Empty-Headed (Part 2)

Chapter 2

Evelyn stood at the far edge of the little community they'd formed, peering through a crack in the fence. Her eyes spoke volumes of what was going on in her mind. A deep, cloudy blue that lay heavy from the purple circles underneath them. It was clear that sleep was not a friend to her. It had been hours since her husband had left on a supply run. She begged him not to go, knowing full well he wouldn't find much of anything. Yet, he insisted. It was true that they were running incredibly low on everything. Their food supply was almost shot and medical supplies were running out too. If it wasn't for the few scrapes and bruises that happened throughout a general day, it also seemed like someone might have been taking things from the med closet.

Although their numbers were small and everyone was fairly familiar with one another, there was an obvious distrust among certain members of the group. Suspicions were rising and tensions were high. It was hard to say how much longer the peace would last...

At least if Argus was there, she didn't have to worry. It had been a terrible path they walked these last few months, but when he was near, it made the burden a little easier to carry. Now, though, her heart was heavier than ever.The sun had set hours ago. On all of the supply runs he'd gone on, it never seemed to take him this long to return. A chill ran up her spine as she thought of what could have happened. Had he been attacked? What if Smith turned on him? Evee had always had her suspicions of the man. She knew he was hiding something and was almost certain that there wasn't something quite right in his head...Who knew what he would do if he snapped? Argus always brushed her concerns to the side, though. He'd tell her she was just looking for someone to blame for her own anger. Even so, if that were truly the case, it seemed that Smith was the man she'd take it out on.

Sighing, she leaned her head gently against the old wood and then inhaled deeply, trying to steady her own breath.

"Still out here?" The man's voice shook her from her thoughts. Looking to him, she immediately recognized the older fellow. His name was Jim and he was the oldest resident of their small town, yet that didn't stop him from pulling his weight to help. She shook her head,

"Can't sleep, Jim."

Jim's brow furrowed and he sighed softly, adjusting the rifle he carried over his shoulder. The fence was only a barrier and it wouldn't last long against an attack. Everyone took turns keeping watch over the area. That way, they could prepare if something big were to come their way. Tonight, it was Jim's turn. "Listen, Evelyn, standing out here and waiting is just gonna make you more upset. Argus is fine. This isn't the first time a run has taken him a bit."

She didn't know if she agreed with him and it was obvious in the way she looked away, shaking her head slowly, "I don't know.. I feel like this is different. Something's not right."

"Wait, what is that?" Suddenly, something caught her eye. In the distance, three forms drew near, hobbling at an unsteady gait. A flash of terror raced through her. What if it was one of those things? The biters? There was something odd in the way they moved. It didn't seem quite right.

"Shit!" Jim spat under his breath and brought the rifle up to his shoulder, "Stay back, Ev." He lowered his eye to the sight and steadied his aim.

"Wait!" She cried out, "Wait! It's them! They're back!" All terror vanished instantly and she rushed toward the gate, her legs couldn't carry her fast enough. Jim was following as fast as he could, though being quite a few years older, it took him an extra minute or so before he was there. Anxiously, she removed the plank that served as a lock and watched as Jim unlocked the padlocks also.

In an instant, she was rushing out the open gate and to the three arrivals.

"Argus!" She cried, "What happened?"

Upon reaching them, she found the reason why they moved so slowly. Between Smith and a woman she had never seen before, Argus walked slowly. He was being held up and there was obviously something wrong with his foot. Though, when he heard the frantic sounds of his wife's voice, he looked up to her with a weak smirk, "I'm alright, I'm alright. Just took a bad fall."

Addie and Smith stepped back as Evelyn fell in place next to Argus, taking her husband under arm and helping him back into the camp, "We'll get you patched up right away."

The two lingered, watching as the woman worried over her husband. Maybe in another time, it would have seemed so silly that she acted this way over a possible broken ankle. Yet, something about the whole situation made tears spring from the back of Addie's eyes. She blinked a few times and ran a hand through the hair of the young one strapped to her chest. Smith touched her shoulder lightly, "Come on, I'll show you around."

Jim watched as they all shuffled through the gates, then made sure to secure them again once everyone was in. He was a bit shaken, having almost shot at some of their own men. Yet, it was a relief that they'd returned in, more or less, good shape. As they moved further away, he turned and resumed his post on the wall. It was not quite morning, after all, so the job was not yet done.

*****

It was a relief to be back in their own little makeshift home of boarded up windows. In only a way that she could, his wife had transformed their dismal surroundings into a place of serenity. Photos had been tacked to the walls and spare cloth in different colors had been draped across their low ceiling. There was a dreamlike quality to the place. She'd really outdone herself with what she had. Argus sat with his head resting gingerly against the wall, a small smile creeping over the corners of his lips as Evelyn inspected his swollen ankle. With every poke and prod, he winced, but couldn't help but to feel ultimately relaxed. Under her soft touch, he was the happiest man in the world.

"Well, I think you're in luck... It doesn't seem to be broken. Probably a bad sprain, though. You might have to keep off of it for a few days..."

"Is that honest advice or is that just what you want me to do?" Argus looked to his wife curiously. While he joked, he trusted her word fullheartedly. Before the world had taken a change for the worse, Evelyn had been quite the proficient nurse.Endlessly, she'd slaved day in and day out at the local hospital in which she worked. Local being about forty minutes drive from their current location. Out of the handful of people in their "village", she had the most knowledge when it came to these things. He'd trust no one's judgement more than hers.

"Honestly, it's for the best that way..." She grabbed up their own small first aid kit and pulled out an ace bandage, "This'll help keep you steady. You just need to take a load off for a bit..." She wrapped his ankle and then crawled up to lay next to him. Laying her head upon his shoulder, the next time she spoke, it was barely above a whisper, "I was almost sure this was it..."

Leaning his head against hers, he lowered his voice to match her tone, "You worry too much..."

Night took over them easily. Evelyn fell asleep against her husband's hard chest. To be near him again was all that she could ask for... It was all she needed.

*******

By the end of the week, they were fully into the swing of fall. The leaves on the trees had been changing colors for a while and ,now, they lay strewn about their little tent city in a carpet of reds and golds. It was hard to say how long the world had been different, although it had been this way since early spring. Several months had gone by.

The next few days passed uneventfully. The small group had welcomed Addie into their community and the few women there found a special joy in passing baby Hope from one to the other. A lot of them had lost someone whether it be their own child or grandchild. To be able to cradle her smiling form in their arms and hold her tight was a blessing for most. Argus had thought maybe his wife would have liked to take a turn, but Evelyn only seemed to reject the idea. Yes, the loss had been hard, but it had completely transformed the woman he once knew.

Though he hobbled about, Argus could make his way around the place. Much to his dismay and Evelyn's delight, he'd been overruled in his persistance to go on the next journey into town which would be taking place early in the next week.This group was heading a little further, going into the next town over. It was a journey that would take them a day or so, due to lack of motor vehicles... Argus was incredibly disappointed, to say the least. Instead, he'd been posted as a guard which gave him something to do, at least. Too much free time was something the man tried to avoid. If he couldn't distract himself, then his mind began to wander to only a few months before... And that was a topic he tried hardest to forget about.

He'd also been recruited to help reinforce some of the walls they'd built around the town. When they'd first started out, this had been his primary focus. Before all of this shit went down, he'd been somewhat of a handy-man. He worked as a freelance contractor, doing odd jobs here and there. It paid well enough for them to support their tiny family comfortably. Now, he was only greatful for the knowledge to be able to keep safe as many people as they had with them.

********

"O love is teasin'

And love is pleasin'

And love is a pleasure when first it is new.

As love grows older, it's seed grows colder

and fades away like the morning dew..."

Her voice rang out softly, quiet but strong as she rocked the small one in her arms. Addie sat in the midst of their small town, cooing tenderly to the tiny bundle before her. She'd been there for a week now, fitting in rather nicely with the small group they already had. It felt safe here. It was a nice feeling, something she hadn't known in a long while. Perhaps, they'd found their place, far away from the realm of nastiness and fear that lay outside their very walls.

A few people wandered about. A small group of older ladies carried baskets of linens, heading to do some gossiping while they mended any holes or tears. Among them was Argus's wife, Evelyn, who gave Addie a look that made her stomach sink. It was quite obvious that the woman did not like her, but she couldn't think of any reason why. Was it because her husband had saved her? If that was the case, she thought it to be pretty stupid. In fact, she should have reveled in the fact that he had any humanity left in him at all... Hugging her sleepy child, she kissed her softly on the forehead and hummed the same traditional tune.

It was remarkable how much she looked like her father. A mild pang of longing filled Addie, causing her heart to ache. If only things had gone differently. Perhaps, they'd be fighting off this strange world together... She wondered if he was even still alive or... She shook the thought off abruptly. Why waste time in the past? After all, it couldn't be changed.

Footsteps drawing nearer brought her attention back to the present. Smith was strolling her way, something bundled in his hands. Addie smiled and gave him a quizzical look. He was such an odd man. There was something about him that struck Addie, but she couldn't quite place her finger on it. He didn't let on much about himself or his own thoughts, but there was something deep in those eyes of his. She wondered what his inner battle might be... It seemed that the plague had brought out the inner demons in everyone. It was chilling to think that these very same people had once encompassed the world, walking throughout it day by day. Addie wondered what she was hiding even from herself?

"Hey," Smith's voice was friendly, even-toned, matching the smile that lit up his face, "Thought I might find you two here..." Coming up close now, he sat beside her and indicated what was bundled up in his hands, "It's a carrier. I found it on our last sweep, thought you might need it in the future." Now, Addie could see what it was; a small backpack that hooked around her front to fit the baby comfortably and securely against her. It was blue and white, with tiny giraffes and baby lions dancing up the straps, "Sorry about the color... Didn't have much of a selection."

She smiled warmly, "You didn't have to..." Smith shook his head, and she continued, "But, thank you for thinking of us."

"Sorry for the way I acted before. It's just-"

"Don't worry. It's hard to trust many people nowadays. Not to mention who wants the burden of having two more mouths to feed?" A silence fell between them for a moment in which Hope let out a contented sigh.

"She's beautiful. A lot like her mother." A coy smile etched the corner's of his lips and Addie flushed. Shaking her head, she laughed,

"She definitely doesn't get her looks from me, that's for sure." For the most part, that was true. Although, the shock of dark hair against fair skin was definitely a trait inherited from her mother. Other than that, everything else was her father's.

"What happened to him?" The question came pretty abruptly and Smith almost regretted it as soon as the words left his lips. Addie's expression grew soft and her lips drew downward as she looked awayfrom the man,

"We just grew apart. I guess this world has a way of changing people and those changes weren't something we could handle..."

Smith had to wonder on this. Really, there were many different ways to translate her statement. Did she mean that he'd been a victim of this madness or was there something deeper? He didn't know and felt that it wouldn't be right to press the matter further. Instead, he stood.

"Sorry. That was uncalled for. Hey, I'll catch ya later... I should go see when they need me for watch duty. " He gave her a small smile and waved, turning and walking away slowly.

"Thanks again!" Addie called after him, her own smile drifting back to her face as she watched him leave.

******

It was early evening. The final rays of day were shining crimson and gold, bathing their small town in a wash of glimmering light. Smith sat in his boarded up room, where he could watch the world through a tiny crack in the windows. There was a bed, but he didn't sit upon it. No, he sat with his back pressed up against it, several pill bottles scattered on the floor about him. There were also a few bottles of liquid medication as well as a half finished bottle of rum and the nasal spray he'd found earlier. Leaning his head back against the soft cushion of the mattress, he stared straight past the ceiling above him.

He'd been preparing for this for a while now. Everything premeditated. Honestly, it felt like a waste to prolong this madness. He'd come North to start over, to get clean. And then Hell opened up. This wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind. Thin, white fingers wrapped around the neck of the liquor bottle. He took a swig, smirking as the spices etched at his throat, gliding down with a smooth smokiness. What he wouldn't give for another day in the city...

So often he wondered how it was back home. Everyone Smith had ever known lived there. His mother, brother, cousins, friends... Everyone was there. Had they made it out alive? Were they trapped in their apartment just waiting for those damned things to break down the door and make them one of their own? God, what he would do just to hear his mom's voice one more time. What would she think of him now? Would she be able to forgive him? The last time he saw her, she was crying. Crying because he wasn't the son she wished he was.

"Fuck," His eyes began to sting and he rubbed at them vigourously, taking another shot. Letting out a low breath, his eyes travelled to the items on the floor in front of him. Well, at this rate, his life had been nothing more than a series of disappointments, whether to himself or to those around him. Why stop now? Actually (and he smiled to himself as he thought this), maybe this was the first time he would be coming through on something...

Picking up the first bottle, he popped open the lid casually and let a few pills fall into his hand. These he took and washed down with another swig from the rum bottle. How many times had he done something like this before? Mixed a little bit of this, a little bit of that... Just to feel something better than he felt now? Nameless times... Yet, he couldn't remember ever doing it to this degree. This was exactly the reason he left.

Now, he cracked open a bottle of the cold medicine and took a chug from that. Grimacing, he immediately picked up the rum bottle to try and combat the taste. Unfortunately, the combination was awful and he coughed harshly. If he would have been doing this the way the world used to be, everything would have tasted a bit better at least. Smith took another drink from the cough medicine and swallowed quickly, but let himself linger there. His mind was beginning to buzz. When they found the mess of his room, they'd be pissed. For a while now, he'd been collecting the various meds. Sneaking into the supply when no one was around and stealing back to his room with his "treasures".

A snort escaped him and he shook his head slowly. Ah, what did it matter? They were all going to be dead soon anyway. Who the fuck could last long in the hellhole they'd succomb to? Granted, most of the town thought they'd be safe forever in their tiny confine, but Smith could see it wasn't so. He'd been out more than most in the village, scouring the area for all the supplies necessary to keep them all alive. There was no hope. Nothing good would come from this.

He took up the nasal spray and held it to his nostril, squeezing and breathing in deeply. An immediate sneeze followed suit. Rubbing his nose, he put the bottle up again and repeated the process. Not once, but three more times, before sneezing promptly a few more harsh sneezes. A bit of blood trickled from his nose, but he didn't seem to notice. No, now he was too busy leaning his head back against the mattress once more, trying to catch his breath. A vague image flashed through his mind; a woman, cradling a small child to her.

Addie.

His heart hurt suddenly and he could hear it within his ears, rattling his ear drums. The room was spinning, he felt warm. Fumbling for the rum, he took it to his lips, spilling the liquid over him and polishing off the bottle. It burned going down, but didn't quench his thirst. Tiny pinpricks of sweat pushed the hairs on his arms up. From the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something move... One of those things?! The zombies they'd been all too terrified to name? It was there, he felt its eyes upon him, glowing through the haze that suddenly fell in the room. Launching to his feet, he grabbed the gun from beside him and ran to the door quickly.

This was it! They were here! It was the end and it was now or never!

Dashing from the room, he could hear the sounds of thousands of freaks behind him.They scratched at the walls and thudded across the wooden floors. Almost upon him, he could feel the rasps of breath over his skin; hot and tingling. He darted out of the house and into the young darkness that enveloped the area.

"AIiiiieeee!!!" His voice was detached and unhinged, high pitched and screeching as he burst through the town, heading for the middle where an old fire house stood. Clamoring up a near ladder, he stood atop the metal roof, waving the pistol wildly above his head and shooting into the air.

The few who had been wandering the empty street now turned in shock at the sound. Men rushed forward, their guns at the ready. Women swooped upon their children, beckoning them inside the confines of their homes. Everyone braced themselves for what they could only assume would be coming. Argus had been standing near the front gate, speaking with a few men, going over the duties for the oncoming night. But at the sound of screams, they all ran quickly toward the center of town.

"This is it!" Smith yelled, voice straining into the night, "Our time is now, bastards! Time to repent and feel sorry for ourselves. Hold your fuck buddies close tonight, for we won't be lasting much longer!" Smith stumbled dangerously, catching himself before he slid, "The outside walls are caving in and they'll take over us soon! Tonight it all ends, tonight we give in to lust and hate! Tonight, we all become the things we are so afraid of; the true monsters we all really are! We're no better than the things we fear. Soon you'll see! See you on the other side, Fuckers!" And Smith lifted the gun to the side of his head and pulled the trigger.

A thunder crack echoed the air and his body hit the roof with a loud 'clunk!'. Then it slid down, leaving a stream of blood behind it.His mother had always said he was going to kill himself...