Free Planet Purgatory by Benedict Martin

seconds the crowd dispersed, leaving only me and my dad. He didn’t see me at first, but when he did, he grabbed me roughly by the arm.
    “That was your handiwork, wasn’t it?” he demanded, once we were out of earshot.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about—”
    “Don’t be a jackass! I know it was you! You’ve put all of us in danger with your stupid stunt!”
    “All I’ve done is open everyone’s eyes to the real threat! He wouldn’t have been happy with those zombies. And even if he was, it wouldn’t be long before he’s demanding something new.”
    “You don’t know that!”
    “He did it just now! You know I’m telling the truth. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
    My dad’s eyes widened in almost humorous surprise. “Stubborn? You’re calling me stubborn? There’s the pot calling the kettle black!”
    I watched with concern as my dad doubled over, placing his hands on his knees.
    “Oh, my God! We’re all gonna die!”
    “No, we’re not! I’ve still got my plan. I’m going to find the SYS building and I’m going to come back with guns.”
    “Enough to kill that thing? There’s not a gun anywhere powerful enough to protect us from that monster!”
    “You don’t know that! I mean, what if SYS makes rocket launchers? Or grenades. Or, hell, maybe they got some special laser gun we can use.”
    This actually made my dad laugh, and he placed his hands on his hips, walking in circles as he gazed into the sky. “Rocket launchers? Laser guns? Is that really how desperate this has become?”
    “I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s the only way.”
    My dad pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his face. “You really think you can find it?”
    “I’ve got no choice.”
    We looked at each other, searching for something to say, until my dad grabbed me, kissing me on the cheek before sending me on my way. “Be careful,” he said. “Try not to attract attention, but if you do, shoot them. Right in the face. And pay attention to Rosie. She’ll take care of you.”
    Suddenly I didn’t feel so sure about things.
    “Go on! We don’t have a lot of time. Go find Rosie and get the hell out of here. I’ll take care of Mummy. You just go.”
    So I did, downing a few swigs of chikka before making my way down the road to the old man’s wagon. I’d planned on ignoring him, but the old coot called out to me, and against my better judgment, I went to see what he wanted.
    “Got any brew in there?” he asked, motioning to my knapsack.
    “Yep.”
    “Care to give me some?”
    “Nope.”
    “That ain’t very friendly,” he said, frowning. “Here’s a piece of advice: when someone asks fer something, it’s usually best to give it to them.”
    I stood there, safe in my chikka haze.
    “And I got some advice for you,” I said.
    “And what’s that?”
    “Leave.”
    And with that I started up the road, with nothing but my knapsack, my gun, and my dog.



Chapter 5
    Leaving Harkness was, without a doubt, the scariest thing I’d ever undertaken. There was a reason people avoided traveling between settlements, and when they did, it was always in groups. You’d hear the strangest stories, of creatures hiding in the shadows, waiting to feast on some unlucky soul. I spent the first little while peering into the jumble of trees while Rosie trotted a protective circle, disappearing into the brush behind me, only to emerge a few dozen yards up the road. I didn’t know that was what she was doing at first, and I’d call out for her with my gun drawn, certain my voice was drawing the wrong kind of attention.
    But I caught on to her protective ways, and I soon found myself predicting with surprising accuracy when she would reappear.
    It was about a half-hour into my journey that I came upon a hut. I’d heard about these. Apparently the forest was littered with them. Most were empty, but some of them were not. Curious, I left the road to peer through an old clouded window. As far as I