Dead On Arrival: Episode 8

Episode 8: Found

“You’re right that did taste like shit.”

“You could at least lied,” she huffed pouting across the table after her so called breakfast. If you could call breakfast soggy cinnamon bread.

Despite that, things were going smoothly with me and Audrey. Two whole days had passed and I was getting stronger. My shoulder at least felt better. I was even getting some rest despite Audrey’s “night activities”, but my mind often drifted to David and Mark. Were they alive? Were they even looking for me? I would have to go find out I guess…sooner or later.

“You said you liked breakfast food the best, so I was just trying please you know. I’m not chef Boyardee”, she griped while staring in the mirror as she fixed her hair. “But what’s on your mind? You look…lost.”

“It’s just…. why do you go out every night?,” I found myself blurting out anxiously as I sat down on the bottom bunk. It was one of the many questions on my mind. A young girl like her going out at night in the zombie apocalypse alone with assholes lurking about seem like a pretty stupid idea.

She froze darting her eyes from me and to the mirror. “I do it to clear my head…..nothing more. I promise.”

“Well you must got a death wish with the walkers and Roy’s men looking for you.“

She said nothing looking down at the floor with a worried expression. I could tell there was more to her night outs, but I decided not to push it. We all had our secrets. If she knew I was an ex-con who broke out when all this shit went down she would have kick me out by now. I remained quiet as she continued brushing her hair.

“I’m going upstairs to check on the generator. It’s not too far from here. The lights flickered last night so I’m wondering if some zombs got thought the gate around it,” she finally said breaking the silence and relaxing again.

“Let me go with you. You might need backup.”

She grabbed a knife and her disgusting bloody jacket. “ No. I’ve done this before millions of times before you came. You’re starting to get better as well, so stay put and read some comics.”

Before I could even open my mouth to argue back she was gone. That damn girl was sure a fast one. I sat there staring at her stack of comics on the box near by till boredom made me pick up one. I read it for awhile studying the different panels and pictures. As the time passed I began to get worried and I got up preparing myself to climb up.

“Damn you Audrey. You couldn’t you get your damn uncle to put in some stairs?!” I thought to myself as I slowly made my way up with my busted shoulder.

“Audrey! I’m going kill you for this. You better be up here doing something worthwhile,” I muttered breathing heavily.

I open the shed door glad to be out in the fresh air again, but my relief turned into shock and dread when I saw Audrey with two men I knew all too well. David and Mark.

Mark had a knife to Audrey’s neck holding her tightly in almost a choke hold while David stood by with a handgun firmly in his grip. He saw me first squinting at the sight of me.

“Vince?” he said aiming his gun at me before slowly putting it down. 

Mark turned around to see me. He look genuinely stunned at first, but his face twisted in anger and Audrey gasped as if she was struggling to breathe. 

“Let her go. Please. She’s with me,” I said inching closer.

“No,” he laughed. “I don’t give a shit about who she’s with! Fuck man! We’re been looking for you about two days now and you’re here with some girl?!”

“It ain’t like that man. I was shot,” I said pointing to my shoulder. “She saved my life.”

“Well ain’t that some lovely shit. Ain’t that just fairytale type of shit?” he scoffed looking at David.
“Well you can have your little girlfriend back, but you still owe me Vince. I saved your life too remember.”

“Yeah. I’m one lucky SOB ani’t I?” I frowned.

“Well what you got in that shed? I saw you come out of there, so it must be something good.”

“Ain’t nothing. A corpse and some tools.” I said as they pushed pass me. I started to rush pass them to block their way, but David stop me pointing his gun at me.

“Sorry Vince,” he said looking gloomy.

Me and Audrey stood by as they checked out the shed. They discovered the body first making faces of disgust and then the door leading to the bunker full of food.One by one they climb down. You could literally hear them gasping from up above. When we reached the bottom they were practically drooling looking at the food. They didn’t even notice we had joined them as they began opening cans and gobbling down their contents.

“Vince, my friend. You hit a goldmine. No wonder you’re shacked up here,” Mark mumbled with jaws full of fruit.

Audrey just look at them in disgust and then she turn to me whispering, “So this is David and Mark huh? I know you know these guys, but do you trust them, Vince? They look kind of shady to me. I’m not sure if I want these guys around. They almost killed me up there. I know they’re desperate. I know they’re just trying to survive, but if you hadn’t came I…..I don’t even want to think about it.”

She then rub her neck and stared into my eyes with the most serious expression, “Just know you’re the only one saving them from being sliced to shreds right now. I have no problem taking out these bastards!”

Decision: Convince Audrey to let them stay or have them kicked out?

Vote at >>pollmaker! All votes are anonymous at less you comment.

Note: All decisions have their cons and pros, so choose wisely.