I was walking in the no go zone. I found a three storey structure that was on the verge of completion. The construction crew must have ditched it after the zombie hoard attacked them. I found a few severed limbs and all sorts of tools strewn all over. The grass is overgrown. Weeds have woven themselves into the beams. There was an eight foot beehive on the side of a half constructed wall. The floor was littered with bird and bat poop. I crawled up the wall and laid down on the ceiling. I closed my eyes and tried to remember the last time I had a moment of peace and quiet since the apocalypse. Everyday I had a chore to do. I was wound up from being on the alert. The constant adrenaline high was overwhelming.
I felt the calm breeze caress my face. The scent of wildflowers wafting subtly. The sound of bees buzzing. Birds chirping and the sound of wings flapping open and close. I took this for granted the moment that Cain said that my life is changed for good. He said that I had to learn all my abilities to ensure my safety. I weaponized my gifts to save my friends from the onslaught of trouble. I am grateful to take this moment to relax my taunt muscles. The alarm that was constantly blaring in my head was switched off. I can just chill. I smiled at the idea of being free of my crutches. The thought switched to mom and I remembered her last moment alive. I dissolved into tears. When I was done crying I saw that the floor was filled with Chompers. They seemed clueless. Just walking around feeling a primal need to eat. No remorse. No pain. No fear.
I heard Annie's voice and my primary system activated. I became invisible as I crawled down and tracked her. She was alone as far as the naked eye can see. But I knew it was a trap. So I waited till she went to the bathroom before I approached her and made her forget about my abilities. I walked away from there as Annie went back to her position to call me out. The soldiers approached her wanting to know what I could do. The only answer she had was I don't know. Her mom scolded her profusely. She said that she has forgotten my abilities. The more she tries to remember the more she can't recall. The soldiers told her to cut her some slack. She will remember in due time. She has been on overdrive for the past few years.
I was walking wherever when I saw a zombie proof vehicle fallen sideways in a ditch. My face was covered so I was able to change my looks to resemble one of the maids in the Citadel. There was a man in camouflage uniform kicking the vehicle as though it would convince the machine to pop out of the hole. His kicking resulted in a stubbed toe. He hopped on one foot as his buddies laughed. One was sipping coffee out of a canteen. The other poured water in his head as though he was overheated. The other was on communications asking for backup or any form of assistance to pull the vehicle upright. All he got was an earful of excuses. I was invisible so no one saw me.
I quietly walked away and decided to make myself visible. I kept walking till I heard drones. I knew that trouble was coming my way. I hid my bag and made myself invisible. I thanked myself for a moment of tranquility and now it was back to business. I was about to make myself into a bat when the drone came and started to burn the birds and bats. I picked up the heaviest rock I could and hurled it at them. The bats thanked me as they flew away to find a new home. I knew my trouble had begun. I picked my bag and ran as fast as my legs would allow. I hid in a cave as I heard the roar of an engine.
I quietly snuck off till I found a few people camping out. I ran past them and hid by the trees. The monster machine came barreling forward like it was a war hungry beast. The young trees bent forward in submission and snapped as it couldn't bend anymore. Some of the rocks crushed under the weight of the vehicle. The people woke up and realized what was going on. They stood their ground and the vehicle blared from the hidden speaker ordering them to move aside.
The campers told them that they were in Machine city. If they go any farther then they will go back in a body bag. This was the outskirts of Sherlock. No war machines allowed here. This section is a neutral zone. Machine city was far more advanced so they used some sort of seismic charge and demolished the vehicle. The soldiers had to go home walking. They asked to talk to the mayor but were told that since they came with guns blazing the answer no. They had to turn around and go back or be shot down. The men didn't give up. They called the central command to explain their situation.
In mere moments the people of Sherlock came with their deepest apologies. They sent their best men, women and tech to find me. I happily hid under their vehicle and enjoyed the ride. I had to suppress a laugh as they sent drones and other weird contraptions to find me. Some of them looked like they were made from parts of an old washing machine. The others looked like they would fit perfectly in a sci-fi movie. Angus Macgyver would be grinning ear to ear when he sees these things. One resembled Frankenstein's monster. The accumulated IQ seems to be a thousand. And yet these bright bulbs didn't once think of looking under the vehicle.
As night fell these guys decided to take turns to keep an eye out for zombies. Three from either side stood wide awake. It wasn't long before the chompers arrived in their dozens. They came quietly till they heard the soldier call out 'undead'. The soldiers engaged in heavy gunfire. The scientists even used lasers to cut the zombies down but they still kept coming. They had no choice but to hop on their vehicle and drive away. I was about to slip out and join the hoard when they used flamethrowers to set them on fire. I felt the safest place was where I was.
I waited till they drove to a ghost town before I slipped out. I quietly slipped behind a news stand as they tried to establish communication. According to Sherlock there are no new arrivals. So their educated guess was that I had made a turn elsewhere. So now they were joining forces to figure out where I was. The only thing they knew was that zombies kept a healthy five foot distance from me. Annie's mom said that I can fly and that I am strong. She also said that I climb walls as well. She said that I am a fast learner. I am better than a super computer. So they guessed that I can adapt to any environment with ease since I had evaded capture for the last ten years no less. They also assumed that since I transformed into the unknown thing I haven't aged a day. They knew what I looked like.
I became visible and looked at my reflection. I am pleased to say that I looked like Candice. I bravely walked out to talk to both Machine city and Saber. I honestly told them that I was from Green Dale. I walked up to one of the soldiers and asked them, "Greetings. I am Candice from Green Dale. I was hoping you could tell me where I am. I was heading to the Native Lands for a holiday but I seem to have lost my way." The nearest person tapped his tablet so rapidly I thought he was a woodpecker trying to drill a hole. He shook his head and the woman in a bodysuit came over with a wand. She scanned me head to toe before she offered me directions.
I asked again where I was. The young man in a cadet uniform said that I was in the dead zone. I asked if I was in Saber. They chuckled, "That's right. You are in Saber. If it weren't for those pesky eaters we would drop you off at the train station." They called Green Dale to confirm and they said they have a Candice that works the dreaded cornfields. She is taking a mandatory vacation time. They apologized for the confusion and asked me to stay with them as the road ahead was filled with terror. One of the officers held his hand to help me climb inot the infernal machine.
They opened the top hatch and I saw the inside was a modified ten seater with all sorts of controls. I looked at the tree and used x-ray vision. I saw that the zombies were still after them. This huge machine isn't going anywhere as it is overheated. I saw the machine was sending out a distinct signal. I suppose the chompers were following that. Otherwise how on earth would they know where we are. I waited till the opportune moment to ask them why they are using this clicking sound. They chuckled, "This is a constant signal with command. If it is turned off the orders are to rain missiles." I smiled, "The zombies are following us. Have you thought that maybe they are following the signal. Maybe they think it is like ringing the dinner bell."
They were about to laugh when a young man cried out 'Zombies' The men had to pick up their guns and start shooting. The scientists stayed behind. I hopped off the vehicle and bolted since it increases my chances of survival. The others had no choice as well so they ran towards the ghost town too. I ran to the clock tower while the others spread out all over the place. A few soldiers hid in the diner. The scientists hid in the bookstore. I ran in spirals till I saw the sky. Not long after I heard someone else climbing the steps. I saw that it was a soldier. He had a rifle with him. He set up his station and called the others down in the diner.
Soon the streets were filling up with walkers. The soldier said that he didn't have enough bullets. The others said they only had to wait till Black Betty cools down. When the machine reaches an optimal temperature it will restart its engines and find us. It has enough fire power to take these things with ease. I sat next to him and ate a chicken sandwich while he gnawed on a beef jerky. The scientists were using their tablet to check the time it would take for Black Betty to wake up. They gave an estimated time of fourteen minutes. Everyone held their breath as even the slightest sound would convince these chompers to switch directions.
What felt like an hour I heard the engine roar and the infernal machine move forward. The new problem that arose was that the zombies turned around and started walking towards the vehicle. They seemed to want to tear it apart for some reason. Black Betty crushed as many of them as possible as it plowed forward. The soldiers cheered as they were sure they were safe. The sniper disassembled his gear and ran towards the vehicle. I remained where I was. The others ran as though their lives depended on it. One or two got eaten while the others climbed onboard and shut the lid tight.
I slowly walked out of the tower and walked towards the river. Dismembered body parts were floating on the top making the water inedible. I walked along the river bank and heard an explosion. I guess the idiots really showed how stupid they were. I turned around going against my instincts to walk away. I saw Black Betty split in four and corpses were littered all over. The only survivors were a young cadet and two scientists. The rest were dead along with the zombies. The cadet pointed his gun at the two women and warned them that they had better do as he says or he will report to Central that they were traitors. I changed back to myself and waited. The soldier demanded more weapons. The scientists said that it is impossible.
The man finally got tired and opened fire on them. I bolted forward and saved them. The man searched everywhere for them. I told them both to be quiet as I will help them go back to Machine city. They were surprised to hear that but said nothing. Once we were at a safe distance. The younger of the two asked me how I can walk amongst the zombies so safely. I grinned, "I have a rare blood disorder. These things like all humans only eat healthy. I am sick so they won't approach me in a million years." I gave them the name of the disorder and they winced.
I found a partially built structure and asked them to stay there. They climbed up and slept there as I stood watch. The next morning they made peace with the situation and asked me if I had a goodnight sleep. I grinned, "I haven't slept in ten years." They thought I was joking but I didn't care. I gave them my bottle of water and the last candy bar to eat. Then we head off in the direction of Sherlock. I heard footsteps and I knew the cadet was following us. So we had to improvise. It told them to stay where they are and I will divert him elsewhere. I redirected him to a hole filled with zombies. I came back with a set of keys to an all terrain vehicle. I gave it to them and showed them the fastest way home is a straight path. They will be in Sherlock in two hours tops.
I asked them to stop looking for me. I just want to spend the rest of my days in peace. I have done no harm to deserve this witch hunt. The only reason that I can think of is that people are unhappy with their lives. They want control. Also they want to rule the world with an iron fist. I am not going to help them. I have suffered enough now I just want to find a place to call home and live the rest of my life in peace. I have earned it. If they want to stop the illness stop creating them in labs and start looking for ways to improve human life. I am not a universal cure. I am just accustomed to the discomfort that comes with my abilities. I have spent my childhood writhing in pain or coughing up blood. I am not going to be a pin cushion for the rest of my eternity.
I wished them a safe journey. Before they said anything I turned around and ran at human speed towards a hoard of zombies. They stepped aside to let me in. Once they made a path I ran as fast as I could towards Green Dale. As I crossed the border I heard that Candice was found dead in the cornfields. I hate that place. If I could have my way I would set that place on fire. The place will be split six ways and sold to the newest residents. Irene is going to tease the heck out of me but I didn't care. I was home and I was safe.