Zombie Bait

Zoey woke up to the sound of birds chirping, while the sun had not yet risen, in the same girly bedroom. She was wearing the same white tank top as from the first days after the infection, and a pair of black sweatpants she had found. She sat there under the covers waiting for the sun to come up, but then realized it was still too early for sunrise. She decided it would be better to watch the sunrise with someone else rather than by herself. She quietly climbed off her bed and snuck across the room. She left the door ajar last night just in case she needed to leave, forgetting all about the infected. Staying in the house - redubbed "saferoom" - took all the worry out of her. And if she did happen to encounter the infected, her friends would help her out. And now there were seven survivors. And it would feel like six if she just kept ignoring Nick.

She knew Ellis would probably still be asleep, so she snuck over, seeming to be muted along the way. Zoey opened his door and saw he was still asleep. She proceeded to the bed and took a seat next to his legs, waiting for him to wake up.

Ellis turned around in his sleep. But even in sleep he could feel a weight on the bed. He opened his eyes and saw Zoey, despite the darkness.

"Zoey, what are ya doin' here? What time is it?"

"I dunno."

"Why are ya here?"

"I feel... better when you're with me. Like, whenever I'm with you, I can't stand being away, and... And that I can just hold on to you and never let you go.

Ellis was slightly shocked. "That's.. really sweet, Zoey," he replied sincerely.

Zoey decided to lie down next to him.

As if it were a reflex, Ellis put his arm around her the second she lay down. He felt her hands on his bare chest, but knew he could not let her fingers wander (even if he wanted to). He stroked her hair gently and slowly, and his hand eventually made its way to her cheek. Ellis leaned towards Zoey, and she leaned towards him, and they closed their eyes...

The loud thud of a door opening suddenly and Nick's sudden shouts had killed the romantic mood.

"Hey! Lovebirds! Cut the kissing crap and get out here!"

They reluctantly rose from the bed. Zoey pushed Nick to the side and walked out of the room. Ellis just stared coldly.

Nick sighed loudly and morosely. "Ellis." Ellis simply continued to stare at him.

"Look, Ellis. I'm really sorry I abandoned you. I mean it."

The glare seemed to diminish.

"To be honest, I never met anybody like you. I could never trust anybody. But-"

Nick sighed again as he struggled to choose his words.

"You're a good friend, Ellis. Really."

-

"Alright, everyone," Francis said, "I spotted a horde coming this way. Ellis, the car is fixed, right?"

"All it needs is gas."

"Ok. I saw a gas station not far from here. Let's head there."

"So, here what we gonna do," Coach said. "Two of us is gonna get the gas."

"Two others are gonna go get some supplies." Louis told them. "You know, like first aid, medication (pills), food, and ammo,"

"So, Ellis and Zoey," Coach told them, "You gonna have to distract and kill the zombies. Me and Ro gonna get the gas, and Nick and Francis gonna get the other stuff. Got it?"

"Got it," they replied.

As everyone had started their own conversations, whether they were about the infection, or anything else in general, Zoey walked towards Louis, who, visibly, was still injured.

"Hey, Louis. Feeling better?"

"Yes, Zoey. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine here."

"You sure, Louis? I don't want your leg to get worse. I'm really worried about you."

"Zoey, I'll be okay. Just go on. No need to worry."

"Louis, there is a need to worry. I don't wanna lose you. No one does."

As the other survivors ran out the door, Zoey turned to Louis.

"Well," she calmly said, "wish me luck."

"Good luck, Zoey."

"You too, Louis."

-

"Question: How come me an' Zoey gotta shoot the zombies? Why can't be any of you guys?"

Before the survivors went out to find the gas stations, they armed themselves with shotguns, sub-machine guns, and so on, and took a few axes and katanas, along with a first aid.

"Because," Francis told them, "We're gonna need some free hands to hold a lot of gas and shit."

"Are you sure two people are gonna be enough to fend against the horde?" Zoey asked him.

"Cupcake," Nick teasingly said to her, "Two will be enough."

"And how would you know, Colonel Sanders?"

"I have been surviving on my own for three days before I met these guys. I think you could survive a little while with Ellis."

Zoey grunted. It was obvious she was annoyed. Ellis was behind her.

"Hey, Zoey. You alright? Sorry 'bout him bein-"

"A bitch?"

"Yeah." Ellis handed her a hunting rifle and an assault rifle. "Since the others gonna be gettin' stuff, I think we oughta take more weapons."

"Alright. Everyone ready?" Rochelle asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Let's move out!"

Everyone darted out the garage door and ran through a bunch of trees towards very dim lighting coming from the gas station.

"Store's this way. Come on, douche," Francis told Nick.

-

Ellis and Zoey were completely alone in the dark, outside, waiting for the rest to hurry up and run back.

"Hey, Ellis."

"Yeah?"

"Do you think there's actually gonna be some zombies?"

"Prob'ly."

There was a long silent pause.

"So, Ellis," Zoey said, sounding unemotional, "Nick still pissing you off?"

"Kinda."

Zoey sat down, unable to come up with anything to say. Then she started to worry. Not that those old zombie movies ever really happened in real life, but most of the people never even get a chance to survive. Maybe she was just lucky...

"What's wrong, Zoey? It's about them zombies, ain't it?"

Zoey stood up. "Well, I used to love these old zombie movies. But now, it's as if I'm actually trapped in one. And most people don't survive." Zoey started to tear up. "And what if we're like most people? What if we die under all these goddamn zombies? What if lose anybody else?! I lost my parents! And then Bill went! And Louis! What about Louis?! Soon everyone that I've known and loved will be gone! GONE! And, to make things worse," Zoey cried, "You'll be gone, too! I don't wanna lose you!" Zoey embraced Ellis and cried into his chest, and held him tight.

"Don't worry, Zoey. I'll make sure no one else goes. I'll protect ya. I don't want ya to get hurt. You don't deserve to get hurt this much."

At that moment, a horde was heard. Zoey and Ellis took their guns out and pulled the triggers of each. They aimed for the heads, which rapidly exploded at impact, causing the skulls to break open and in small pieces, the blood to splatter all around the area, and the pieces of brains to fall out and give a slight bounce on contact with the ground. The sound of bullets being fired filled the air, and the stench of infected flesh overcame the once-fresh air.

"We got the gas! Where's the other two?!" Coach yelled.

"Haven't seen 'em!" Ellis shouted back.

"Alright, we got everything."

"Then let's GET TO THE FUCKING CAR!" Nick shouted.

"Cover us." Rochelle commanded.

Ellis ran in front of the survivors so he can shoot the infected and clear a path. Unfortunately, a Hunter tackled Ellis.

"Get it off! Get it off!"

"Oh, shit. Ellis!" Zoey pointed the shotgun towards the Hunter's head and fired a shot. As soon as the Hunter was dead, Zoey helped Ellis up.

"Thanks, Zoey."

"You're welcome."

"How are we like most people?"

Zoey just looked at him.

"Let's just get to the car," she mumbled.

-

The survivors managed to get to the car. Louis hadn't seen an infected being since they had left. So they quickly climbed into car, rushing the seating arrangements.

"I'm driving!"

"No way! I'll take the wheel-"

"In your dreams, white suit!"

"My gosh, can we forget who-"

"Louis should have his own seat."

"Cupcake, don't-"

"SHUT. THE FUCK. UP!"

"Everyone please, stop-"

Random shouts and tiffs went about in the car, until Coach ultimately took the wheel, with Louis sitting on the passanger seat, Rochelle sitting on Francis' lap on the right side of the backseat (and Zoey sitting on Ellis' lap on the other side), leaving Nick stuck in the middle.

Ellis handed Coach the keys so he could start the car. Long after it moved miles away from the house they were staying in, he felt Zoey rest her head on his shoulder, napping a bit. He embraced her and started to fall asleep, too.

Yet he could still hear some things. "So, we're driving from here to...."

-

Eventually, Zoey woke up, and saw that they were driving through a seemingly infinite forest.

"Where are we?" she heard the quiet, whispering voice ask.

"I dunno," she responded.

"Well, overalls, wherever we are, we need a tire change."

"Who asked you?"

"Just change the goddamn tire."

"Hand me a weapon."

Ellis snatched the shotgun and opened the back door.

"Hey, Zoey. Ya think you can get off fer a bit?"

"I'm coming with you."

-

"You IDIOT! Why didn't you bring a spare tire?!"

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't put a fuckin' tire in there 'cause somebody wanted to get all lovey-dovey!"

"I got all 'lovey-dovey'?"

"That was all you! I was the one who was workin on this piece of shit while your lazy butt didn't do nothin'!"

"Lazy?!"

"Yeah, lazy! Appearantly, you're the lil' princess that have to point out-"

Zoey immediately slapped Ellis on the cheek, making it hurt so bad her own hand hurt.

"Does that mean you don't care about me?!" Zoey asked, in tears.

"Zoey-"

"Hey, what's going on here?" Francis asked as he made his way out of the car.

"Shut up!" She yelled.

-

She dashed into a forest, crying, wanting to be alone.

Huge mistake.

Heavy breathing loomed around the trees, growing closer as she neared another tree.  A loud pound crushed a log near a tree that wasn't very far away from her. The snapping wood sound was clear and not very distant.

A massive arm that seemed to be nothing but muscle was in her sight.

Zoey figeted, searching for a weapon on her back, when she came to the horrible realization.

She didn't bring a weapon.

She started to run, but tripped on a root and twisted her ankle until the joint snapped.

With that, she let out a sharp, piercing, merciful scream.