Nobody really thought Zombies, when people first started eating everyone. It was too much of a Hollywood fantasy to think such a thing could actually happen. So, most people died, right away, or were turned.

  Those who survived were the ones who caught on quickly, that this was actually Zombies, yeah fucken Zombies. Oh yes; Zombies were actually real, and they were fucking coming. Fucking coming for all of us. All of us.

  It was my night to run the SP units. Safety Patrol units patrolled the compound and its walls. Each unit has a set routine of baton passing guard patrol. Each unit walked its section of the wall patrolling for invaders of all kinds and then hands off the baton to the next unit at its border. After the baton had been passed, the unit would return to the beginning of their walled rout and wait for the baton to return again. Usually this would happen in a surpass of four times each evening. Jade would meet up with the bordering unit four times before sun rise and a switch of patrol brigade was sounded.

  I was coming up on my third passing, I was squatted in a corner with my back to the inner wall and my side resting on a large ammo box, stored there for extra ammo and a marker for the routs border. Also if the bordering unit did not show there were bells to ring and alert the compound. I could hear the crickets making there annoying chatter in the fields, as well as the commune's goats starting their wake up routines of chatter and munching.

  I could feel something was off, I could feel it in every cell of my being but, nothing was showing me my advisory. The bugs chirped, the goats were not scared, and I could see the oncoming flame of my bordering units torch. Nothing was out of the normal, but it still felt wrong. I just could not place it. Not yet. Trying to shake off the feeling of dread, I lit my torch and signaled to my unit I was alive, awake and ready for an update.

  I sat and waited for “G” to reach me, G was a very large and scary man. That was unless you knew him anyhow, he was my brother in law and some days I wished to strangle him. But most days I was really glad he was on our side. G stood a good 6'2 and had tattoo's from head to toe, and I mean literally. If you were brave enough you could ask him about his tattoo's, or what G stood for, but most were not. This war has put a grim demeanor to my once very happy brother in law. With G there was not much that the man could not do, he could fix anything, ride anything and most of all kill anything. His skills were my second in command and my guide. I did what needed to be done so he could be the father we needed him to be. This was our silent agreement as family, I took the weight of responsibility so he could free his troubled soul and take care of my family. If it were not for love of family I would have ran away long ago to some place. I do not know right now exactly where that would be. I knew of no place right off hand that has not been affected by this war, and this chaos.

  Looking up I see that something has caught G's eye and he is moving slowly to the outer rim of the walled in city. Walking over to meet up with him and looking down into the darkness, I could see what had gotten his attention. It wasn't anything bad per say but rather a stray dog. We had some dog's in the city when things first began. But it was concluded they were more of a danger to us and themselves, locked inside with us than they were roaming free. Dog's barked and dog's ate wild things that were infected. Dog's dug under the fence letting in infected creatures. So it was decided that no matter how our hearts loved the canine companion, it was all in all safer if we did not keep them inside the compound.

  I could see the anguish on G's face, I knew he was thinking of Tater-tot his dog from before. We kept Tater-tot with us for a while till things happened causing us to force the rules of dog's. Cat's were not much of an issue there just were not any around. I guess the dog was faster and a little bit smarter on what it ate. Or it could be the cats were just hiding being smarter than all of us. Laughing to myself it was what I would bet on, being a cat lover myself. G noticed my approach and quickly righted himself shoving what ever he was pondering on into the back of his mind. Looking at me he asked “Should we kill it now? Save it the misery?” “No” I said “let's let it

  enjoy freedom for as long as freedom is possible.”

  Shrugging G walked off to the other side of the wall toward the inner circle of the compound looking at the sun starting to rise in the East. Zombie's or no zombies, Colorado was still fucking beautiful I thought to myself. We had plans to work our way to coast and find peace on the oceans. But it has been two years now and we still have not left Colorado. Not that I am complaining , I love it here, and the cold seasons have been to our advantage. It stiffened up the muscles of the undead allowing us a speed advantage. It also made game harder to find and kill, decreasing the vigor even more of the undead walkers.

  Only thing I really hated about the undead and the snow is they can just lie there almost dead again under the snow. Until you accidentally step on one. I swear it's like in the cartoons, seeing the cat step on a rake and getting the pressured smack in the face. Except you don't die from a rake Mr. Kitty, if

  your not quick enough you will die from a jack in the box zombie.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  We are fast approaching spring time and even in the mountains the snow will melt again and carry our scent down the mountain to the deado's

  waiting in trance for any nibble of life. We had not seen any action of any type for almost two weeks now and my nerves were on high alert. Maybe that would be why I felt like everything was just wrong tonight.

  I approached G and got a bear like hug, lifting my feel slightly off the ground. He sure was a giant man, I thought to myself.

  “So, are you missing Tater-tot tonight? Did that stray dog get you all worked up like a woman?” I teased him. I knew it had affected him I say his face and the sadness that surrounded him. Seems harsh but this was my way of helping the macho-macho man feel macho still.

  “More than I would miss you!” he teased back giving me a little shove, which almost sent me right off the wall. He was a gentle man, just very strong, very damn strong, I thought.

  Looking up at my giant big brother, married in, but still my only big brother. I loved the man dearly and would take a bite for him. Bite I giggled to myself, bite not bullet... giggling in my head I looking up at G I felt a small nostalgia about life before. “G... Do you think this will ever end? How many more could there possibly be?” I felt safe with my family and it was the only time I am every really myself. I used to be a nice push over, I said to myself. Now I am just a naughty word or two with stoner mixed in somewhere. I couldn't help myself, the thought was just hilarious to me. Never in my previous life would anyone I knew ever consider me to be a hard ass or a Bitch, maybe that c word I hate.... I just busted out in giggles. Completely surprising G by the look on his face. Which in turn sent me into another round of giggles. I am sure G thinks I am loosing my mind or having a break down. Honestly he probably thinks I am high, and that added another round of giggles. I had not had any good weed in months. NO one considered the effort of breaking into a dispensary worth the hassle. I fucken do, I thought to myself. Looking up at G with his eyebrow cocked up like Dwayne Johnson “The Rock”. Who I would have to say is about the same size as my brother, but the Rock is way hotter, I thought. Thinking about Dwayne as a zombie shut me up real quick. That was a scary thought, a tank zombie, he would be for sure! With a few deep breaths and some hurting cheeks, from using smile muscles, that have not been used in ages. I looked back at G with a strait face and said to him

  “You should hear the conversations I have going on in me head” with a very bad Irish accent. G just shook his head and said “Should I be worried yet? Does Amy need to come and give you little slap back to reality, you know she would love to?” then on the next breath “Do you think you need psycho pills? Are you loosing it finally?”

  I turned around to yell at him and saw the same smile on his face that I had earlier teasing him about the dog. He was just returning the favor and ignoring my small mental health crisis. Besides, I thought to myself, I am allowed to enjoy the little things, Right? Thinking about a great wonderfully rolled joint, was a happy thought to me. I mean it is all that is left, the little things. And right now those little things mainly existed in my head and teasing my brother was always helpful I thought.

  Smiling I said “Your welcome to tell Amy only if you tell her you want another baby.” That hit the big red button my sister always loved to push. That thought snapped him back to attention and to who was boss. Looking at me shrewdly and with his very large giant stare he pressured down on me asking me what gave me such a thought... Standing at my fullest height which to say is not much 5'7 in heals kind of short. I looked up at him and said “We are all living in the same house and as much as my sister gets “it” we would all be prego by now!” yelling at my fullest whisper. He turned and looked at me shrewdly and said “if we “DID” have another baby it would be mighty just like this family, and life will go on you know.” looking at him softly and calmly because I knew if I raised my voice or acted challenging he would react in an Alfa manner. So I kept my voice and my face calm and said “Look, G having a baby is almost as dangerous as having a dog. You know this! There are so many different things we would have to do.” Panic starting to rise, in my throat thinking of all that would have to be done to protect my family as it evolves. I just wanted to run, but can't run, must be an adult. Some one fucking had to! Babies, what was this fool even fucking thinking about I wondered. Looking at G I said to him in the same soft voice of reason and understanding. “G, we are close, to being safe. So close to being ahead of this. Just give it a little more time, if at all possible please G” ending with a plea in my voice. “If something did happen we will deal just as we always do, right now let just try not to let anything happen.”

  Looking at me with just a strait of a face as mine had been “If you let me ride the bike! I'd fuck less” laughing as I started to swing at him. He knew that bike was trouble it was our only divergent however. Being as loud at the damn thing is. And as the world died it got a lot quieter, sound traveled further and so did trouble. When we were up against a pack of wonders it was always helpful with G riding that noise maker around to distract and disperse so we could deal with them in smaller groups. I had to be relentless because they were. I had to get them all to see the bigger picture. We were not safe “Yet” not yet. I am sure there can not be that many more it has seemed as if we had killed all that the population of Colorado could allow and then some.

  I have had thoughts of moving further north into Canada and Alaska, remembering how cold the winters were there before. I wondered if the fall of the human civilization will help with the global warming issue. I also started to wonder how many of the factories had blown due to lack of workers and guidelines. Man I needed a joint I thought. My brain in on overdrive. I need some type of release. I looked over the city below me and surrounded by a large metal wall. I feel that I have so much to do here how could I ever think of leaving. I longed to go find him, I knew he was alive some where and I could feel him like a magical string tied to my mind and heart. I or maybe it was my great longing to be with him all tied up in my mind. I wanted to feel his strength wrapped around me. I use the thought and feeling of a memory to stay alive. Taking a big breath and exhaling any depression that lingered on the top. I turned and started my final round on the rout to meet my south half of the baton guard.