REMNANTS

Chapter 1

Billy

We had been on the road for a while. We could no longer leave our mark on the world so the world left marks on us. Each step we took drove dirt and stone deep into our soles and the stench of the dead burned our nostrils like a brand onto cattle. 

What do you think Billy? Leona said.

I kept my eyes forward, watching the horizon. About what?

Them. She pointed to one of the rotting Infected corpses that lay in the ditch to the right of us. You think they go to heaven when they turn? She looked up at the sky as we walked past the body. I wiped the sweat off my forehead. Well? she asked impatiently. What do you think!

I don’t.

There ain’t no heaven girl, a whiny Southern voice called out from behind us. And there ain’t no hell neither. Just dirt and worms. We could barely see Malcolm’s eyes under the shadow of his cap. Leona looked up at him and then down at her feet.

No one asked you Malcolm. I looked at him with angry eyes as he spat and stared back at me. I gripped my rifle instinctively. I watched him until he gave in and slowed his pace down and let the others catch up behind him. Leona remained silent beside me. Don’t listen to him, I told her. He’s dumb and he’s weak. She remained silent. For a girl of only eleven years old she was forced by this world to grow up far too quickly. You hear me? I asked as I turned my head to look down at her. She wasn’t there.

Billy! I turned around and saw her. She had stopped a few feet behind me with her arm up, pointing at the road ahead. There was a figure in the distance running toward us, jerking its head sporadically. I motioned for her to get down and raised my rifle. Through the scope, I saw one man in ripped jeans and a dirty, torn flannel shirt. His eyes were wild; his teeth, bared. He was Infected.

Malcolm, Frank and Santana caught up to us and Frank got on one knee beside me. What is it? he whispered. I came to trust Frank. In the two months we had traveled together, I came to rely on him and Santana more. I had seen him chop the arm off an Infected in one clean swing. He was strong, stronger than me.

An Infected, I said. I had the man’s chest in my sights and I pulled the bolt back to make sure I had one in the chamber. It’s just one. We’ll just wait for him to get here and— I lifted my head up off the scope and stood up. Even in the distance I could see the numerous figures that had emerged from behind him.

What? Frank said.

We’ve got to get off the road, I said, and started toward the edge of the forest. It’s a swarm!

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