Mason said as he pulled forward into the dark suburb. Nothing stirred in the quiet evening. No creatures could be seen. Veronica kept an apprehensive eye to the windshield, weary of any movement. Tony checked his shotgun one last time. Three rounds for the twelve gauge and that was it. No more ammunition. He tapped Nikki on the knee to get her attention. She almost jumped in surprise at his touch.
“Ready?” He asked. She answered with a tense sigh.
The white Chevy accelerated into the cul-de-sac like a prize-fighter entering the ring. It made a wide circle at the end of the court and carved its way across the lawns of four homes. The large tires tore at moist earth with relentless strides, catching bits of well manicured landscape in their maw-like treads. The vehicle lurched to a stop as Mason pulled in front of Nikki’s porch; tires almost resting on the step. Tony exited the passenger’s side with his shotgun ready. Nikki followed quickly, holding Tony’s flashlight, set on a bright white light. Mason opened his door, sword in hand, but still in the scabbard. He scanned the street. Nothing. No noise, no hungry army of undead, just an eerie silence. Veronica scooted over slightly and took the wheel according to their plan but it didn’t appear to her that an attack was on the way. There was an unsettling feeling beneath the idling engine but nothing more.
“Go!” Mason whispered as he kept watch on the street.
Nikki ran to the side gate and pulled on a bit of cord dangling from the frame. The gate unlatched and opened. She and Tony entered the backyard. The flashlight’s beam danced across the rear of the house until it fell upon a small cement squirrel. Racing over to the lawn ornament, Nikki nudged it over with her foot to reveal a key. Tony looked inside the kitchen window and saw only his faint reflection. The lack of any activity or even candlelight troubled him. If her parents had fallen victim to the undead, he hoped they weren’t home.
Nikki opened the back door and pocketed the key. She paused at the door for a moment staring intently into the darkness. Tony stepped in front of the young blond and entered first. He held his shotgun barrel pointed upwards for safety, but still ready should he need to use the weapon. He reached for a light switch and flicked the lever up. Stupid! He thought. The power is out . He placed his back to the kitchen wall to minimize his exposure to threats, all the while keeping an eye on Nikki. She was silhouetted by the spill from the flashlight as she spoke.
“Mom?” Nikki’s voice trembled. Silence answered her. Her house, while familiar had become very unnerving. Her home was completely devoid of sound. The sensation reminded her of two years prior when her father had upgraded to double pane windows. The insulated glass not only kept out the cold but the street noise as well. It took some time for Nikki to get used to the change in her surroundings. Now it was different. The silence mixed with the darkness to alienate Nikki from the only home she had ever known. The once ubiquitous sounds such as the refrigerator motor or the gentle hum of the central air unit, sounds that she had come to identify with as a place of safety, were nowhere to be heard making her home feel bereft of life.
“Mom, Dad?” Her voice called with a desperate resonance. Tony moved next to her and touched her back to let her know that she wasn’t alone.
Tony focused on listening. He heard nothing, no snoring, no breathing, nor movement in the house. He drew in a long slow breath, searching for the sent of infected flesh. He detected nothing foul, only the pine scent of wood polish and cleaning products. Moving across the room towards the back door, he twisted the deadbolt closed.
“Let’s check the rest of the house,” He said.
Four
Margaret’s house shook with
“Ready?” He asked. She answered with a tense sigh.
The white Chevy accelerated into the cul-de-sac like a prize-fighter entering the ring. It made a wide circle at the end of the court and carved its way across the lawns of four homes. The large tires tore at moist earth with relentless strides, catching bits of well manicured landscape in their maw-like treads. The vehicle lurched to a stop as Mason pulled in front of Nikki’s porch; tires almost resting on the step. Tony exited the passenger’s side with his shotgun ready. Nikki followed quickly, holding Tony’s flashlight, set on a bright white light. Mason opened his door, sword in hand, but still in the scabbard. He scanned the street. Nothing. No noise, no hungry army of undead, just an eerie silence. Veronica scooted over slightly and took the wheel according to their plan but it didn’t appear to her that an attack was on the way. There was an unsettling feeling beneath the idling engine but nothing more.
“Go!” Mason whispered as he kept watch on the street.
Nikki ran to the side gate and pulled on a bit of cord dangling from the frame. The gate unlatched and opened. She and Tony entered the backyard. The flashlight’s beam danced across the rear of the house until it fell upon a small cement squirrel. Racing over to the lawn ornament, Nikki nudged it over with her foot to reveal a key. Tony looked inside the kitchen window and saw only his faint reflection. The lack of any activity or even candlelight troubled him. If her parents had fallen victim to the undead, he hoped they weren’t home.
Nikki opened the back door and pocketed the key. She paused at the door for a moment staring intently into the darkness. Tony stepped in front of the young blond and entered first. He held his shotgun barrel pointed upwards for safety, but still ready should he need to use the weapon. He reached for a light switch and flicked the lever up. Stupid! He thought. The power is out . He placed his back to the kitchen wall to minimize his exposure to threats, all the while keeping an eye on Nikki. She was silhouetted by the spill from the flashlight as she spoke.
“Mom?” Nikki’s voice trembled. Silence answered her. Her house, while familiar had become very unnerving. Her home was completely devoid of sound. The sensation reminded her of two years prior when her father had upgraded to double pane windows. The insulated glass not only kept out the cold but the street noise as well. It took some time for Nikki to get used to the change in her surroundings. Now it was different. The silence mixed with the darkness to alienate Nikki from the only home she had ever known. The once ubiquitous sounds such as the refrigerator motor or the gentle hum of the central air unit, sounds that she had come to identify with as a place of safety, were nowhere to be heard making her home feel bereft of life.
“Mom, Dad?” Her voice called with a desperate resonance. Tony moved next to her and touched her back to let her know that she wasn’t alone.
Tony focused on listening. He heard nothing, no snoring, no breathing, nor movement in the house. He drew in a long slow breath, searching for the sent of infected flesh. He detected nothing foul, only the pine scent of wood polish and cleaning products. Moving across the room towards the back door, he twisted the deadbolt closed.
“Let’s check the rest of the house,” He said.
Four
Margaret’s house shook with
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