January 1, 2012

I am a survivor of Reardan, a town in Eastern Washington. There are only 50 of us, all that remain of the town. We have shelter, food, and water. 4 years ago, the dead came back from their graves and sleep to plague us. Many fought, more succumed to the inevitable...

The message plays as I reach around the console of the radio station in Spokane. I set it up to loop endlessly that day, just 3 weeks ago. "When are we done," questions a voice on my walkie-talkie, "Ashley's got jambalyla on the pot tonight." "All right, just got done," I say as I shut the door carefully behind me, "Coming out Scott!" The sun is momentarily blinding as I get on my red shades.

A paper bin sits half filled with old newspaper, and the picture of Hillary for '08 brings back memories. They usually are bad, full of screaming, thrashing terror and hurried footsteps. My mind is jarred back to reality by the appearance of the van, filled with food, ammo and racks of weapons. The door is thrown open as I climb in, and then we are off. I notice that the gas tank is running a little low, so I have Scott start to pull off the on ramp and to the Shell station next to the ramp.

As I get the pumps going, a noise disturbs the silence as the bell ironicly sounds out its pleasant DING DONG sound and a man tackles me to the ground. I look up at his face, and recoil as a sunken and putrid eye stares at me with longing. He begins to strike at my now exposed neck when a soft clunk sounds, and the zombie drops suddenly with a hatchet in his skull. I scramble up as Scott wipes off the handle.

"Thanks for the save," I mutter as I berate myself for distracting myself from the here and now. "I was thinking about the past." Scott nodded as we got in the van and drove back to the Farm. The gate opens as armed guards and AI operated napalm turrets tracked the van, and the People crowded the driveway. As we are getting out, Scott is almost bowled over by my dogs, Buster and Shiver. "Hey, you miss me?" The dogs just licked his face and scampered off.