Free Alone by Gary Chesla

targets in the warehouse. He felt sure he could hit George with an arrow, but hitting him in the head might be a different story.
    A hit anywhere but the head wouldn’t do much. If Tony couldn’t hit him in the head, maybe he could somehow disable him by breaking a leg or something. If he could do that, then maybe he could run out and hit him over the head with his metal bar. But he hoped he could get a good head shot. As large as George was, he would probably make quite a racket when Tony went out to finish him off. If he attracted another mob of zombies, Tony could end up back at square one.
     
    As Tony reached for the arrows the walkie-talkie chirped.
    He picked up the little radio and stared.
    It clicked again.
    Tony pushed the button.” Trish is that you?”
    The radio clicked again.
    Tony smiled. He hoped he knew what was going on and that it just wasn’t some random static. “Push and hold the red button when you talk.”
    He waited.
    “Sorry.” The radio sounded.
    “I’m glad you came back.” Tony said. “How are you doing today?”
    “Fine. Will you give me more bars and jerky today?” Trish asked.
    “Yes I will.” Tony said happily over the radio.
    Tony reached for the arrow he had prepared and sat it on the bow. “Here it comes. I’ll try to get it to the same place in the clearing.”
    Tony pulled the bow back and let the arrow fly.
    He watched as it landed near the edge of the clearing. He sat back, lifted the binoculars and watched.
    After a few minutes, Trish ran out, grabbed the arrow and disappeared back into the high grass.
    Tony gave her a minute then spoke over the radio. “How’s that taste?”
    “Good.” Came Trish’s voice a moment later. Tony smiled as he heard Trish trying to chew and answer him at the same time.
    “Are you ready for another one?” Tony asked.
    “Yes!” Tony received a quick response.
    Tony thought for a moment as he looked at the arrow lying on the floor with a single granola bar taped to the end.
    “Trish, how would you like a whole box of granola bars?”
     
    Trish sat back on the ground. She would love to have an entire box of those granola bars. Saliva was running down her chin thinking about having a whole box.
    Trish wiped her chin and began to tremble. She quickly looked around to make sure no one was sneaking up on her.
    She pushed back the high grass and looked down towards the warehouse. She was ready to get up and run. “It has to be a trap. Lure me in with a few granola bars, then promise me a whole box to distract me then wham!” The image of Roy, Tom and loud mouth flashed through her mind. That sick look they always had on their faces when they talked to her glared at her in her mind.
     
    “Trish?” the voice from the radio sounded in her hand. She jumped, startled at the sound.
    “Where are you?” Trish asked as her voice trembled.
    “I’m in the warehouse.” Tony’s voice came back.
    “Prove it!” Trish almost demanded in response.
    “Look up at the window where I’ve been shooting the arrows.” Tony replied.
     
    Trish looked up at the window through the high grass. A boy in a white shirt stood their waving, then disappeared back into the room.
    “Satisfied.” Tony asked.
    “OK.” Trish answered.
    “Why did you ask where I was?” Tony asked. “You know I’m stuck in here.”
    Tony waited but Trish didn’t answer.
    After a minute he decided to press on. “Trish, if you look at the front doors, you will see there is only one zombie left. If you give me a few minutes, I think I can kill it with my bow. After it’s gone, I can bring you out a whole box of granola bars.”
    Before Tony could continue Trish answered in a panic sounding voice. “NO!”
    Tony thought for a minute. “Trish, are you afraid of me?”
    No reply.
    “Trish, I promise you that you don’t need to be afraid of me.” Tony added.
    No response.
    Tony thought for a minute. He looked at the bow in the corner and thought.
    “Trish. I understand.