Respect the Dead. Shawn McLain
well he never got it!” She shot back angrily. “And even if he did it is none of your business!”
“That only made him try harder” Steve huffed. “And it is my business I’m your BIG Brother.” He straightened up to emphasize his height. She laughed at the gesture.
“You…Um I can trust you and Wes right?” Steve asked
“What do you mean?” She set her book aside staring questioningly at her brother.
“I mean the more you… You and Wes have known each other forever… and you decide that he’s the one. But believe me sis. I mean Wes is great and all but he may not be the guy for you for forever and…I just don’t um think you should.”
“NO!” She cut in “not that, which again is none of your business, I…yes you can trust us. Not that you have any authority.” This was getting weird. "I am not discussing this with my brother."
Steve began to turn toward his room, "I'm suppose to protect you. You know that right?"
She rolled her eyes. "You've never been too good at that."
"Oh please I only lost you what...three times?" He laughed.
"Four." She replied "and I am not a kid anymore, so you don't have to try to play big brother. Try taking care of yourself."
"I'm doing fine and I think you guys are good together." He smirked.
"Ans why is that?" She waited for it.
"Because he is a total nerd. Just like you." There it was.
“I am not a nerd! Neither is he!” She shouted. "We are geeks."
“Steven! You’re going to be late for work!” Yelled their Father. “And since you’re not going to college you need this job.”
“Don’t start Dad! I’ll go next year.” Steve grumbled.
“Great! So I can have two of you at school at the same time! Thanks for that. ”
“I thought you wanted me to stay home today?” Steve responded
“That was before you started to fight with your sister.” Their father sighed.
“We’re not fighting!” Steve and Beth both called. Then they started to laugh.
“We’ll talk when I get home.” Steve eyed his sister.
“Like I have to wait that long. You’ll call me on your lunch break. Get a girlfriend, loser!” She laughed.
“Love ya sis. Maybe I can set up a Lord of the Rings, Star Wars date for you and Wes.” he laughed and ducked out of the doorway as another pillow flew at him.
“Only if you play Dungeons and Dragons with us afterwards!” He heard her yell. “I know where you keep your twelve sided dice!”
The smile that had played on her lips slowly slid off as she picked up her book. Finding her page she stared but couldn’t start to read. Why did she date Corey and not Wes? She always told herself it was because Wes never tried to move forward. She guessed it was easier to convince herself that he just wanted to be friends. How had she missed it? Was she really that shallow?
What is Going On?
The group had already surrounded the cabin, with more coming out of the woods. John loaded his shot gun and watched as they closed in. He heard their thumping shuffles on the wooden porch. Spying through a gap in the dusty blinds he noted that the main group continued past the tiny house along the wood line. John slowly inched his way back from the window. A cool breeze stirred the dust in the room.
Finger nails scrapped across the old metal screens. He readied the gun, aiming at the open window. There was a thump on the door followed by another. A slow pounding started on a window and the continued scraping on the screen had John aiming from door to windows. He backed further and further into his room. The curtains rustled in the breeze, causing John to spin back toward the open window.
The breeze brought with it a foul stench of decay into the room. A ragged finger was caught in one of the holes in the screen. As it was withdrawn green grey skin peeled off. Flies buzzed in through the hole as they crawled off the ragged flesh. Several pieces of skin clung to the barred metal. John blew out the breath he was holding. Metal screeched as the screen tore open. The hand the finger was attached to slid into the room. Sheets of flesh tore off while reaching in. Gagging on the stench and disgust John’s mind filled with terror. Rushing forward in panic and desperation he slammed the window with all his might. The hand broke free from its owner flopping uselessly to the floor. The pounding on the windows and door increased.
Surveying the hand, John smiled. His relief was short lived as a window cracked. He waited for a moment, but the window held. He hurried down to the cellar. Returning with a small rifle and hand gun as well as several boards and a hammer. He hastily barricaded the door and windows. Grabbing boxes of shotgun shells and .22 bullets out of the closet he loaded the guns to capacity. Shoving the barrel of the shot gun to the broken pane he waited until one of them pressed their face against the glass.
Suddenly the air was filled with exploding flesh and the smell of gunpowder.
This is Not Going Well
“Dammit!” Wes grunted as he perused several websites advertising tires. Even the cheapest set was more than he could afford.
"Honey I need your help please." His mother called form the living room. Wes wearily walked over to the couch to check on Reg. He was pale and sweaty. “Can you make some more tea please?” She asked.
Wes watched from the kitchen. His mother was attempting to get Reg to drink something. Wes hurried back the his mother's side handing her the warm beverage.
“Reg, honey, try to drink this. It will make you feel better.”
“My head….hurts so bad….” Reg moaned.
Wes ran to the bathroom to grab a bottle of aspirin. Shaking several bottles on the counter and floor, he found they were all empty. Frustrated he ran a wash cloth under some cold water. He found his mother on the phone, tears in her eyes. “I’m on hold It. The recording says the wait time is 2 hours!” Say cried hanging up. Tears spilled onto her cheeks. She swiped them away trying not to let Wes see. He pretended not to notice while he knelt down next to Reg.
“I’m sorry, we are out of aspirin." We explained placing the cloth on Reg's sweat soaked forehead. "I will run out to get some later.” Wes covered his nose as he pretending to scratch, Reg’s putrid breath turned his stomach. Reg’s skin was like marble, grey and white hanging slacked on his face, his lips were white and chapped. A shudder ran through Wes as he felt the cold hand of his Stepfather take his hand.
“I’m ok,” his words barley a whisper, “you shouldn’t try to go anywhere.”
“Unbelievable!” Wes turned to see his mother’s look of anxiety and anger. “How can I get an ambulance if I can’t even get someone on the phone for several hours?”
Wes remembered the news and his talk with Beth. Looking from his mother to his stepfather he made his way to the kitchen. Standing next to his mother he turned his back to Reg. “I heard this morning… they said there is no room in the emergency rooms so we can’t take him there. The Hosptials are all full. ” He whispered.
“So what do we do?” She whimpered.
Their whispered conversation was instantly cut short when Reg sat up. They waited but he simply moaned and lay back down on the couch. “My stomach…so hungry.” He groaned.
“I’ll make you some soup.” Wes’ mother perked up. “He hasn’t eaten since he got sick.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Wes asked.
“No honey, I…no that's ok.” She patted him on the arm