Music of the Dead

“There’s definitely something . . . or someone . . . down here,” Taylor whispered, his girlfriend trembling next to him. “Don’t let go of me.”

            “I won’t,” she replied her grip tightening. “Now would be a good time for your Lord to intervene.”

            “That’s probably why we were the only ones alive out there.”

            Taylor made a good point but was immediately hushed by Ava. The room was silent and pitch black. The moment felt dangerous, all of them holding their breaths and their hearts pounding to the extent it could be heard aloud.

            Flick flick. A small, orange light illuminated the area where they stood. Zac held a lighter in his hand. It was the blue Bic Kate used to make him carry around in case she lost hers. At the sight of the lighter in his hand he felt an overwhelming sense of sadness proceeded by another bout of fear when a loud scurry came from across the room.

            Zac held the lighter out further to try to see where the noise was located. He could see Ava out of the corner of his eye with her gun pointed into the blackness. He took another step forward. Ava followed. Then another. She was right beside him and then… they saw it.

            Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! More gunshots trailed by a heavy thud to the wooden floor.

            “And I’m out of ammo,” Ava told them. “Good thing we’re at a gun shop.”

            “Good thing you’re such a bad ass,” Isaac replied with a grin.

            Zac had to smirk at his brothers somewhat lame attempt to hit on this girl they barely knew at the most inconvenient of times.

            “Was that the owner of this place?” Zac asked Ava as they all followed her up the creaky steps.

            “Yeah, I think so. He looked slightly decrepit. Poor dude,” she replied finding the switch box at the top of the stairs.

            Ava flipped a couple of circuits and a few of the more dim lights came on. She was careful not to turn too many on for fear that the zombies would notice the yellow glow from the outside.

Zac looked up at Ava and out of nowhere realized why his brother had blatantly hit on her. She was very attractive. He hadn’t really paid much attention to it until then, but now that their lives weren’t currently threatened he noticed the details.

“Let’s go shopping,” Ava smiled at him and the two of them walked down the first aisle of the main floor.

            “So, are we stealing?” Taylor said aloud as he and Natalie walked the other way around the store, Isaac trailing behind them.

            “No,” she replied suddenly feeling queasy again. “We need them, babe. How else are we going to get back home?”

            “I have no signal at all now,” Isaac interrupted. “The T-mobile logo doesn’t even show up on the top of the screen anymore. That’s freaky.”

            He showed them his Blackberry. Taylor took his cell phone out of his pocket and looked at the brightly lit square. His was the same, no signal, no logo. Communication seemed to no longer exist.

            Taylor threw his phone across the room getting four “hushes” out of the rest of the group. He clenched his fists in anger. Why was this happening? What did the world do to deserve this? He knew that God was punishing everyone and probably for the way the last few of centuries went down. This was God’s way of ending it he realized.

            Closing his eyes, Taylor began to say a prayer in his head just as soft fingers wrapped around his arm. He almost jumped out of his skin until he saw Natalie standing there with a shocked look on her face.

            “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you ok?” she asked him worriedly.

            Taylor put his arm around her shoulders and held her close breathing in the scent of her perfume. He could feel the velvety softness of her hair touch his skin lightly. These were the things he took for granted. No wonder God had sentenced the world to damnation. People took advantage of everything and didn’t care about anyone but themselves. It all made sense.

            “Can we talk a minute?” Natalie pulled him towards the aisle that held small, plastic explosives and dynamite.

            “Sure.”

            Natalie gazed into Taylor’s azure blue eyes and tried to smile. She took his hand and sighed knowing that she had to tell him something that had been on her mind.

            “I know this isn’t a good time, but I wanted to tell you this in case something was to happen to either one of us,” she started nervously.

            “What? What is it?” Taylor pressed, feeling his stomach churn with anticipation.

            The look in her eyes said it all.

            “Taylor, I think I might be pregnant.”

            Natalie saw his face go white as a ghost and an expressionless daze fall over him. She didn’t know whether he was happy or sad, but hoped it wouldn’t be the latter.

            “That’s why I’ve been throwing up so much,” she continued. “Taylor, what do you think? I mean I may not be but I’m almost positive I am. I can just tell. Plus, I’m three weeks late.”

            “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asked his voice shaky.

            “I was going to wait until we got home.”

            Taylor nodded.

            “Well?” Natalie was getting impatient with his lack of response. She picked up a stick of dynamite and fiddled with it.

            “I’m happy, babe, I’m really happy,” Taylor finally said as tears filled his eyes. “I just wish…”

            “I know I wish it would’ve come at a better time too,” she finished his sentence as the two of them embraced.

            Taylor wiped the tears from his eyes as Isaac walked up to them, a AM/FM radio in hand.

            “You guys ok?” he asked noticing their looks of distance. Something was up, but it wasn’t his place to butt in.           

            “Yeah. We’re fine,” Taylor shook his head until he noticed the radio in his brothers his hand. “That thing work?”

            “I just put batteries in it. So, I guess we’ll find out.”

            Isaac made sure the volume was low and turned the dial flipping through stations hoping to find some hint of civilization.

            Finally, they heard voices.

            “This is the American Legion post 900. If anyone can hear us, all police headquarters, hospitals, and fire stations have been shut down. There has been word of the President sending out the National Guard and special force’s units to every big city in the country. We have yet to see that response. If you are in need of assistance, we are located in southern Indiana. . . ”

            Isaac turned the station once more.

            “This is the Emergency Broadcast System we have a late breaking bulletin to report. This is not a test. I repeat this is NOT a test! All countries in North American are being infested with this virus. It is said that other parts of the world are also experiencing this phenomenon. The Secretary of Defense has issued several attacks on our home turf to combat this terrorist disease. The military has commanded that all US citizens stay in a safe place, whether it be at home or some other type of properly built structure and arm yourself. Do not attempt to make contact with family members at this time. For further instructions stay tuned . . .”

            This was it. This was most definitely the end of the world as they knew it.

<a href=”http://acinematicsunrise.com/10in10/?page_id=105″>.eight.</a>