Free Zombies! Rising from the Dead by Richard Palmer

over. He left Amanda lying on the sofa with a cold rag on her face and it seemed to be working; she was breathing deeply and seemed like she might drift off to sleep shortly. He walked into the kitchen where we began to speak in hushed tones.

    “Rick, you have to get this place boarded up. I would stay to help, but I have to get started too , I don't think you’re going to be safe here...” I told him

    “ I'm going to start in as soon as you leave, we are going to be fine, beside, Amanda is in no shape to leave right now anyway; she can't handle this,” He whispered.

    “I don't know if you’re thinking this thing through, listen, if they get in here what the fuck are you going to do? You’re going to be stuck here. What if the power goes out? You know that's going to happen sooner or later, have you even thought about that? Ev erything you have is electric! What the fuck are you going to do if this stretches on to winter? Think about this, really...” I tried to get through to him but I knew it wouldn't work. Once Rick makes up his mind nothing is going to change it; he had the tenacity of an old mule when it came to such matters. “Listen, if you don't think you can handle it here get down to my place before it gets out of hand, now promise me you will okay...” I asked.

    “Okay, okay, I promise” He replied.

    “Okay, but....” I was interrupted for as we stood there talking my attention was drawn out the kitchen window b y movement off in the distance, it was the same creature we had seen less than an hour ago ; it limped slowly along but was on a direct path towards Rick's house. Then the words of Dr. Bassett came ringing back in my ears, “They are drawn to homes and population centers.”

    “SHITTTTT!!!!” I cursed under my breath.

    Rick looked over... “ Fuckkkkk ! I can't let Amanda see this; she will lose her fucking mind!”

    I remained calm but realized that if I was going to go I had to go now. I tried to walk casually to the door as so not to wake A manda, who had finally drifted off to sleep.

    As I go t to the door I turned to Rick, “Please man, please!!!” I pleaded, “Just get the hell outta here ! ”

    “WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!” He yelled.

    “Alright, I GOTTA GO, I GOTTA GO ! Just keep your fucking radio ON, you hear me you son of a bitch? Don't make me risk my ass to come down here to check on you...” I screamed at him as I rushed out the door.

    “I will, I will, get your ass out of here! ” he said as he ushered me out.

    I left the safety of structure, I was only feet away from my truck but remember thinking about how at any second that thing was going to pop up out of nowhere and sink its teeth into me. It was still headed in our direction but moving so slowly it would take it an hour
    just to get up to the door; if it didn't fall to pieces before it got here. Until I was safely in my truck with the door closed and locked, I knew it was going to get me somehow.

    For a moment I sat in his driveway and thought about my situation. Rick and Amanda were now home and safe...for the moment at least. Frankie and Brit were in Panatauk, and who knew if they were even still alive? I was out of options, I had done e verything I could for the moment; I had taken care of everyone else; it was time to get home and take care of myself.

    Inside the cab of my truck I gazed out the windshield at the horrible thing lumbering towards me, and thought to myself “It’s just me now...just me”. I revved up the engine and headed towards home not knowing if , or when I would ever see any of my friends again.

    Finally I came around the bend at the top of the hill and could see my home off in the distance, there it sat peac efully nestled in the midst thick O aks and surrounded by heavy thickets; my undisturbed fortress of solitude. Never in my life had I felt such a sigh of relief as I did that day.

    I backed slowly into the drive; so close in fact that the door and the tailgate