps he found in the camper he had a fair idea where to go.  The one problem he had was the compound was a ways from the main road and Joyce had the directions for that last bit.  No matter he would be able to get close and figure it out from there.

By early evening all was ready for the ceremony.  As everyone arrived and began taking their seats Cynthia took one final look and was pleased with what she saw.  The men had put up a raised platform near the lake.  The lattice work on either side was covered in wild flowers.  Pastor Jim was already on the platform and Mac, Tobin's best man, and Tobin were waiting off to the side. 

Cynthia was insistent that Tobin and Crystal not see each other before the service started so Crystal and Amy were secreted behind a screened enclosure.  Percy was giving Crystal away and was standing proud in his dress uniform.  Mae was seated in the front with Ivy and her girls.

Cynthia thought back to her own wedding day and began to tear up as she thought of Myles, “None of that now this is Crystal's happy day.”, Cynthia said to herself.

Lup and Juan were seated on either side of Sue Anne.  Lup was a bit fidgety not accustomed to wearing a suit and tie.  Lup worked his finger around the collar of his shirt trying to make it less confining, “Are you sure its necessary to be all gussied up like this.  Look that kid's wearin jeans and a T shirt.”

“Lupton you look very nice.  You are a squad leader now, you need to set an example.”, Sue Anne admonished.

“Co-squad leader”, Juan corrected.

“Don't mind him Susie-Q, he just ain't one for sharin.  Sue did you ever dream that a month ago, when we was holed up in that cafeteria.  That we would be sittin at a wedding, all duded up, without a care in the world.”, Lup said.

Sue Anne shook her head, “To be honest this feels like the dream and I'm afraid I'm going to wake up and be back in that nightmare.”

“Don't fret none there ma'am me and Juan is on the case, we ain't never goin back to them days.  Kearney is going to be a bit of a trick, but we are pickin away at it.”

Hazel came with Doc Linderman and like Lup she had exchanged the comfort of her buckskins for a fancy dress.  Hazel and Doc were seated near the back since Krista was the flower girl and Hazel wanted to make sure Krista got started off OK.

Hazel leaned towards Doc, “You know Doc the lake reminds me a bit of my wedding to Clay.  I can understand why Crystal chose this it is very picturesque with the moon reflecting off the water.  The Algonquin would call that a harvest moon.”

“Is that so, well the full moon will help light the reception tonight.”, replied Doc.

Aaron Eckles was the music instructor at Lexington High.  At a signal from Cynthia he began playing the music to accompany the wedding party, on the old piano dragged from the community room.  The piano was a bit out of tune, but that was of little consequence.  As Crystal took Percy's arm in preparation to head down the aisle, Aaron switched to the traditional 9
th
symphony.

“All rise”, Pastor Jim called out.

Everyone turned to see the radiant and smiling bride to be.  When they reached Tobin, Percy placed Crystal's hand in Tobin's. 

As Percy sat down next to Mae, Pastor Jim began, “Dearly Beloved we are gathered here....”