[ This story is a work of fiction. Any similarities are entirely coincidental. Otherwise, please enjoy. ]
[C] Copyright 2009
[ Deserted, Or Is It? ]
Natalie and Karina made their way through a small Midwest town. The sun was high in the sky, and cast its rays on trees, small wooden shelters, and the dirt road. Only two years have passed, but, the feeling of it all seems like it has been never ending. Death has come, but these two, brave mortal women stand to defend themselves against the wave of disease and death itself.
Natalie had cut her hair shorter, leaving only enough hair on top to show that she was indeed a woman. Her eyes weary from the journey behind. She wore a tight fitted top, and long pants, with a belt attached at the waist. Two holsters fit the sides, and she kept a knife in place against the center of her chest.
Karina had her hair wrapped up, and held behind her head. She no longer wore a tattered and torn open dress, and her weapon of choice was a sword that resided on her back in its hold. A small pistol was holstered at her right side, and a sawed off shotgun was held at her left side.
They were both on separate bikes, as the truck had been deserted long ago. Karina rode her old motorcycle, and Natalie had found her own left alone near a broke down motel. The bike looked dirty, but after a few wipe downs, and light mechanic work, the bike rode like new.
The town that they rode through had a horrible smell that lingered in the wind. Graffiti was written along the sides of the boarded up homes and places of former business. As they approached an old fountain in the center of town, they stopped, and hopped off to rest. In a bag that Karina carried at the back of her bike, she pulled out two canteens. One she tossed to Natalie, and the other she take small sips from. Just a little, as the rest needed to be rationed. Good water was disappearing, as filth killed away much of the purities.
"Oh my God!" Karina jumped, as she pointed to the bottom of the fountain waters. A reddish brown color filled the water, and looking close, a few dead bodies remained. They appeared to have been alive at one time, and never having turned into the mindless dead that wanders the earth.
"What the hell?" Natalie looked in. "I wonder just what the fuck happened here," She finished.
The two shrugged their shoulders and took notice of their surroundings. At first glance, the trees were bare, graffiti stood out though, but otherwise, besides that and dust, all was plain.
At a second glance, the window to an old church was opened slightly. A corpse hung from one of the trees in the far distance. The feeling of being watched left the two searching in every direction. Although the window was opened, there didn't appear to be anybody behind it.
"Maybe we should go," Karina said to Natalie.
"Wait. Let's go check out that church," She replied to Karina.
"What? Fuck that," Karina said to Natalie, pissed, but more annoyed.
"Oh, come on."
"Fine!"
The two prepared their pistols, and crept towards the main doors to the church. Natalie pulled on one, and it creaked open. Dust fell from the top of the door.
"Damn! I doubt anyone has been here in a while," Karina muttered, knocking the dust away from her face.
"Yeah."
A small stairway was located immediately to the right of the entrance as you walked in. Broken frames remained hung on the wall. The pictures were either missing, or ripped. Some pieces of glass lay along the steps. Karina and Natalie walked up the stairs, keeping eyes in every direction. Natalie was in front, and Karina was in back, keeping an eye on the bottom of the stairway.
"What do you see?" Karina whispered to Natalie.
"I see......dust, and lots of it," Natalie answered, and giggled lightly.
"Smart ass."
The two were now on the second floor, and a hallway was visible to their right. Doors were opened up, and little light shined in. The room down the hall, to the right and second to last, had more light inside. Karina walked behind Natalie, as they both made way to the room. Making their approach, they quickly turned and entered with their pistols in front, in case they were to be attacked.
"Jesus!" Karina gagged, turning away to vomit.
"What the fuck are we dealing with here?" Natalie said, watching in horror as a decapitated head sat on a table in the center of the room. The eyes were darkened, and bite marks were clear on the cheeks. The head split partway open to reveal brain chunks.
Wiping her mouth, and standing back up, Karina said, "Man, I don't want to stay and find out."
"I agree," Natalie replied.
Without hesitating, they walked out of the room and proceeded down the hallway, down the stairs, and out the front entrance. The heat from the sun was beating down on them, and they continued towards their bikes. Getting on and starting them up, they exited the town and made their way to another to search for food, or supplies.
*
[ Sixty Nine Miles ]