Erica couldn't think straight, as bodies outside the car were consumed by the living dead. People screamed and ran around like bees in a beehive. The stronger undead wasps, snatched at the living killing, and turning many others. She'd run over a few of the dead walking in the street. They hit one rather juicy body, that splattered blood onto the windshield, she had to quickly turn the wipers on to wash it away. She hoped the girl beside her was too in shock, to notice the piece of flesh stuck in one of the windshield wipers.
"Safety," she thought, "have to find safety for these children, and me. Think Erica, think."
She'd been driving almost in circles trying to figure shit out. Where could they go that was safe? She avoided some streets. One was filling up with dumbasses gathering, trying to find cover and shelter in a small grocery store, instead they were becoming a banquet for the undead. An all you can eat buffet, Erica thought in passing.
She'd pondered going back West, but didn't want to pass by the park. She didn't want to traumatize the poor preteen again. Nor did she want to risk seeing Stevie's dead body, walking around vacant. She felt the hairs on her arms stand up. It was that feeling you get, when someone had just walked over your grave. She shuddered.
The girl had been sitting quietly, holding her baby brother or sister close. She stared out the window, the look in her eyes was fearful. She'd seen something that no child should see. Erica thought about asking for her name, but she didn't want to interrupt the silence. With the screaming and dying outside the truck, she worshipped the quiet within it. Passing through a red light, she had the instinct to look for the flashing of blue and red in the mirror, and instead saw the blood and emptiness behind her.
"Well at least the apocalypse has one benefit." She said, not realizing she spoke out loud.
The girl kept staring out the window, salty tears sliding down her freckled face. At some point she'd began humming to the baby, but whatever song it was Erica didn't know it. She was at a loss. They needed to find safety and shelter for the night before it got dark and hard to see outside. They had hours left but with the luck they'd been having, she knew it was a count down. She was just about to turn down 12th street when a thought hit her.
"Kristys," she whispered.
Maybe Kristy was home and hiding? They where best friends. Granted, they'd been fighting the last few years, but this was a bloody apocalypse maybe all could be forgiven? She'd take the chance. From habit, she hit the turn signal and went up 12th street, heading for 14th street. As she pulled up, she cursed. She'd forgotten, to actually get in the damn building she had to beep up and ask to be let in. Pulling up to the front she looked around. So far, she saw nobody dead or alive. She parked the truck.
Even with her objective in sight Erica was hesitant to get out. Looking around the vehicle, she searched for a weapon. Anything would do even a freaking screwdriver. She opened the glove compartment under the dashboard. She found a flashlight, an empty lighter container, a lot of papers, candy wrappers and junk, and...a pen! That was better then nothing. Grabbing it she turned to the kid. For the first time in what seemed like forever, she spoke to her.
"I need to get out, I'm going over to that building," She pointed to the front of the apartments, an old sign with a name, hung with fading letters saying Oakland. "I know a women who lives here. This might be a safe place to stay, for the night at least. I can't get in without talking to her first." She paused for answer and when she got none she continued, "I need you both to stay in the truck and I need you to duck down and be quiet. I don't want any of those Bone-Daddies to see you and get hun--well you just need to duck down." The teen looked at Erica, she nodded her head slightly.
The setting sun shone down on the girl making the brown spots on her nose and cheeks lighten. A weird feeling settled over Erica, but she shook it off and nodded back. "I promise I won't be gone long, just sit in here. I'm going to lock the door and leave the keys in here with you. If for whatever reason I don't come back take the truck." She didn't know what else to say, so she nodded her head and turned toward the door.
Her eyes scanned around one last time, before she opened the truck and hopped out. Holding the pen in an almost death grip she hastily ran up to the front door. She looked for Kristys last name, Alonso, and pushed the button. She had to push it five times before she got an answer.
"The fuck do you want?" The female voice said sleepily.
Great. People are out here dying(ish) and she's taking a goddamned beauty nap, She thought but said, "Kristy it's Erica."
"Well I'll be baked in grease and served for breakfast, the hell do you want?"
Great she was sober and in a bad mood, and Erica was in danger just standing here. She darted a look around.
"Haven't you heard anything on the news?"
"Why the fuck would I watch the news? I'm fucked up enough as it is, I don't want that shit in my home. What the fuck you want?"
"Look I can explain better inside." Great she didn't know anything.
"What makes you think I want you in my house?" Kristy sneered. Make that a horrible mood. Must've been dumped. Like today.
"I'm begging you Kristy, have you seen what's happening out here?"
The silence from the other end was disconcerting. She felt all her instincts heighten, and swore she heard a branch break somewhere. She looked back around seeing nothing. She was just able to stave off shaking. Then she heard a small buzz and the door opened. She looked at the truck and saw the kid peeking up over the door.
With a hand gesture, she told her to stay down and stay alert. She then smiled and went inside. If she just brought the girl and baby up Kristy would immediately kick them out. Kristy never wanted kids, couldn't stand them. So bringing one into her 'castle' without permission, was a bad idea idea. A major no-no. Erica didn't know if anything had gotten into the building, so she kept her pen out and ready to attack.
She looked down the hall. It was a little too dark for her taste. Unnerving that anything could be down there and she'd never know it. Erica had never been afraid of the dark, even as a little girl, but she found herself fighting to keep from backing away. She took a deep breath and made her way up the stairs. Her fight-or-flight instincts were on overdrive, as she tried keeping an eye on her back and front. It took forever just to get to Kristys floor at the top. It was weird to be terrified of knocking on a door. She didn't know if any old person had died of old age, a person offed themselves, or someone had just died of a sickness within the building. Gathering up courage she hurried, and knocked three times on the door.
Damnit Kristy don't make me knock again, She thought.
The door opened and there was Kristy a beer in one hand, a cigarette in the other, and a flaunting grin on her face.
"I knew it. I'm right and your wrong." She puffed out.
Erica didn't hesitate. She quickly pushed her through the doorway, and shot past her to the window to look outside at the truck. Maybe the front of the building wasn't such a good idea? What if someone alive tried to take it? What if someone was coming now? She needed to hurry and get those kids up here.
Why did she even worry for them?
"The hell was that for?" Kristy yelled.
Erica put her hand over Kristys mouth. Oops not the best idea. But she went with it. The women glared at her.
"Look Kristy, I'm going to tell you something. Your not going to believe it, but I need you to trust me that it's real."
She caught a look of intrigue in Kristys eyes. She was interested even though she was pissed.
"You want to hear it?" Erica asked.
Kristy couldn't help but nod her head. If Kristy was anything, she was a drama queen. Always one for news and blah-blah-blah gossip. Ericas voice dropped to just above a whisper.
"There are these...things going around eating people." She said. Even now she was hesitant to say Zombie.
Kristy started laughing and snorting. She said, "What kind of drugs has Steven been giving you girl, you sound like a nutcase and that's coming from me!"
Erica glared hard at her and in a serious tone she said "Kristy, Steven is dead."
Kristy instantly stopped laughing. If there was one thing she'd believe it was that. Out of all the faults the women shared, there was a few understandings they had as well. One being they'd never lie about something so serious. To much in their pasts formed that one, mutual, understanding. Kristys face sobered.
"How the fuck did that happen?"
Erica felt an almost overwhelmingly flood of emotion settle on her stomach. Steven had been her life. Sure the fool was a drug dealer who occasionally took a hit off one once in a while, but he shared with Erica. He'd been the best man she'd ever dated. He wasn't abusive, he'd been full of laughter and had the best personality. Even her mom had unwillingly liked the guy. Went so far as to ask when they'd marry. At the thought of her mom seven states away, her stomach curled. Was her mom okay?
"Yo, earth do Erica, the fuck happened? Why is he dead?"
Erica swallowed past a lump in her throat. "There was this guy, a customer of his..." She went off telling the story as fast as she could, skipping all the parts of nearly puking and pissing herself, and finally getting to the part on the two kids.
"Are you shitting me? How the hell am I supposed to believe all this bullshit? Fucking dead people walking around? Are you serious? You expect me to believe that ass-hat lie?" Erica felt her skin prickle, she only calmed herself by reminding mentally, that they needed the safety Kristy could provide.
"It's the truth. And if you want proof just look at the teenager and her baby sibling outside, in danger and in my truck."
Kristys eyes said she doubted it. "What do I get out of letting a bratty kid and her baby in here?"
"Good Karma." She said. Kristy frowned. "Come on Kris, it's not like I'm asking to stay here for forever, I just need a night to get my priorities straight. And the kids are probably starved, we've been driving for forever looking for somewhere to go."
"Why can't you just take her home? You got a place."
Actually Kristy was wrong. The real reason for Stevens business that morning had been to get the rest of the money they needed to rent a new apartment. Erica had wanted to sale her truck-baby but Steven wouldn't have it. He had insisted she keep her vehicle and he'd take care of it. He'd said to think of it as side money and making it would be easier. She felt a sting in her heart.
Barely keeping back her emotions she said, "We lost that place a few months ago. We had a new one figured out but then shit went down."
Erica didnt think she could talk much longer about her man. Kristy looked annoyed but said, "Fine, fine go get the brat and the baby. Hey!" She snapped, "They are on you, I take no responsibility. I didn't want them in the first place."
Erica felt relief, then cold hard dread as she hear a loud HONK from outside. Why would the kid honk, when there were dead possibly walking around? Unless... Erica ran over to the window and looked out. There were two deadies banging on the truck windows. She couldn't see the girl from here, she knew the kid had to be terrified. Why had she took the girls only possible defense? Kristy was trying to look past Erica, however there wasn't enough room.
"Do you still have your ex's gun?" She asked.
Kristy looked almost offended, "Do I have his gun? Are you seriously asking that?"
She walked over to her closet and reaching up she grabbed a long thin, rectangular box, bringing it down. The twinkle in her eyes said volumes, the gun was a beauty. Erica would have to save all the admiring for later. She snatched the box away, filling the gun with bullets. She heard another Honk.
"Where are your good knives? The sharp ones?" Erica asked. Kristy grinned walking back toward her closet.