I start to panic. What the FUCK! I saw that nobody was following me several times!
- "Open up! I know you're in there!", the man says while banging on the door a few more times.
I can't answer! I need to think. Where's my knife? Shit! On the other room table. I quietly get off the bed and sneak to the kitchen. But then I hear keys jangling and the door lock opening up with a clank. I turn back to look at the door. I know for sure that I locked it twice from the inside! Only one turn left. I ran to the door to put the chain lock on. Why didn't I do that! I don't care if he knows I'm here if I lock it, I don't want him to come in.
As soon as I touched the chain lock, the door swung open. The man was standing there with a bunch of keys jingling in his hands. I tried to jump back but started to fall backwards when I stumbled.
Right when I was bracing myself for the impact, an arm wraps around me saving me from the fall. Startled that I didn't fall I was dumbfounded for a second. But then I regained my senses and I pushed him away before I regained my foothold so I fell on my butt anyway. Then he laughed!
- "Hahaha. Why did you do that?" he asked while laughing at me softly. And then he offered me his hand helping me to get up. I take it as I feel no hostile feelings from him. But I should still keep my knife close just in case. It's still on the kitchen table. I got up with his help. My butt is a little sore because I landed on it repeatedly today.
- "Stay back!" I warned him. I start to take a step back towards the kitchen. I need to keep him talking to buy some time.
- "How did you know where I was? I was not followed. And what the fuck is up with those keys?!", I say.
- "Oh easy. You let Mr.Samson out. He was the school janitor and I knew where he lived.", he says carefreely.
- "You knew where he was?", I ask questioningly.
- " Yeah" he says. "I put him here myself." gesturing to the apartment. "Oh and the keys were downstairs next to the door" he explains playfully.
He put him here. Why would he put him here?
- "Did you put all the zombies back in their homes?!", I ask. Is he insane or something?
- "People! I put people back into their homes. Only the ones I could find at least. Some houses are still empty. I thought they would want to be in their homes when they change back. But so far no one has." he says while shrugging.
Then he finally noticed that I was heading back towards the kitchen, and he leaned forward aggressively to grab my hands. I can't believe how fast he is! He grasps both my hands and hold it in front of my body. I struggle to get free with my whole weight. He's holding onto me tightly but he's making no effort.
- "Let go of me! Stay away from me!", I say desperately while still struggling.
- "Woah, woah. Calm down first okay? I'm not here to hurt you. My wife's not here either." he said in a calming tone.
-"Your wife attacked me first, that psycho. I was just trying to leave". If I struggle even more my wrist will start to hurt. Also my strength is starting to fade. He might notice that and maybe start to force me. But he let's go.
- "I know. And I'm here to apologize for that. Lucky that I found you here this fast haha." he says with his hands open in front of him. He's trying to calm me down.
- "Apology accepted. Now leave me alone! I don't want to be anywhere near any of you!" I yell with a hint of pleading voice.
- "Okay I will! I would just like to hear about what's happening out there. This is my hometown, you see. I never left here even before so I'm just curious", he said with an embarrassed face.
- "That does not justify your wife strangling me!" I think. But I feel no threat from him. He really did come here to apologize. But there's one thing I don't understand.
- "She told me to run away. Is there anyone else living here besides you two?". I regretted it as soon as I asked. He froze looking at the floor and with an annoyed face.
- "Did she?" he asks while forcefully smiling after pausing for a second. "What else did she say?" he asked curiously.
- "Like I said, your crazy wife attacked me when I was leaving! You guys have issues. Leave me out of it!", I'm practically begging at this point. But I'm not sure if he's convinced.
- "I will, I will. Don't worry haha. I wanted to ask you where you've been to and the situation on the outside. Please tell me", he begs.
I guess he really wants to know. I can share some information and keep him satisfied and kick him out afterwards. But time is crucial now. If he's here then that means she might find me here just as easily as him.
- "Does she know I'm here? Why did she attack me in the first place anyway? And don't say bullshit like she was scared of me." I needed answers now!
- "She probably wanted to scare you off. I calmed her down after you left, and I told her I needed to ask you things. Zoe thinks I'm chasing after you. Oh my wife's name is Zoe. And I'm Jerry by the way." he says while offering his hand out to shake. I reluctantly took it and introduced myself.
- "Ema" I say. I could see his mouth silently repeating my name after I said it. I have not touched another human being in well over half a year. His hand is surprisingly warm and big.
- "I'll tell you about the things you want to hear but let's close the door and sit down first." I suggest. If it's going to be long then I don't want to endure it while standing in Mr.Samson's corridor.
- "Sure" he says cheerfully while leading me to the kitchen. I guess he was here before when he was shoving the dead owner back to his bedroom just in case he miraculously came back to life. Which will never happen by the way.
- "Did you lock all the zombies of this town in their homes? How many people were here?" I need to know if he's crazy or just naive. He pauses for a few seconds to answer me.
- "I tried to. But those who are lost will always be lost. I put about 300 people safely back in their homes. This city had about 5000 residents…"
I let the silence stay because I was speechless. If there had been 5000 zombies would he have put them all back like Mr.Samson. There's limit to determination. And in my experience, men are usually the ones who end up giving up early.