The Home: A Zombie Survival Short Story Read Free Page A

his Aunt Jenny. She too had died in her chair while waiting for something.
    A wave of regret washed over Carlton. True, he was not Jenny and Bill's child, he still felt like he should have come sooner or done more for them. He tried to visit as often as he could, but he had his own family to worry about. Carlton shook himself out of his sadness and continued his sweep of the atrium.
    The third wheelchair was empty.
    "Stay sharp. There may be more moving in here than old Jerry."
    There was another hissing fluid sound from behind them to the right. Both Mikayla's light and the light on his rifle illuminated Jerry taking a drink from the water fountain. Then they also heard a dragging noise.
    Emerging from behind the half wall that separated hallway from the atrium emerged a slow moving zombie. The zombie was a former patient. She must have crawled right past Jerry. From the dress and the obvious wig, Carlton recognized her as one of the patients who lived just down the hall from Aunt Jenny. Her name used to be Mildred. The left side of her face was chewed off.
    From what he remembered, she was the sharpest of the patients in the ALF. Her main issue was mobility. She lacked the strength to stand or move herself around in her wheelchair. But here she was dragging her undead form across the ground. The virus did not make them any stronger. The zombie still had the limitations of the body that it took over. They just did not fatigue the way the living did.
    "There are zombies in here. Stay alert. Don't get to close too anyone," Carlton warned.
    Carlton took aim and fired a single shot that blew off the back of undead Mildred's head. She dropped to the ground, unmoving. The girls were impressed. The only sound the rifle made was a light pop. The sound of the chamber cycling was louder than the shot and the clink of brass on the tile floor was louder still. That was a quiet rifle.
    Meredith whispered, "Where do you think the zombie is that bit the old lady? And why did that one not attack Jerry. He was right there and she moved within inches of him."
    With a shrug, Carlton pointed to Mildred's now still form, "I don't know, ask her."
    Both girls simultaneously responded, "Smart ass."
    Carlton grinned fiercely as if he was paid a wonderful compliment.
    They turned and continued their movement across the atrium. Ahead of them was the dining area. There was a small enclosed room in the center that was for family visits with their loved one. It had a glassed in wall and door so other residents could watch their lucky fellow inmate eat with family or friends. To either side was a small dining area with five tables on each side. There were four place settings on each square table.
    Carlton advanced slowly. The two figures at the tables did not move. The first was an elderly white man. His dentures were on the table next to his head. He had his hands folded on the table with his head resting on them.
    Again, Carlton prodded the back of the man. This one sat up straight and opened and closed his mouth a few times. To announce to the world that he was now fully awake, the man proceeded to let loose a terrific fart. The methane released from the man's bowels did not improve the scent cocktail that permeated the room.
    Carlton studied the man. His skin looked normal as well, besides a few liver spots. There was no sign of the virus in him. He did not turn to look behind him.
    "Damn. That just stinks. I bet it's been a while since you have been changed too. Poor guy."
    Carlton did not recognized him but had seen him before. He had rather advanced dementia and was usually found asleep. Carlton had spotted him trying doors on previous visits looking for a way out. Not seeing anyone, the man laid his head back down on the table and closed his eyes.
    Seeing how slowly the living were moving around the room, Mikayla asked, "if there are zombies in here, how are Jerry and this guy still normal, er, almost normal? They can't get away from them."
    "I