They Walk

Chapter Eleven

By the time the sun the sun is coming up, we’re all settled upstairs is Austin’s room. The window’s downstairs are blocked the best way we knew how, meaning most furniture is pushed against them. But it’s better than nothing, in my opinion. At least there will be some sort of obstacle for those things to get by first. Being on the second floor, almost gives us the illusion that nothing is wrong. For one thing, it’s quieter.

We can’t hear the scratching and banging on the windows.

We all pretty much found a wall to lean against, and try to stay calm. Except for Austin of course who is passed out on his own bed. The girl Lucy is laying across the bottom of it, no one wanted to see her lying on the floor. Even Austin agreed who woke up enough to grumble a reply about it. Her boyfriend Peter won’t leave her side and is perched at the end of the bed.

The room is pretty good sized, and I’m almost jealous about it. The bed is along the wall to the right of the door, and takes the whole space being a queen. Straight ahead is a bay window, with a padded seat. To the left of the window, is a built in entertainment center slash bookcase. It has a large plasma TV and a lot of video game equipment. There are drawers lining the bottom of it, making me believe that’s his dresser. To the right of the window, are the closet door and a small desk. It’s pretty bare except for an expensive looking computer.

It makes my laptop look chincy in comparison.

I’m sitting on the floor next to Matt, who is resting on the window seat, next to him is Alex. I suppose we’re trying to help out all of us that are hurt, even if we don’t really know how. The best we figure is they need rest, or try to keep up their strength. Beside me on the floor are Claire and Brian, and I notice that he’s been checking out the TV the last couple minutes. Sam is sitting near Brian with his knees drawn up to his chest, and he hasn’t lost the deer in headlights look. Near the door on the other side of the bookcase, is Gabe. He’s been pretty quiet since we came upstairs, and I can tell he’s trying not to look at me. Or maybe I’m being paranoid, and that’s what I’m doing. On the other side of Alex, near the closet are Dan and Maria. She’s asleep in his lap and beside her is Emily.

Now that we finished downstairs, we don’t really have another plan or ideas about what to do next. I do know that we all keep checking our cellphones, and none of us are able to reach anyone. It’s really unnerving that no one answers, but we do get the occasional busy signal. But that doesn’t make us feel any better.

I’m about to dose off, leaning against Matt, when Brian stands up and faces the TV.

“What about the news?” He says as he turns back to face the room. “I mean just because no one is answering the phones, there might be something about it on TV, right?”

“It can’t hurt to try. Reporters have a habit of getting in the thick of things.” Dan says.

We all kind of nod in agreement, and Brian turns back to the TV. It’s kind of an elaborate plasma brand, and it takes him a second to find the power button. After he does though, he still pauses with his hand raised. As if overcoming his hesitation, he pushes it. The TV clicks on with a whooshing sound, and we all lean forward in anticipation.

Or at least I do.

The screen is dark for a moment, and all I can hear is static. Then suddenly it’s alive with color, and it takes me a minute to see what’s on the screen. It’s one of those emergency broadcast messages you know the ones that come on when you are usually watching a movie, when there is never a real emergency. Except I know that this one is clearly not a test, given what is running around outside. There is no sound, just the occasional bleeping noise. Along the bottom of the screen, the same message keeps repeating across.

It says,

“Androscoggin County residents are to seek immediate shelter. A rapidly spreading contagion is infecting the dead, whom are rising. Emergency evacuation is in progress, and troops are on their way. An emergency service shelter is being devised, and residents are advised to stay indoors until further notice. Beware of your surroundings. Be alert. The dead are fast and highly dangerous.”

It keeps repeating in an endless loop, and no more and no less. None of us say anything, for what feels like forever. I feel a touch on my shoulder and I jump and look behind me, but it’s just Matt. He looks even paler now.

I know I look the same, even though I’m not even hurt.

“Check the other channels.” Gabe says.

Brian glances at him, but does what he says. He goes through at least all the local channels and it’s the same screen over and over. I don’t even know what to think, but it seems our guess was about right. The things outside are dead, yet there up moving around and apparently it’s not just here.

I really wish we were able to reach someone, anyone really.

I hear crying, and look over to Dan, he’s holding a now awake Maria to him and she’s sobbing into his shoulder. We might not be able to get in touch with our parents, but I’m glad Daniel is here with me, and that he’s alright. It’s a small comforting thought, if only everyone was alright. I lean into Matt, and think not for the first time, that I hope he’s alright.

Brian is still facing the TV, and only steps away when Claire goes over to him. He’s more stunned now than he was earlier fighting those things outside. I see Gabe walking over to the TV, as Brian steps away.

He’s about to turn it off, when there is movement from the bed.

“Leave it on!” Austin yells.

He’s fully awake now, and pulls himself off the bed. He stomps over to Gabe and while glaring at him he shoves him out of the way.

“Hey, watch it.” Gabe says, as he stumbles out of the way.

Austin doesn’t pay him any attention though he just walks right up to the TV. He’s nose to nose with it, that the rest of us can’t even see the screen anymore. He bows his head, and his shoulders begin to shake.

“It can’t be true.” He whispers.

He goes still for a second, then pulls back his bad arm and punches into the TV. The screen smashes inward, and the room is full of the sound of the metal bending.

We all yell in surprise, while Gabe, Dan, and Brian run up to him. They pull his hand out, and it’s a bloody mess. As they turn him back to the bed, the towel that was covering his shoulder is bleeding through again. So much so that it drips down his shirt. Maria jumps up and flings the closet door open and begins picking through the clothes. She pulls out some old looking shirts and sets them on the bed. When Austin sits down, she shoves the other guys away and motions for Emily to help her.

“I’m sorry.” Austin says, as he hangs his head down. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“It’s going to be all right Austin. Emily and I are going to get you cleaned up. You don’t have to worry.”

They proceed to wash, bandage, and redress him. The entire time, he just sits there compliantly and has silent tears running down his cheeks. No one says anything to him, either not wanting to hurt his feelings or are feeling the same way. It’s strange to see him this way he’s always been the tough guy at school. But I can see how easy it is to break under the pressure.

When Austin is finally resting on the bed again, we all go back to just sitting in the quiet. Beside me leaning against the window, is Matt asleep. I take off my hoody and use it as a pillow and snuggle up to him.

I rest my head on his leg and I close my eyes for a moment.