Episode 48: American University or Bust!

How the hell did I get myself into this mess? A few months ago I was the leader of my gang...okay well of my three member gang...fine, one member and one psycho bitch that wanted to kill us, but that's not the point.
Now I'm lying on the wooden floor of a cabin suspended 50ft in the air having just survived some crazy satanic ritual where I got a crazy symbol nailed into my arm. I'm having a bad day and I blame everyone else in my group for this...why was I the one chosen to sneak into Rufus' room and spy on him? I'm not particularly cunning or sly, Jiko is. I'm not particularly smart, Mel is and I'm not particularly...that's enough of that.

Thinking back months ago I thought things were going well, relatively speaking. The world had begun to go to shit with the zombie apocalypse and all but at least I had a plan. If you remember I was with two other girls after Friendship Heights fell to ruin thanks partially to the United States Military coming in and torching the place to the ground.

Vankelia was a sweet, quiet and quite adorable (blush) Liberian-American girl before the outbreak happened. Although she remained adorable a vicious side of her appeared. I'm sure her survival skills set in but she became a fighter and a good teammate even when we led our coup against Elizabeth and her crazy ways.

The other girl with us, Ashleigh, was a small blonde girl who didn't seem to draw attention to herself much. I know she came from a rich family but even that was hushed by her personable and humble nature. But after we successfully left Elizabeth behind, Ashleigh went bat shit crazy. When I say bat shit, she tried to kill us!
After I subdued her (I guess Vankelia can get some credit for it) we found out that Ashleigh knew of a hideout, a safe house, a base outside by Arlington where we could find safety and protection. I'm not sure why she had to kill us for it but we tied her up, hitched her onto a small little wagon and planned on heading out there.

At least that was the plan. A few rogue herds of zombies littered the streets down Wisconsin Avenue towards downtown DC and we had to take an alternate route. Ending up by American University the first night we heard gun shots and flashes from IEDs, I think that's what they're called -- I did see "The Hurt Locker" after all.

"I think there are people at AU." Vankelia said as we hid in the now decrepit Japanese Ambassador's home. It would hold for the night since the edifice was made from white washed stone but boarding up the entire house was nearly impossible and we only had enough to hole ourselves up in a tiny room...not big enough for a long haul.
"Should we try and go there?" I asked, remembering that we still had Ashleigh to worry about. We had her tied to a chair on the other side of the room.
"Fucking let me go. Seriously. I can help you." She said struggling to loosen her bind. Vankelia got up and slapped her across the face hard. So hard, in fact, I winced and felt bad for Ashleigh.
"You listen here, bitch. You shut up or I'll feed you to the zombies. I have no use for you. I really don't. I have no heart left and would not feel an ounce of sadness if I watched your body be ripped apart."
"Wow Vankelia, that's enough!" I said surprising myself as to where I had found my voice to say something to her. "Let's just tie her mouth and she'll stay put." I pulled her aside, far away from Ashleigh's earshot.
"Maybe once we get to AU, we can find someone to help us get the info out of her."
"Torture?" Vankelia asked. My eyes grew wide at the suggestion...but I shook my head.
"No...I...I don't know. But we'll see who's there and if they're even willing to help us."

Morning came and we headed off to the main campus. With only a few zombies pocking the street, it was easy picking and gave me some much needed warm up when I hacked their heads off.

American University was a sight to behold. Each of the entrances to the main quad had been blocked off with  barriers, chain link fences and barbed wire. We saw a guard tower shoddily made from old wooden boards and a person standing atop keeping guard.

"Help us!" I yelled up. The man looked down, his gun pointing out on us.
"We have no room." The man said. I looked past him into the open quad behind. It was green and spacious and definitely not crowded.
"What do you mean? I don't see anyone in there." I said. From behind me I could hear Ashleigh trying to speak from behind the cloth we used to gag her mouth. "Keep quiet." I told her. "Please sir, we've been on the run for weeks...we just want some rest and security."
"I said no!" The guard yelled. Again Ashleigh struggled to say something.
"What is it!" I said removing her mouth gag.
"Let me speak to him!" She insisted. Not sure where this was going, I looked at Vankelia. She motioned her head to let her up but she kept a knife pointed at Ashleigh's back.
"So rude." She said over her shoulder before looking back at the man. "Jonathan?" Ashleigh asked. The man removed his helmet revealing his baby face. He couldn't have been more than a year older than us. "Jonathan Masters?"
"How do you know my name?" The boy asked.
"Your dad works with my father. I'm Dr. Canton's daughter, Ashleigh. We used to have play dates when we were younger."
"Oh my God! Hey Ashleigh! I didn't recognize you there." He said.
"Can you please let us in?"
"I wish I could but I'm not allowed to. Those are my orders."
Ashleigh gave Jonathan a cheeky grin and immediately turned around. "Fucking asshole." She said under her breath which caught me off guard. "We're getting in one way or another." She said sounding sure. Vankelia gave her a look but Ashleigh reassured her worries. "Just trust me okay? I'm tired of running around too. I'd like to get in. I'm sure they're unable to guard the entire perimeter. We just have to scout the area and find the weak spot. Got it?" We all nodded and began to look.

After nearly walking the entire perimeter of the campus, we found a spot by the seminary behind the school that was unguarded and hidden from view from the guard posts on either end. "This is where we sneak in." Ashleigh said. "Ready to climb?"
I looked up the fence and noticed the barbed wire at the top. I gulped the fear that settled in my throat.
"Stop being such a wuss." She said giving me a look. "I'll go first since you're being such a baby." She began to climb. Vankelia followed her immediately. They were both already near the top before I mustered the courage to follow. After several minutes I had jumped down on the other side with only a few cuts and scratches.
"Thank God we made it." I said as the three of us looked up at the fence we had just climbed.
"Huh, funny running into you here, isn't it?" A voice from behind us said. We all craned our necks slowly to reveal the owner of the voice.
"Wow...it is..."

Episode 47: The Blood Oath

"You think you're going to sneak in my room and get away with it?" Rufus questioned David as he carried him into his cabin.
"I...I...I just got lost." David lied as he was trying to plead for his safety.
"What I hate more than sneaks are liars."
"But I'm..." David began.
"Now it's time for you to go to sleep." And Rufus struck David right in head with the back of his hand knocking David out instantly. Rufus smiled as he lifted David's limp body in the air.

***

"You're a natural." Bradley said to Sarah as they enjoyed a snack up in the tree tops. "I've never seen someone adapt to tree dashing to quickly and so effortlessly."
"Thanks. I tried my best." Sarah responded taking a bite out of her sandwich. All of a sudden Bradley became serious as he shifted his body to face Sarah. Startled, she shifted back a bit almost losing her balance but catching herself in time.
"We attack tonight." Bradley said.
"Excuse me?"
"I mean...not attack...but infiltrate. I know you're ready. You know, Breanna's camp."
"We're just going to rescue my friends right?" Sarah asked.
"Of course." Bradley replied, grinning slightly when Sarah looked away.

***

The other three survivors sat in the cabin as Breanna went over the game plan.

"So most of the people in Bradley's camp defected from your camp and followed him?" JC asked.
"We started as one camp after the zombie breakout. We were together when it happened...with our parents." Breanna said.
"What happened?"
"There is no need to divulge into that." Breanna said. "We need to focus on getting your friend back. Here is the rest of the plan..."

The group sat and listened for the next hour.

"So you guys got the plan?" Breanna asked. The three survivors nodded as they looked at each other in agreement. The door opened and several people walked in with weapons ready and their faces camouflaged. "They will be joining us tonight. They've all been debriefed and are the best soldiers in my camp. There is no way we won't be able to get your friend back. Just no way...Where is Rufus?"

***

David slowly woke up, blinking his eyes to refocus. The room was dark although he could see strands of sunlight peaking through the curtains. His head hurt as if he was hit by a bus and his body felt heavy. Everything was still a bit foggy as he head throbbed. He could hear mumbling a few feet away from him but he couldn't see who it was. His eyes felt heavy and David thought rubbing them would clear them up. He tried to lift up his hand and instantly realized he was tied up. Panic stricken he begun to flail and noticed his legs were also bound and tied to a wooden board on the floor. A heavy laugh permeated through the room as a few other chuckles joined in. David craned his neck as far up as he could and saw several dark robed figures around him with blood red candles lit encircling his body on the floor. One man stepped forward, a small hunched frame, his head covered in a pointed hood, and stood over David's immobile body carrying a leather bound text.

"Diabolus ortum. Accipere viventium ad infernum. Ut immortui ambulare inter nos. Ut sunt vincere lux." The man chanted.

David panicked even more but struggling did nothing. He tried to scream but no noise came out. The man pulled a long silver dagger from his robe as he read more from the text.

"Meum sanguinem est sanguine. Ut aperire in denigrata flumen. Ut eam suscipiat malum in corda. Sit malum effundam in nobis ... ut eam tenebrescere animae."

The man pulled back a sleeve and made a slit on his forearm with the silver knife. Another robed figure rushed forward to catch the crimson blood that flowed out of the hunched figure with a wooden bowl. He took the bowl from the other and walked over to David, kneeling by his head.

"You will drink this." The robed figure said. David began to weep as he tightened his mouth to try and stop it although he knew it was futile. The robed figure chortled. "It'll make you strong." He said.
Two more robed figures approached David and both sat down kneeling by his arm. They each took out a bowl filled with a dark substance and a long thin rod with a steel nail tied to the end.
"Hold still and it won't hurt." They both said as they rolled up David's shirt sleeves.

They both dipped the tip of the nail into the black substance and started to pound it into David's arm using a tiny hammer-like instrument. David winced as the motion felt like a million tiny needles piercing into his skin. They continued at it for another five minutes and stepped away when they finished. David screamed in agony and the hunched figure took it as an opportunity to pour a bit of blood into David's mouth. He tried to spit it out but the man held his jaw shut until he had no choice but to swallow.

The door burst open and someone rushed in. "Breanna's looking for the rest of us! We're attacking tonight!"

"What?" The hunched figure stood up. "We haven't finished the ceremony."
"There is no time Dmitri, we need to clean this up before we are discovered." A voice David recognized as Rufus. "We need to hurry. I will go out and distract them. Get the boy up and keep him from talking." Rufus said and rushed out the door after ripping his robe off and tossing it on the ground.
"Don't you worry." The man took his hood off revealing his old wrinkled face with a gray stringy beard that fell down beneath his robe. He squeezed David's face with his bony hand and looked at him directly in his eyes -- his eyes were both a different color. "You utter a single word about this and you will die." Dmitri said. "Got it?" David nodded furiously. "Not a word."

***

"There you are Rufus. That took a while. Where were you?" Breanna asked.
"I was leading a few of the younger people how to properly store the stream water we collected."
"That is fine. I hope you are informed of our mission tonight."
"Yes ma'am." Rufus bowed his head. "I will prepare everyone to head out come sunset. We will be ready by nightfall."
"Good. I knew I could always count on you." Breanna said. Rufus hid a small grin and excused himself.

"We're going to get Sarah back tonight." JC said to the others.
"Finally...and maybe we'll be able to figure out what that zombie-like creature we stumbled across was." Mel said.
"And maybe get the hell out of here..." Jiko said. "Something about this all gives me the creeps."
"Yeah, we should go check on David...that lucky bastard is probably just sleeping in the cabin without a care in the world." JC said.
"Don't worry...we'll just have him carry our things tonight." Mel said. The three of them laughed in agreement.

David was tossed back into his cabin dripping sweat all over his face. With all the fear and confusion for a moment he forgot that he had been branded with something on his arms. He rolled up his sleeve and noticed a symbol tattooed.
"Holy shit..." David said when he realized it was the exact first symbol of the zombie-like creature they had found in the woods. What would have happened to him if they had finished their ceremony? He didn't want to think about it nor would he have time to think about it because come nightfall neither camp knew they would be clashing with one another...and neither camp knew how much blood would be spilled that night.

Episode 46: `Tree Dashing

"Hey, are you ready?" Bradley poked his head into a cabin. Finishing a knot on her belt, Sarah looked up and nodded. Bradley returned with a smile and led her out of the cabin.

"So today we're going to teach you the art of tree dashing." Bradley said as he brought her to a clearing with a circle of trees surrounding them. Sarah looked up above and already saw at least a dozen youngsters laughing and having fun while jumping, swinging and climbing in the trees.

"They're already pretty good aren't they?" Bradley said. Sarah smiled and agreed.

The day Bradley had brought Sarah back to the camp he had explained the entire situation to her...that her friends were in danger being with Breanna, his sister. 

"She's a ruthless killer and has a heart of the coldest ice." Bradley began, "Your friends are going to die in her hands unless we do something about it." 

"What happened between the two of you that made you mortal enemies?" Sarah asked. He didn't respond but looked out the window instead trying to avoid the question. Sarah grew silent and understood that it probably wasn't an appropriate time to ask.

"Then how are we going to help them?"

Bradley explained that they had to infiltrate the camp and get her friends back. The survivors in his camp were excellent tree climbers and their agility were par none to anyone in Breanna's camp. They learned to move through the trees when they realized that zombies couldn't climb. It was essential for their survival.

"We will sneak in there in the middle of the night, find them and bring them back here. But by now, either their dead or Breanna has already brainwashed them to believe that you've been kidnapped by a horrible person. She's evil, that one. I can't even stand to look at her."

Sarah felt a pang of sympathy for Bradley. He had been nice to her the entire time and all he wanted was to help her get her friends back. He must have a good heart, she thought...he must be the knight in this story.

But now they were busy climbing trees. Sarah began to climb one with the assistance of vines that were wrapped around the trunk to help the younger children and new climbers up. 

"Once you're up there, don't look down!" Bradley said as she began her ascent. "Just keep looking forward and above you. Pretend you're on the ground!" 

Sarah gulped as she climbed, closing her eyes every time her foot missed a holding and she didn't feel any ground beneath her. "Easier said than done..." She thought. Taking a deep breath, she focused on looking up where a few children were giggling and whispering waiting for her to reach them.

"Hurry." A voice from above her said.

"How did you get up so fast?" Sarah asked Bradley who was already in a tree above her. He jumped from one branch to another, like a dance in mid air. He met her at the branch she climbed onto. 

"Here grab my hand." 

She grabbed it and felt a warm pulse run down her spine. Her face grew flushed and a her throat dry.

Bradley smiled back. "Come on, it's easy." And he showed her how to tree dash.

***

"Fuck I'm done for." David said trying to find anything to hide behind.

"Yeah I need a break." Rufus' booming voice yelled back at someone. The knob at the door began to turn...."I said put it over there!!" The knob stopped. "You idiot, let me take care of it. Follow me!!!" And his earth shaking foot steps began to dissipate.

David collapsed on the floor from relief but realized he needed to roll the rug back over the floor and get out of there.

He peaked his head out the door and quickly dashed out back to his cabin where it was safe to really collapse...he was supposed to be sick after all. 

Moments later there was a knock on the door.

"Come in..." David said feigning weakness. Rufus entered.

"You think I'm an idiot don't you?" 

David bolted up from the floor and backed up quickly to one side of the cabin as Rufus approached him.

"I know what you did." He got closer. Pinned to the wall, Rufus grabbed David by the shirt collar and without much effort lifted him up to his eye level. "Now you're coming with me."

"Wh...where?" David asked nervously. 

"You want to pray?...Let's pray." 

And Rufus led David back to his cabin where his screams for help were muffled by the hustle and bustle of the chores being done around camp.

Episode 45: The Masked Man and The Hidden Symbols

Jiko blinked three times fast to refocus his eyes for the darkness. The sly figure disappeared around a corner and Jiko kept pace a few steps back. The mystery man looked inside a cabin but immediately left and moved on soon after.
"Who is that and what are they looking for?" Jiko thought. He figured it was one of Bradley's cronies trying to find where the medical supplies were.
The mystery man arrived at another cabin. This time he knocked. The door cracked open a little and a familiar face poked out checking around for anyone else.
"Rufus!" Jiko whispered to himself. Once deciding the coast was clear Rufus let the mystery man into his cabin. Jiko snuck around the side and peered ever so slightly over the windowsill. A lantern, just like in his cabin, was flicking on the floor. The shadows danced on the walls and he saw Rufus and the man talking in the middle. The man had a bandanna over his face but Jiko could tell he was tall and athletically built.

Rufus slipped him something that the mystery man quickly put into his pocket. Jiko's eyes grew wide trying to figure out what it was...there was something not right here.
"What are you doing!" Jiko jumped, startled and turned around to find a guard behind him.
"I ah...am just taking a midnight stroll."
"Guests are not allowed out of their rooms at night. This is forbidden and is for your own personal safety. Now I must take you back to your cabin." The guard pushed Jiko in front of him. He turned around for one final look and saw the mystery man sneak out of Rufus' cabin and jump over the banisters to the forest floor below.

The guard brought Jiko back into the cabin with a stern warning and his friends awaiting him. He explained everything to them as they sat in awe at what was going on.
"What do you think that package was?" JC asked.
"I don't know...but do you think it'll be safe if we ask Breanna about it tomorrow?" Mel questioned.
Jiko shook his head. "No, no...but whatever Rufus is doing, he's doing it behind Breanna's back...we have to figure out what it is."
"How?" JC asked.
"Tomorrow...we'll have to slip into Rufus' cabin and search around." Jiko said.
"How will that work? There are guards everywhere and Breanna is going to need us to discuss our plan of action."
"Not all of us..." Jiko said looking at David.
"Wait, what? What do you want me to do?" David said with fear in his voice. Jiko laid out the plan and everyone went to bed...some sooner than others, as David struggled to find comfort in his role the next day.

The next day the group gathered in Breanna's cabin where they found her deep in thought, sipping tea.
"We're ready to go over the plan now." JC said. She continued to sip her tea without looking up once. "Aren't you listening?!" JC said growing angry. "Our friend is out there and we need to help her now."
Breanna barely looked up from her cup and gave a small grin.
"Why are you smiling? I don't see anything that's funny." JC said.
"Ugh..." They all turned around to see David stumbling in the back.
"What's wrong?" Mel asked.
"I don't feel too good...can I be excused and just go back to the cabin to rest?" David asked. Mel looked back at Breanna who had now stood up and went over to her oak desk rifling through papers.
"Well...can I?" David asked. Breanna didn't even look up from the documents on her desk. She just waved her hand to excuse him.
"Look for anything suspicious and cover your tracks." Mel whispered before David left.
"Now are you ready to tell us the plan?" JC said sternly. "We need to get out there now."
"So eager...to try and save a friend that is probably dead." Breanna said sifting through papers.
"I don't care! We're going to try!" JC said slamming his hands on her desk causing paper to fly everywhere.
"And a short temper...tsk tsk...you're going to just walk into harms way and not only kill yourself but the rest of your group."
Jiko looked up from sharpening his knife.
"But fine. We're going to have to infiltrate his camp. I'm sure you're up to the task?" Breanna said looking at Jiko. He re-sheathed his blade and nodded. "Good...then here's what we do..."

Sweating profusely from the heat and his nerves, David looked around to make sure that no one was watching. Rufus had gone to the brook by the blueberry fields with two others to gather food and water so he knew he only had a limited time. He quietly crept into the cabin and immediately thought to begin searching the cabinets and the desk drawers. Nothing. He looked under the bed and in between the pillows. Nothing. The books on the shelves yielded nothing except that David was surprised to learn that Rufus could actually read.

He began to pace back and forth afraid of what Mel might say if he came back empty handed. That's when he noticed something written on the floor. It peaked out slightly from beneath the old red rug. He pulled it back a little and noticed a circle etched into the wood with symbols all around. Instantly he recognized a few being the same that they had seen on the creature in the woods a few days back.
"What is this!!" He thought to himself as he unrolled the carpet even more to unveil the entire circle. In the middle was a pentagram and spots where candle wax had dried. David was sure this was an altar of some kind but what and why...

"Bring the water to the basins. I'm going to take a breather." A voice from outside the door boomed.
"OH SHIT!" David said quietly. Rufus was a mere second away from opening the door and finding him in there. He had no idea how he was going to escape this one...it seemed like the end for him.

Episode 44: O Brother Where Art Thou?

The sun was softening as the day rolled into late afternoon.

"Um, should it be taking this long?" JC asked. Breanna was gazing out the window by the side of her ruby throne.
"Your friend is in danger! Rufus!" Breanna called. The giant of a man entered the cabin, causing the floor beneath the survivors to shake.
"What do you mean!" JC sounding nervous. "What's going on?"
"Grab me my sword, we need to go find her." Breanna instructed. Everyone got up, equipped themselves and hurried out of the cabin.

They all rushed out of camp towards where the blueberry fields were to find any signs of Sarah.
"SARAH!" David yelled. Hearing this, Breanna hit David just hard enough with the butt of her sword to his head. "Ouch! What was that for?" David asked.
"Do you want all the zombies to hear you and come after us!?" Breanna said. Rufus was right behind her cracking his knuckles in David's direction. He lowered his head and quickly quieted down.
Over by a tall patch of grass Breanna began crawling and looking for something in particular.
"What is she looking for?" Mel asked. Jiko ran over and joined her and quickly realized what was happening.
"There's blood here." Jiko said.
"Sarah?!" Mel panicked and ran over to notice the darkened ruby drops that laced a patch of grass.Both Breanna and Jiko followed the trail to a mound of dirt, leaves and debris that have been trodden black. Everyone gathered around it as Rufus lifted the mound in one sweep of a lift. Mel let out a small scream.
The mutilated body of a man, freshly killed, was hidden beneath the pile. On top of the man's chest was a small picture of a family with two young children. Breanna looked away for a second but got up and brandished her sword. "Back to camp..."
"But what about Sarah?" JC asked as he tried to keep up with Breanna's quickening pace.
"We can't help her." She said sharply. "It's too late."
JC looked at his other companions trying to find support. Mel looked confused, Jiko showed little emotion pondering the situation and David had no idea what was going on. JC sprinted ahead of Breanna and stopped in front of her, staring her down in the eyes. Rufus began to charge down the middle but Breanna stopped him with a gentle pat on the arm. "It's fine..." She said to her giant friend.
"You have a lot of heart don't you?" Breanna asked turning back to JC. He just looked back. "Enough heart to survive, huh? You're not like the others that have come through this way. Other people that have been lost I've sent packing just to get them out of my hair. But you're different. You're all different..." She said looking at everyone else, "Except maybe you..." looking at David, "You're just...special."
"So will you help us get Sarah back?"
Breanna nodded. "Yes...if she's still alive." And she continued walking back to camp.
"If? What do you mean IF?" JC demanded.
"The person who took her is a cunning, conniving and cruel individual. He leads a small band of survivors just on the other side of the blueberry fields and they have been trying to infiltrate my camp for the last couple of months to raid our medical supplies. But I know he'll probably keep her for ransom...at least for a little while."
"How do you know so much about him?" JC asked.
Breanna looked straight into his eyes and without skipping a beat said, "He's my brother."

The survivors looked at each other as they trailed behind Breanna, finally making it back to camp. They all entered a smaller cabin not far from the one they had been in before.
"It's getting dark. Rest tonight and tomorrow we will go over the plan." Breanna said. "And whatever you do, do not leave this cabin." She left.

The survivors gathered around a few lanterns that sat in the middle of the floor where their sleeping bags were.
"What do you think is going to happen tomorrow?" David asked everyone else.
"I'm not sure...but it must be weird knowing that her brother is the enemy..." Mel said.
"I wonder what happened between them." David pondered.

They continued talking as the lanterns gently flickered and the sounds of crickets orchestrated the night.
A few bursts of light from outside caught Jiko's eye. He got up, flicked open his butterfly knife and looked. There was nothing for a while.
"What is it?" Mel asked from the floor. Jiko signaled them to be quiet. The rest of them gathered by the window as well. Another few bursts of light radiated in the darkness. From a distance the woods seemed as if they were casting an eerie glow. Small bursts of oranges and yellows dusted the darkness but disappeared as quickly as they happened.
"Could be another fire?" Mel asked, recalling the blazing inferno the group experienced back in Friendship Heights.
"Let's hope not...we barely survived the last one." JC responded.
"Everyone be quiet and duck!" Jiko instructed. They heard footsteps creaking from outside as they all peered slightly over the windowsill to see who was outside. A man, veiled in the darkness, crept quietly, looking around as if the area wasn't too familiar.
"Who is that?" David whispered. Mel shut him up. Jiko made a signal for them to go outside. "But Breanna said not to go outside." David reminded them. Jiko ignored him as the others followed. He quietly opened the door and did a somersault behind a barrel to hide from view.
"Tell us what you find!" JC whispered to him. Jiko nodded and dashed into the night.