Surviving This Life (3 page)

“Go check her for keys,” Liv encourages me.

I nod my head and try not to dance towards the Range Rover praying there are keys inside. I lean towards the window and almost scream with joy.

“Keys Liv! Keys!!” I chime.

“No way! Really?” she says trying to peer through the window herself to confirm.

Liv opens the driver side door and looks inside while I walk around to the passenger side. I can’t help but smile at the feeling of the seats under my hands as I rub them before I sit down. When I look in the backseat my heart hits my feet.

“Oh my gosh, Liv! Backseat!” I slap at her arm to get her attention.

She peers around the side of the driver seat and her eyes goes wide as she sees exactly what I see.

“I… Is she alive?” Liv whispers.

“I...hope. You check.” I shake my head and back out of the car holding my hands up in surrender.

She lets out a heavy sign. “Fine.”

She slowly opens the driver side back door and leans in close to the small child that is curled up in the back seat. I watch as she gently shakes her. The little girl springs up quickly looking around with a look of pure horror on her face.

“Who….who are you? Please don’t hurt me.”

Liv gives the little girl a gentle smile. “I’m not going to hurt you. My name is Olivia but my friends call me Liv. What’s your name?” She kindly asks.

“My mommy says don’t talk to strangers,” she pouts.

“Where is your mommy?” Liv ask sweetly and looks around expecting to find her in the car too.

"She tried to bite me even when she knows biting gets you a timeout. I tried to tell her to stop, that it wasn't nice b..but she didn't listen so I ran. Am I going to be in trouble?" she cries.

Liv looks at me then back to the blue eyed blonde haired little girl. “No baby you are not in trouble. Where were you when your mommy tried to bite you?”

“M…My house. What was wrong with my mommy?”

“Umm…” She looks to me for help explaining.

I shrug my shoulders, what do you tell a kid about what is going on in the world around you when you’re not even sure yourself? I look around us checking for flesh eaters and turn my attention back to the little girl in the backseat.

“How old are you sweetie?” I ask.

“I am five,” she shyly says.

“Wow you are a smart girl for five. You did the right thing to run. Your mommy is ….sick. And she sent us to look after you but she forgot to tell us your name,” Liv says.

She looks between the two of us and I nod my head smiling.

“Em...Emily Brooke King,” she says smiling.

“That’s a very pretty name. Would you like to go with us Emily?” Liv asks.

She doesn’t say anything just nods her head yes.

We climb in the range rover. Liv looks over at me and smiles.

“This is awesome! I have always wanted one of these and I know you have too.” She is rubbing her hands along the wheel like its precious gold or something. I don’t blame her though, I would do the same thing if I was behind the wheel.
Stupid arm
!

Just then we hear shrieking and piercing screams coming from behind us. We quickly look over our shoulders and out of the back glass to see the mass of people that was in the waiting room of the hospital are now spilling out into the parking lot with flesh eaters fast on their heels. 
Where did they come from? There wasn’t any in there when we walked in.
Then it hits me.

“OH MY GOD LIV!”

She looks at me.

“It’s the bites! The bites will turn you!” I am shocked that that is actually true. This shit is only supposed to be in movies right?

Just then a loud bang on the back glass of the Range Rover grabs our attention. Emily screams out.

“Quick close y’alls doors!” Liv screams as we scramble to close the doors, but little Emily is having trouble with hers.

“It’s…too…heavy,” she says as she is pulling with all her little might. Just then the flesh eater stumbles its way around the car to find Emily’s open door. It surges forward and its upper body falls on the seat with Emily. She jumps back and pushes herself all the way against the opposite door screaming as the flesh eater scratches at the seats trying to claw its way to her. His moans and Emily’s screams fill the car.

“HELP ME!!! PLEASE!” she begs. Before I can think about doing anything Liv is already out of the car and yanking the flesh eater back away from Emily and out of the car. She throws him to the ground and takes her foot and smashes it in his temple. His moans instantly quiet. She slams Emily’s door shut and jumps in the front seat quickly closing her door as well.

“Are you ok?” Liv asks as she looks back at the terrified little girl.

Tears rolling down her little round cheeks. “Y… You saved me,” she whimpers out.

Liv surprises me by reaching back and taking the girl’s small hand in hers. “I will always save you. You are safe now,” she says as she gently squeezes the tiny hand.

Liv has never been the mushy type of girl. I have never seen her act like this toward any child. She usually tries to stay away from them and avoid them completely. I wonder what it is about Emily that makes her different. I give Emily a reassuring smile.

“She’s right. She will always keep you safe. She has saved me more times than I can count. You are safe with us Emily I hope you believe that,” I say sweetly.

“I do,” she says and jumps up wrapping her arms around Liv’s neck. “Thank you Liv!” she squeals in delight. Her little singsong voice bounces off every window in the car causing a smile to spread over my face.

Liv wraps her arms around Emily and gives her a quick hug. “You’re welcome. Now sit back and buckle up this is going to be a bumpy ride,” she says as she cranks the car and it purrs to life.

Chapter Four

Olivia

As I back out of the parking lot I see Emily looking up at me with such admiration in her eyes. I don’t know what it is about that little girl that makes me feel so protective. I hate kids. But there is something about her big blue eyes and bouncing blonde curls that just steal my heart. I will protect her with every ounce of my being.

“Hold on,” I say as I run down two flesh eaters and merge onto the highway. We are instantly stopped by a line of cars honking, their horns demanding to move forward.

“What the hell?” Wil barks.

“I don’t know, but we ain’t getting to Devin this way,” I say turning around and going in the opposite direction. Lucky for us there are like three different back ways from here to get to Devin and Tony’s apartment building.

About two miles down the road we come to a small store. Gas and Smokes, the old faded out sign above the building says. I pull in and park next to the gas pumps. The Range Rover has a half a tank, but who knows when the next time we will be able to get gas is.

“Stay here both of you.” I look at Wil and Emily. They both nod.

I get out and quickly open the gas tank lid. I grab the gas pump and shove it in praying there will be gas in it. To my surprise there is and I quickly fill up the tank and the reserve tank. I open the car door and ask, “Do y’all want anything?”

“Some water,” Wil says.

I look back at Emily. “And for you little lady?” I ask.

She looks at me shyly. “I don’t have any money. I don’t get my allowance until Fridays.”

“I got it baby. I told you I would take care of you,” I smile then look back at Willow.

“Keep the doors closed and locked. DO NOT under any circumstances open these doors until I came back out.” She nods her head yes. I punch the lock button and make my way inside the store.

As soon as I walk in the smell of stale cigarettes fills my nostrils. The floors are old hardwood that don’t look like they have been polished or kept up in years. The fluorescent light blinks on and off above my head making a buzzing sound as it does so. It gives this place an even more creepy feeling.

“Hello?” I call out. “Anyone here?” I wait. No answer. I make my way down the long crooked aisles, looking for any sign of life.

“Hello??” I call out again. Still no response. 
Hum.. that’s odd.
I turn and look at the sign on the door and it clearly says open in big, glowing, orange, flashing letters. I shake my head and turn back to focus on the items on the aisle. I see a small backpack on one of the racks with the Alabama state flag on it. I pick it up and look at the price tag. $12.99.
Not too bad.
I decide to get it. Maybe it will come in handy. I finish walking down that aisle and turn to go down the next one when I hear the distinct moan that I have just recently become familiar with.
A flesh eater.

“Shit!” I turn around just as he is about to attack. I jump out of the way and he stumbles forward. I catch a glimpse of the name tag on his shirt. ‘Rick, Gas and Smokes’.
Well no need to pay for my things.
I’d almost laugh at that thought if I wasn’t trying to not get eaten. He lunges forward again and I sweep under his arm and around behind him. I snag a bag of Doritos as I do so and shove them in my bag. I rush back to the freezers and throw in several bottles of water and a couple Mountain Dews. He is hot on my tail again and surges forward to bite my shoulder blade. I elbow him in the head and he staggers backwards some, just enough for me to move out from around him and head down another aisle. This is the candy aisle.
Yum
. I empty the whole box of Reeses in my bag.
This thing is getting full.
Rick’s moans pull me out of my thoughts as I feel his breathe on the back of my neck.

“HOLY FUCK!” I scream as I dash forward making him face plant on the worn out hardwood floor.

I sprint down the last aisle throwing anything and everything I can see that is edible into the bag. Once I am done I hear not one but two sets of dragging footsteps behind me.
Fucking shit! Where do they keep coming from?
I quickly glance over my shoulder and see that Rick is now joined with a mangled up older man who has half of his face eaten off. If I wasn’t so terrified I would take a selfie with that man.

They are both closing in on me and I am almost out of places to turn to. I ease my way back until I feel the frigid glass door of the freezer behind me. I survey my surroundings and what is closest to me.
Bingo!
I spot a wooden baseball bat hanging over the flashing Bud Lite sign on the wall. I stretch my arm up and yank it down along with the sign that shatters when it hits the floor.

Rick lunges for me and I swing the bat forward connecting it with his lower jaw. He sinks to the floor grabbing for my pant legs trying to pull my leg into his mouth. I rear back and slam the bat into the back of his head. Again and again until I no longer feel him pulling on my leg, blood and brain matter dripping off of the tip of the bat. Creepy cool guy with half a face comes to try me next. Feeling full of confidence with my new best friend Mr. Bat, I wait until he gets an arm reach away from me then I swing with all of my might.
CRACK!
Mr. Bat smashes into the mangled mess that is his head. Down he falls. I stand over him ready to release another blow but he doesn’t move. I listen close but don’t hear his moaning. I smile.
Took him down with one hit.
I swing Mr. Bat around in circles and make a few Karate noises. I straighten the backpack on my shoulders and walk back to the car with my head held high and a cocky smirk plastered on my face.

I lightly tap on the window to get Wil’s attention to let me in. She jumps and looks over at the window. I mouth “Open.” And point down to the door. She hits her unlock button and I climb in tossing the backpack her way.

“Holy sh…” Wil covers her mouth stopping mid word and looking in the back seat. “How did you get all this?”

“I killed Rick,” I shrug reaching over to Willow, taking a Mountain Dew from the bag and chugging half of it down. Killing Eaters really makes you thirsty.

“I would say poor Rick but these Doritos look really good,” Wil says ripping open the bag and popping a chip in her mouth.

I laugh. “In my defense he tried to kill me first, or devour me like you are those chips,” I laugh.

“Well good thing it was him and not my chips, want some Emily?” she asks holding the bag behind her so Emily can reach them.

“Yeah! I love Doritos,” she says taking a hand full and shoving them in her mouth and chomping down on them barely getting them chewed before she swallows and then grabs another handful to repeat the process.

“Slow down there Em before you choke,” I laugh.

She blushes and mumbles “Sorry.”

“It’s ok. When is the last time you ate?”

She taps her finger against her temple, “Umm….” She shrugs her shoulders. “I dunno. Mommy usually feeds me before bedtime but she was sleeping on the bathroom floor. She didn’t even get to finish her shot the doctor man from down the street gave her before she went to sleep, it was still in her arm.”

I look over to Wil and give her that did-she-really-just-say-that look. Wil nods her head and looks back out the window not knowing what to say to Emily. I think that we both want to give her the best life possible now that she is with us even if there are people trying to eat us.

“O...Okay. Well eat all you want to sweetheart but be careful,” I say as I snag the bag from Wil and hand it to Emily. “I think she needs those more than you at the moment.” I smile at Wil hoping she doesn’t mind.

“Yeah she does.” She agrees and smiles.

I start the car and slowly pull away with Mr. Bat tucked safely between my seat and the console.

We drive down the long stretched out back road for what seems like hours but in reality it has only been about twenty minutes. Up ahead I see someone waving their hands in the air running toward our car. As I round the curve I can see clearly why she is running. A pack of flesh eaters are coming straight for her. I slam on the breaks and roll down my window.

“GET IN!” I scream. She has no problem obeying. She yanks the back door open and jumps in slamming the door closed and locking it. I peel out of there just as the first flesh eater makes it to the hood of the car.

“Wow….Th...Thanks,” she says clearly out of breath.

“No problem. What’s your name?” I ask.

“Tara,” she says extending her hand up between the seats.

I quickly shake it then return my hand back to the wheel. “I’m Olivia and this is Willow and back there beside you is Emily,” I say.

She looks over at Emily and smiles. “Hey there Emily. How old are you?” she asks.

“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers,” Emily says turning her attention to look out of the window.

Tara laughs. “Smart little girl you got back here Olivia.”

“Yes she is,” I agree.

“So where are y’all headed?” she asks looking from me to Willow.

“Clemmons,” I reply.

“That place ain’t safe!” she burst out.

“Wh..What do you mean it’s not safe?” I question.

“That’s where I am coming from. Those Biters are everywhere!” she exclaims.

“That is where my boyfriend is!” Wil says panicked.

I reach over and take Wil’s hand. “Don’t worry Dev is smart he will be in a safe place.”
I hope.

“Drive faster Liv,” she says rocking back and forth in her seat, in complete panic mode.

I stomp on the gas urging the car forward. I am going well over ninety and this road still doesn’t seem like it will never end.

Tara puts her arm on Wil’s shoulder. “Calm down sweetheart I am sure everything will be ok.”

“How much farther?” Willow asks ignoring Tara all together.

“Not much longer, maybe another couple miles,” I say stomping down on the gas petal.

A sigh of relief escapes me when the town finally comes into view. It’s a small town with old houses lining each side of the road. With each mile down the road it seems like the houses get bigger and the trees get smaller, most cutting them down completely to make room for their yards. An old store building sits at the end of one of the roads with the white paint chipping off the outside. The spiral stairs leading up to the roof top balcony look like the slightest pressure put on them and they would come crumbling down. There is a small chain link fence that surrounds the property with a sign out front that tells the history of the store.

Wil and I had stopped by one day on a trip to see Devin and Tony and learned that the store was the first thing to be built in the small town back in 1895. This was one of the first western towns in the south. So the town worked hard to keep the store when others wanted to tear it down and build houses.

There are flesh eaters walking all around the yards. One woman is in what looks like a cafe uniform with her apron still tied around her waist. Her left arm is missing and the bottom of her jaw looks like someone ripped it off. I cringe at the sight and pray Emily is sleeping. Their attention turns towards us as we drive down the road and I can hear their excited moans as they head towards us.

I can see Devin’s small apartment building coming in to view and I try not to go faster than I already am with Emily in the car. As we pull into the parking lot of the apartments a flesh eater walks in front of the Range Rover and I step on the gas to make sure he doesn't slow us down. He hits the front of the Range Rover and Wil screams when his head hits the hood and it looks like someone slammed a watermelon on pavement. Blood and brains fly all over the windshield, I turn on the wipers and try spraying the window and it makes it worse.  I pull straight up on the grass trying to make it easier to get to Devin’s apartment. The less time we are out in the open the better. I shove it up in park and kill the ignition.

“Em are you ready? You are going to have to move fast and if anything scares you just close your eyes. We will be holding your hand the whole time okay?” I ask her.

“O..kay,” Emily says.

“Ready?” I ask both Willow and Tara.

“I think so,” Willow nervously agrees.

“I..I am just going to stay in here. I don’t like the idea of being out in the open with them,” Tara backs out.

I shrug my shoulders. “Fine but when you see us coming you unlock the doors and quick! You got it?” I ask in a demanding tone.

“Okay, I got it.” She nods her head in agreement.

I grab Mr. Bat. “On the count of three. ONE… TWO...THREE!” I scream and fling the door open knocking the few flesh eaters that are closest to me to the ground.

“Wil grab Emily’s hand and run!” I scream.

“GOT HER ALREADY!”

I make my way around the car and jump in front of Wil and Em as a small pack of flesh eaters make their way to them. I quickly knock a path through them and we rush into the breezeway of the apartment building. I see one lone flesh eater with its back toward me.

“Hey meat head!” I yell at him.

He slowly turns around. His plaid button down shirt hanging off of his clearly broken arm. His head is down and I can see his blood matted brown hair. He slowly raises his head. And even with the huge chunk taken out of his cheek I could recognize him anywhere. I gasp.