The Opening

The sunlight slid through the cracks of the barred window of my bedroom which woke me from another sleepless night.  I looked around my room, noticing that Bones had jumped from the bed and curled up on the black folded blanket I had placed on the floor for him.  I shook my head while I sat up and placed my feet on the floor.  It took me a moment before I stood up and left the room.

I walked into my small kitchen and fixed a pot of coffee.  I sat at down at the table while I waited for it to brew.  The phone rang causing me to sigh.  I stood up and walked over to the counter, picking up the cordless phone.  “Good morning,” I barely spoke, still trying to wake up.         

“Quill,” my commander’s voice spoke, “we have an important job for you today.”         

I sighed.  I was an important figure to my world and one who everyone would want to save a last resort for my talents.  I knew whatever it was that my commander had called me about had to be something huge.  “What’s the job this time, Commander Thorn?” I asked.         

He took a moment and sighed.  “I just need you to get here as soon as possible.”         

“Okay.”  I knew that if he needed me to be as soon as possible then clearly I didn’t need to ask any more questions.  “Where do I need to meet you?”         

“The corner of Grim Street and Rose Red Avenue,” he answered then without another word he hung up.

I placed the phone down and looked at the coffee I was letting brew.  Damn, there goes my morning coffee.  I’m going to be grouchy today, I thought while I hurried into the bathroom to brush my teeth and then to my room to get dress.                                                            

 

         

Bones followed behind me while we worked our way down the street.  The one thing about having a dog which was nothing but a skeleton was useful for my job and normal from where I lived. 

I had worn a pair of old torn up blue jeans with a white tank top with an undershirt hiding under it.  I was decked out with swords which were placed in sheathes and guns in holsters along my belt with all kinds of weapons which was also normal in my world.  I and my trusty little sidekick met up with my commander whom was almost dressed in a similar uniform.

Thorn was a tall muscular male with somewhat long brown hair.  He was attractive but I kept my thoughts to myself because of the fact he was my boss.  He had to be about eight years older than me at least.  When I seen him, our conversations were about missions and nothing else.

“What’s the problem today?” I asked.

Thorn sighed then gestured toward the portal to the world of the mortals.  “The zombies keep trying to escape,” he explained.

I sighed and shook my head.  I walked over to the portal and looked around it.  I hadn’t been to the mortals’ world but I felt better in my own universe.  Mortals wouldn’t understand us, like we don’t understand them.  “I will protect the portal then.”

Thorn nodded.  “Bones will stay with you?” he asked.  He already knew the answer but always had to ask.  He bent down and patted the top of the dog’s head.  He was the kind of man whom had seem to be strong and kind of the tough guy from his appearance but he had a soft side.

Bones let out a loud bark of excitement.

I nodded.  “Of course, I need him.”

Thorn stood and locked eyes with me.  “Need any one else to help?”

I shook my head.  “I’ve done this before.  I don’t need anyone else.”

Thorn nodded.  He took a moment while he turned his attention toward the portal.  “They are getting restless,” he told me, speaking about the zombies.

I nodded.

“Well, be careful and call if you need back up.  We can’t let…”

“I know,” I replied.  “We can’t let even one get through into the mortals’ world.  I’ve done this before,” I told him.

Thorn nodded then left me alone with Bones.

 

          

Hours had past and there had been no sign of any zombies which to me was a pretty good day but I knew I couldn’t leave my post.  It was important to stay where I was until Thorn or another member in our order told me otherwise.  The order is our occupation which is to make sure the creatures in our world stay in our world.  We know about the mortals but they don’t know about us and we need to make sure it stays that way.         

“Quill,” a deep voice rang in my ear.         

I sighed, knowing who the new comer was.  “Grim,” I spoke to the death dealer whom just appeared out of thin air.         

“I see you’re keeping guard,” he told me in his serious tone.         

I nodded.         

“The zombies are going to overpower you if you’re not careful.”         

I sighed.  I didn’t want to speak disrespectfully toward the angel because I knew he meant well but sometimes I hated when he would just pop up and tell me what to watch out for when I already knew what could happen.  “Thanks,” I told him, simply.         

Grim sighed.  “Child, I know you hate it when I warn you but you and I both know what will happen when the zombies invade the living’s quarter.”         

I nodded.  I kept the zombies from invading the mortals’ world forever and I knew what I needed to do.  Sometimes I felt that Grim was there just to nag me but without meaning too.  I knew to make sure that the zombies stayed in our world.  It was my job.         

Without any other words, Grim vanished into midair.  He always did that.  The death dealers had their jobs whereas we had ours but sometimes they felt it was their need to appear when they wanted.  The mortals’ of course didn’t have to worry about seeing a death dealer unless they were on their deathbed but other than that they didn’t need to worry.         

Bones slowly began growling which had caught my attention.  I looked over at him then in the direction when I noticed a dead man with messing hair and torn clothing heading toward us.  His jaw dropped down to his neck and he slowly moved when I heard moaning from him and his breathing was inhuman.         

I drew a gun and placed held it up to the man’s head, knowing it was the only way to kill the zombie.  I waited for the man to move closer toward me before pulling the trigger.  Once he was close enough, I let my finger pull back on the trigger of the gun which made a popping sound as the bullet went flying into the man’s forehead.         

Instantly, the zombie dropped to the ground.  I walked over to the body and shook my head.  “Why are they the only things in this world that can’t communicate properly?” I asked Bones as if he could answer.         

That was when I heard more moaning.  I looked in the way the man had come but I didn’t see anything.  I turned around toward the portal and that was when I noticed the heard of zombies wondering through the portal.  No.  Damn, no, I thought with panic.  I placed the gun back in the holster and pulled a sword from the sheath.  I ran, swinging the blade into the heads of the zombies, stopping them from entering to the mortals’ world but one zombie had managed to make it through the portal before I got to him.  No… no… what have I done? I thought.

Gathering a Team

I hurried to the court, followed by Bones.  I couldn’t believe that I had let one slip through the portal.  The world for the mortals was going to change quickly.  I couldn’t believe that I made a mistake.  I knew better than that.  Everything was lost as far as I knew it and the mortals’ world would soon be no more.        

When Bones and I arrived at the court, Thorn, along with others, had waited for us.  I dropped my head down in shame.  I didn’t know if I’d be able to tell everyone the horrible mistake which I had let happen.  I felt so horrible.  I was the blame for letting one of those creatures get through.         

“I knew you’d screw up sooner or later,” Elisa, a smart mouthed blonde with piercing blue eyes, spoke toward me.  I wouldn’t exactly call her a friend but she was a good ally.  Like me and Thorn, she was another immortal.  We despised each other, I wasn’t exactly sure why though.

“Lighten up, Elisa,” Wickham replied.  He was a werewolf with strength and attorney.  In his wolf pack, he was the leader in training after his father.  He was a good friend and always had my back when I needed him.  “That could have happened to any of us,” he continued speaking to Elisa while he looked at me and nodded.

I nodded, whispering, “Thanks.”         

He shook his head with a smile.         

Thorn locked desperate eyes with me.         

I couldn’t bear to see him look at me like that so I drop my eyes back to the ground.         

The others in the group remained silent.         

“So now how are we supposed to deal with the mortals?” Elisa spoke with a hissing tone.  “They don’t know that we exist… to them we’re nothing more than science-fiction and creatures of evil.”         

I kept my eyes to the ground.         

“Maybe if we’re lucky the zombie didn’t bite a mortal so all we have to do is grab him, bring him back, then kill him,” Ziles suggested.  He was another werewolf and a part of the same pack as Wickham.  He was optimistic and kind hearted but sometimes his ideas weren’t too helpful.         

I looked up at him and then to Thorn.  I had figured Thorn was the one who had to explain since I had to call him.         

Bones sat down on the ground and let his head follow the conversation.  His eyeless sockets locked onto each of us while he listened.         

“It’s probably too late,” I finally spoke up.  “Zombies are always hungry and if it sees at least one mortal then the mortal population is going to die down.  The more zombies there are the less chance the mortals have and the least chance we’re going to be able to stop it from happening.  Once a zombie enters the mortals’ world that’s it, the mortals are done for.”         

Thorn placed a hand on my shoulder for reassurance.  “We’re going to do whatever it takes.”         

I locked eyes with Thorn and for the first time I felt some kind of affection toward him.  The feeling was new to me because I was always too busy to have any relationship with a man.  I sighed and closed my eyes to let it go.  “Grim warned me and I failed.”         

“We’ll get a team together and go from there,” Thorn replied, glancing around at everyone.  “We will do whatever it takes to stop the invasion… even if it means that we must reveal ourselves to the mortals.”         

Wickham nodded in agreement.         

“I’m game,” Ziles spoke with a hungry look in his eyes.  The werewolves loved hunting and zombies were one of their favorite meals so I wasn’t surprised by his reaction.

“Reveal ourselves to the mortals?” Elisa asked, smirking.  “The mortals are going to be afraid of us.  Some of our members transform into wolf and human like creatures whereas others can’t even show themselves during the sunlight hours because of the fact the sun could kill them and when the mortals find out what they are they’re going to be just as panicked as when they realize that their civilization is under attack by zombies.  Yes I see that plan working out extremely well.”         

Thorn shook his head.  “We’ll do whatever we need too and we will show the mortals that we’re not there to harm them.  Now go get help, everyone.”         

We all nodded and began leaving.  I was about to leave the way I came when Thorn grabbed my hand and pulled me back to face him.  “Quill, don’t be so hard on yourself.  Wickham was right when he said that it could have happened to anyone.”         

I nodded.         

When he realized that he was still holding onto my hand, he dropped it quickly.  “Sorry.”         

I sighed and slightly smiled.  “It’s fine and thanks.  I’m going to go talk to the mummy.  I think he’s ready to fix what he has done wrong when he was brought here.”         

Thorn nodded.  “I’ll go with you unless you’d rather just go with Bones,” he spoke laughing a little.         

My smile grew.  “You can come, commander.”         

He nodded again.

 

          

We walked into the cells till we came to the one with a mortal like mummy.  He wore a robe which revealed his bare chest and what could almost be mistake for underwear.  He was bald but he wasn’t too bad looking.  He appeared to be somewhere in his thirties at least.         

“Ready to make up for the bad you had done in Ancient Egypt?” Thorn asked.

The man looked over at us and smiled.  He stood up and walked over to where we were.  He grabbed onto the bar and nodded.  “I’m ready.  I also need to apologize to Grim for ignoring his warning when I was alive,” he replied.         

Thorn nodded.  “Well I think Grim forgave you already because the angels with God forgive.”         

The man’s smile grew.  “Now what can I help with?” he asked.          

“A zombie escaped into the portal which leads to the world of the mortals,” I replied.  “It was kind of my fault.”

The man looked at me and shook his head.  “Don’t blame yourself, kid.”         

“Imhotep,” Thorn interrupted, “we need your help to fight off the zombies.  Can we count on you to help us?”

Imhotep nodded.  “Anything to make amends… if that’s the right choice of words… with the world.”         

I looked down at the ground again then looked up at Imhotep.  “You’re going to need to get some actually clothes because you aren’t going into the mortals’ world dressed like that.”         

Imhotep looked down at his robe and laughed.  He looked back at me and let a smile grow on his face.  “Will do,” he replied.

Time to Enter the Mortals’ World

I stood with Imhotep and Thorn in the middle of the court, waiting for the others in the order to return.  Bones ran around, chasing skinless squirrels up the trucks of dead wilting trees outside of the court yard.  I took a deep breath, wondering how bad the invasion was in the mortals’ world.  I figured that it had to be between ten thousand to ten million mortals already gone because one an invasion starts it keeps going.  It’s a never ending cycle which would be my fault that it was even happening in the first place.         

Elisa arrived with a few others from the order for help.  “Axel, Inforabore, Vivid, and Wells, have agreed to come,” she informed us, gesturing toward the others.         

Thorn looked at me and slightly nodded.         

I walked over to them and examined the four members who had arrived with Elisa.  “Inforabore,” I began examining the chocolate colored male with dark brown eyes of sorrow, “I don’t think we’ve met personally but I have heard a lot about you.”         

He nodded.  “You must be Quill,” he replied.         

I nodded in return.  I took a moment to examine his weapons when I noticed that his hands had been wrapped with some sort of cloth.  “Shape shifter?” I asked.         

He nodded.  “I can take the shape of anyone or anything.  I can blend in or stand out.”         

I nodded.  “We could use your help,” I told him.         

A half smile grew on his face.         

I walked over to the only woman in the group Elisa had found.  “Vivid, I’m assuming?”         

She nodded with a smile.  Her eyes were blue-green and her brown hair fell down to her shoulders.  She was dressed as if she were ready for winter or something.  “I’m a demi-goddess,” she replied.         

“Demon,” I spoke backing away and pulling out a sword.         

“I am for good, not evil,” she spoke raising both of her hands.         

Demi-gods or goddesses were from the fallen angels and usually meant danger but sometimes they were harmless.  I didn’t want to take the chance, not knowing for sure if we would be able to trust her or not.         

“Please,” she spoke with a soft sweet tune in her voice, “I only want to help.”         

“Lower your weapon, Quill,” Thorn’s voice spoke from behind me.         

I lowered my weapon but still kept my eyes on Vivid.

“Which part of the world are you from?” Thorn asked.

“The mortals’ world, I’m assuming,” Vivid spoke, averting her eyes from me to Thorn.  “Ancient Greece,” she answered.  “Aphrodite had mated with a human male.  She was persuasive,” she smiled while she locked eyes with Thorn.         

Jealousy began to feel up inside of me at the sound of her voice when she spoke but I managed to keep down my feelings.         

“The Greeks were unaware about me because my mother didn’t want my presence to be known to the mortals.”  I watched her walk over to Thorn and examine him with interest.         

I hated the thought that she might try something with him.         

Thorn pulled away from her.  Apparently she made him feel uncomfortable.  “Continue with the next two, Quill,” he told me while he continued to pull away from the demon.

I nodded then turned my attention back toward the others.  “Which one’s Axel?” I asked.         

“I am,” the one spoke.  He appeared to be human until I noticed his fangs.  He had to be somewhere between twenty and twenty-five at least that was what his appearance had revealed.  “I’m a vampire,” he answered.

I nodded.  “Your fangs gave it away…”         

“This is my brother, Wells,” he interrupted, gesturing toward the other young man.  They looked almost alike.

“Twins?” I asked.         

He nodded.         

“Okay.”         

Wickham and Ziles had arrived with about five others.  I’ve recognized two of the new arrivals.  They were a couple of other werewolves from Wickham’s pack but the other three were unfamiliar to me.         

“Dane and Wavira,” I spoke, bowing toward them.         

“Quill,” Wavira replied.  She was a friendly person and knew how to get along with everyone.  She also was a gentle spirit.  She was Wickham’s fiancée and I knew she was good for him from the moment they met.  She had been separated from her parents and left to fend for herself when Wickham’s pack had found her.  “Thorn.”

Thorn smiled and nodded toward her.         

Dane was the expert in the field of death and zombies.

 

          

After the others had brought back help and everyone was introduced, we headed to the portal which led from our world to the mortals’ world.  I exchanged looks with everyone, unsure of what to expect.  “I haven’t been to the mortals’ world so I don’t quite know what to expect from them,” I spoke.         

Wickham smiled slightly.  “They can be creative or destructive.  I go with my father when he has to go to see the wolf council… sometimes we go to visit the other packs that are there to live and keep the humans protected from danger… so on and so forth.”         

I nodded and took a deep breathe.  “I’ll go first because this was my fault.”  I took a step into the portal and instantly I found myself standing in a whole new world that actually looked a lot like home.  The only problem was that it had been ruined by the zombie which had found its way through.  I looked up at the sky, noticing the dark grey clouds which revealed danger and threats to the world of the mortals.  This is my fault, I thought while I took a look around.         

Eventually the others had worked their way through the portal and into the mortals’ world.  Thorn walked over and stood beside me.  We locked eyes with each other and I shook my head in shame.         

Bones ran out and looked around the new land.         

“I did this,” I whispered to Thorn.         

Thorn shook his head.  “Any of us could have made the same mistake so don’t worry about it.”  He turned around to face the others.  “We need to split up into groups and search for any mortals who haven’t been bitten or scratched,” he told everyone.         

“I want to be in your group,” Vivid told Thorn with a flirty smile and devil like eyes.         

I wanted to yell and scream at her to leave him alone but I just bit my lip.         

Thorn sighed.  “Fine.  Ziles, Vivid, Quill, and I will be one group.  Elisa, Wickham, Axel, and Imhotep are the next group.  Inforabore, Wavira, Wells, and Dane are another group,” he continued till everyone we knew had been broken up into groups.  “Now, we have no way to contact each other,” he continued, “but if we’re lucky we can find each other and help one another out.  It’s going to be a while before this thing ends but when it is over everyone is to meet up back here.  We just have to hope that there still are living mortals around.  Everyone understands what’s going on?” he asked.         

No one spoke.  We all just nodded our heads and then broke up into our groups.

 

          

We traveled sometime down a road.  There were no signs of zombies or even the mortal populations.  That could have been a good thing or a bad thing considering.  Bones wandered ahead of us but managed to stay insight.

It was silent for a while until we heard the chilling sound of a scream from a distance.  We stopped and looked around.

“It came from that direction,” Ziles spoke nodding his head toward the northeast.

Thorn nodded, drawing his cross bow from his back.

I drew a sword, not wanting to waste any more ammo from my guns.         

We hurried in the direction where the scream.  We had our trail and we weren’t going to lose it.  We wondered onto a camp ground.  The fire was about to go out and the tent which had been placed under a couple of trees had been destroyed.  The scent of fresh blood had filled the air.

“We'll stay here and search the grounds,” Thorn told the other two.  “Ziles and Vivid, I need you two to search around the woods for anyone or thing you can find.”         

“But I want to stay with you,” Vivid’s voice was sad and whiney.         

I rolled my eyes at her words.         

“Quill and I will be fine,” Thorn replied.  “Now go.”         

Ziles nodded and left with Vivid dragging herself behind.         

I shook my head.  I looked at the fire and examined it.  “Someone was here recently but most of gotten frightened by something,” I observed.  We both had a good feeling what the ‘something’ without having to mention it.         

Thorn nodded.         

Bones had ignored us and sniffed around the tent.  He slowly began growling which caught our attention.

The tent began moving.         

Thorn and I each held our weapons up not taking any chances.         

“Please!  Please don’t hurt me!” a woman’s voice cried while she slowly worked her way out of the tent.  Tears had streamed down her pale mortal skin.         

I exchange a glance with Thorn.         

“Were you bitten?” Thorn asked.         

The woman shook her head with fear.  “My husband… is he alright?  He was here fighting off that… that thing,” she couldn’t get her words straight which revealed how terrified she was.         

“Quill, examine her for any bites or scratches,” Thorn ordered me.         

I didn’t bother to hesitate.  I quickly placed my sword in the sheath which lay on my back and walked over to the woman.  “I’m not going to hurt you… just checking to make sure you’re alright.”         

The woman nodded.         

I pulled up the woman’s sleeves revealing scars but they were old and clearly not from a zombie.         

“I fall a lot,” she replied, clearly hiding a cold secret.

“All those from falling… do you carry knives on you or something?” I asked, trying not to pry but knowing she didn’t want to tell us the truth.         

She looked away.         

Once I had finished, I turned to face Thorn.  “She’s fine,” I informed him.         

He nodded.  “I’m Thorn Allitwine and this is my good friend Quill Huntington,” he introduced us to the woman.

She nodded.  “I’m Anna Quinn,” she replied.  She looked around.  “Where is my husband?” she asked again.

Thorn took a deep breath.  “We don’t know.  He was gone before we arrived,” he explained.         

I nodded.  “We have a couple of others with us who are looking and they might find him,” I added.  He might not be alive anymore though, I thought.         

Bones sat off to the side where Anna hadn’t even noticed him.  He just stared at the mortal with interest.

“I heard a dog growling… do you have one with you?” she asked.         

I pointed to Bones.         

She glanced over at him then looked back at me and nodded it.  It took her a moment when she looked back at him and opened her mouth to scream.

Thorn hurried over to her and covered her mouth.  “It’s okay,” he whispered to Anna.  “He’s not going to hurt you.”

“But that’s not…”         

“It’s okay,” Thorn kept reassuring her.         

Bones just stared at her and tilted his head.         

“He’s my dog,” I told her, wondering if we needed to explain what exactly was going on.         

Thorn nodded.

Explaining to a Mortal

It took me a little while to explain to Anna the situation of what had happened and that our two worlds weren’t meant to clash the way they have because of the zombies.  Thorn stood near a tree, looking out for anyone or anything which might just pop up.  Bones sat with him, watching and waiting for something to happen as well.         

“So you can’t die?” she asked, confused.         

“Well, actually I can die,” I replied.         

“But you said that you were immortal and immortals can’t die,” she responded.         

I sighed.  “Well yes and no,” I began.  “You see immortals can die but not as easily as you mortals can.  We’re immortal because of the fact that we can survive anything that you mortals can’t.  Now if God decides that he doesn’t want us immortals to live anymore then he will send a death dealer-”         

“What’s a death dealer?” Anna asked.         

“Oh right, mortals don’t know our terms… a death dealer is a way of saying the angel of death… or also well known as the grim reaper,” I answered.         

She opened her mouth but didn’t reply.  She just simply nodded to show that she understood.         

“Anyways if a death dealer shows up and is to touch us then we’ll die… as far as I know that is the only way us immortals can die for sure.”         

She nodded.  “What is your dog?  A walking skeleton?”

I nodded again.  “Hints his name… Bones.  He’s a good companion.”         

Anna looked over at Thorn and Bones then over to me.  “Do you think my husband’s still alive or-?”         

I could see the tears welling up in her eyes again while she stopped herself from continuing the question.  “I’m sure he’s fine,” I told her, knowing that most likely he wasn’t.

She nodded.         

Vivid and Ziles arrived back at the camp empty handed although Ziles was covered with blood.

“Sorry it took so long,” Vivid said while she took a seat across from me and Anna, “but we ran into a few zombies and well Ziles couldn’t resist in devouring them as you can tell by the blood.”         

Ziles let out a little laugh.  “Best meal I’ve had all week,” he replied.         

I shook my head and sighed.  “Anna, this is Ziles and Vivid,” I told the mortal.         

“You’re a cannibal?” she asked Ziles in horror.         

Ziles shook his head.  “I’m a lycanthrope… lycan… or werewolf… whatever you want to call us.”         

“A werewolf?” Anna asked, beginning to hyperventilate.

“It’s okay,” I told Anna, trying to help her breathe.  “He’s with us and he doesn’t eat mortals.  Actually it’s in their code to protect them from harm.”         

Ziles nodded.         

Anna tried to calm down.         

“I’m a demi-goddess,” Vivid replied.         

“Demon,” I muttered under my breath.         

“Excuse me?” Vivid asked.         

I looked at her and faked a smile. “Nothing.”  I stood up and walked over to Thorn and Bones.  “I’ll take this shift,” I told Thorn.         

Thorn shook his head.  “I got it.”         

“But you’ve been here almost all day,” I told him with a slight smile.         

“I know but I don’t mind keeping watch,” he replied.

“I’ll stand guard with you.”         

“If you insist,” he spoke with a sigh but I caught his smile.         

I looked around the woods, wondering if it was going to be a peaceful night or if something bad was going to happen.  “I don’t think Anna’s husband is alive,” I told him in a whisper.  “I mean I don’t want to tell her that but what is the odds that we’re going to find him alive and fighting off a zombie?  We both know that there’s no chance.”         

Thorn looked at me with sadness in his eyes.  “I agree with you but we have to try to be hopeful for the mortal.”

I nodded.

 

          

The next morning, we helped Anna pack everything from her camp up and placed them into the dark blue trailblazer.  None of us spoke a word about the night before or what was ahead of us when we got closer to civilization.  I noticed that Ziles’s claws were beginning to grow which meant that the full moon would be around sometime during the next few weeks or so.         

Bones jumped into the back of the car and wagged his skeleton tail, ready for the ride.         

I sighed and looked toward the direction which we were heading when I noticed someone walking toward us.  The person was walking slowly and that was when I realized that it wasn’t a mortal, at least not anymore.

“Oscar!” Anna exclaimed at the sight.  She began running toward the zombie when Ziles jumped her and knocked her to the ground.         

“Sorry but that’s not him,” he told her, “at least, not anymore.”         

Anna began crying.  “Oscar!  Oscar!  My husband!” she screamed.         

Ziles tighten his grip around the mortal for her own safety while she tried fighting to get free.         

Thorn pulled out his cross bow and aimed it at the zombie and shot it in the head.         

“Oscar!” Anna’s crying grew louder when she watched the body drop to the ground.         

Thorn walked over to the dead zombie and yanked the arrow out of its head.  He turned toward us and dropped his head at the sight of the woman.         

Ziles let Anna free and the woman ran over to Thorn, yelling and screaming her head off.  “You killed Oscar!  You killed my husband!  Why would you do such a horrible and cruel thing?!”         

Thorn closed his eyes for a moment.  He locked eyes with Anna and sighed.  “I’m sorry but that wasn’t your husband anymore,” he answered.

 

          

On the road was nothing but silence.  We drove past nothing but trees and dead animals.  I sat in between Ziles and Thorn during the drive.  Anna drove in silence while Vivid sat in the passenger side, playing with her fingers almost like she was playing a piano.         

All I could think about was that Anna’s whole world had changed within twenty-four hours and it was my entire fault.  Why did I let that stupid zombie get away?  A mortal is dead because of me, I thought.  Innocent lives are at steak because of me.  I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes.  I knew better than to let that happen.  I fought the zombies and killed all but that one… that stupid one which escaped into the mortals’ world.  I just continued to blame myself for what I had let happen.         

“How far is the city or town from here?” I heard Ziles’s voice ask.         

“About a few more hours,” Anna replied.  “Do you think most of the town is gone now?  I mean like how my husband was?”         

“Most likely,” Vivid replied.         

I opened my eyes and looked at the others.         

Anna nodded.  “I just can’t believe he’s gone now.”  She began crying and Vivid had to take the wheel a few times to keep from crashing into things.         

“Eyes on the road,” Vivid told Anna.         

“Sorry,” Anna replied, sighing and took a deep breath.

“You know if you want one of us to drive we can.”         

Anna shook her head.  “I’m fine.”         

“Okay.”         

I looked out of the wind shield and noticed a blockade of cars.  “Damn,” I muttered.         

“Park the car,” Thorn told Anna.         

Anna did as he had said and placed the car into park.

“Vivid, stay in here with Anna.  Ziles, Quill, and I will see if we can find a way through and make sure that there are no more zombies around.”         

“I love a man in charge but I want to go with you,” Vivid told Thorn in her flirty mischievous voice.         

“Just stay here with Anna,” Thorn told her, ignoring her tone again.         

“Why can’t Quill stay?”         

I narrowed my eyes and eyed the demon.         

“Because I need Quill to help me fight if needed,” he answered.         

I sighed in relief when he spoke.  Shot down again, I thought, good.  I climbed out of the car after Ziles and closed the door.  I had Bones stay in the car with Vivid and Anna.         

I pulled out a gun just in case there were more than one zombie around and I followed behind Thorn and Ziles.  I examined the area.  Everything had been clear as far as the zombies went but there was no telling what was on the other side of the blockade.  I looked around, watching and waiting for something to pop up.

Watch for Zombies

I held onto my gun, watching for anything or anyone.  I listened to Ziles chat about some nonsense thing about time and clocks which to me wasn’t something that I was too concerned with at the moment and could care less.  He had his moments when he would just talk about things that nobody really cared to listen to.         

Thorn stopped dead in his tracks and urged Ziles and I to do the same.  “Listen,” he whispered.         

At first I didn’t hear anything but then the sound of something falling and smacking the ground caught my attention.  We watched a tin can rolled out in front of us.  I held up my gun in the direction which the can had come from.  We waited for a few moments when a zombie appeared in between the cars.         

“Quill, save your ammo for more.  I got this,” Thorn told me while he held up his cross bow and aimed at the zombie.         

I nodded.         

“I want at him,” Ziles mumbled with hunger in his voice.

“Let me kill him and then you can have your fun eating him,” Thorn told the starving werewolf.         

“That works,” Ziles replied.         

We watched as Thorn shot the arrow into the Zombie’s forehead.  The zombie fell to the ground.  He walked over and pulled the arrow out and placed it back with the others.  “All yours, Ziles,” he told the werewolf.         

Ziles smiled, happily, and made his way over to the zombie.  He examined the body then torn of the right arm as if he were getting ready to feast on a chicken.  He held the arm up to his mouth and without hesitation he took a bite.         

I looked away, grossed out by the sight.  I knew it was normal for the wolves to eat anything dead but it still wasn’t something that I wanted to witness.         

“Heads up!” Thorn called.         

I looked up and a zombie stood right in front of me.  “Here we go.”  Before I had a chance to aim my gun the thing had its hands on my arms pulling me closer to its mouth.  Without hesitation the thing bit into my shoulder which I couldn’t help but laugh.  “Hey, stupid, I’m not mortal and you can’t kill me.”  I managed to hold my gun up under the zombie’s jaw and pulled the trigger.         

The zombie’s grip loosened and the dead body dropped to the ground.         

“I hate when they get that damn close to me,” I told the other two.         

Thorn laughed.         

Ziles finished off the first zombie then jumped to the one I had just killed.         

“Are you foul from the last one?” I asked.         

Ziles shook his head.  “I’m a wolf.  I’m never fully satisfied with any meal I eat.”         

Thorn took a moment and looked around.  “I don’t see any more as of right now.”         

“Let’s hope that most of them are gone and that we can get out of this mess,” I replied.         

Thorn nodded.         

Once Ziles finished up his meal, we began walking around again, checking for more zombies when a man ran out in front of us.  He had fresh blood dripping from his shoulder.  “Please help me,” he told us.         

“What happened to that shoulder?” Thorn asked.         

“I was…” he stopped, afraid to finish his sentence.         

“Were you bitten?”         

The man dropped down to the ground and began crying.  “Yes but please don’t kill me.  I can beat this thing,” he tried to convince himself as much as he tried to convince us.         

I walked over to the man and kneeled down beside him.  I locked eyes with the man and the fear was evident.  He didn’t want to die but he had too.  We had to stop him from changing.  “I’m sorry,” I told him with tears in my eyes.  “If we don’t then you will change and harm others,” I told him.         

He continued to stare at me.  “You were bitten too… I watched from a distance when that thing attacked you.”

I closed my eyes and gestured to my shoulder which had healed within seconds after the bite.  “I’m immortal… I can’t die.”  I looked over at Thorn and Ziles.  “He’s immortal,” I told the guy, nodding my head toward Thorn.  “He’s a werewolf,” I explained, nodding toward Ziles.  I locked eyes with the man again.  Tears filled my immortal eyes.  “This is my fault.  I was supposed to keep them from entering in this world but I had failed.  I’m sorry this had to happen to you.”         

The man stared with confusion, shock, and more fear than ever.  “That’s all impossible,” he told me.         

I shook my head while I held up my gun and placed it to the man’s forehead.         

“Please don’t kill me,” he begged.         

“This is the only way.  I don’t want to see the change.  I can’t witness that, knowing that it was my fault.”

“Please don’t kill me,” he repeated.         

“I’m sorry.”  I didn’t want to see the man suffer and I didn’t want to watch him change into one of those monsters so I pulled the trigger.  “I’m sorry,” I repeated as the man’s body dropped to the ground.  I stood up and turned my attention toward Ziles and Thorn.  “What else was I supposed to do?” I asked.  “I didn’t want to see him change.”         

Thorn walked over to me and wrapped me up in a hug.  “I know.  I know.”         

Ziles walked over to the body and bent down.  He laid a hand on the guy’s body.  “I can’t eat a body from a living soul.  It’s inhumane.  If he had changed it would have been different but I can’t just eat what was a human right before it was killed.”  He locked sad eyes with me.  “I’m not trying to sound mean or rude or anything.  I’m just saying that maybe we should give this guy a proper burial.  I mean it’s the least we could.”

Thorn and I both nodded in agreement.  “Ziles, pick up the body and carry it too the car.  We’ll bury him before we leave,” Thorn replied.  “Quill and I will continue checking the area.”         

Ziles nodded.  He picked up what use to be a mortal and carried the body back toward the car.

 

          

The funeral was hard to do, seeing that the man was a stranger to all of us but we managed to at least say something about him.  I stood by the bed which was dug for him while everyone else except for Thorn walked away from.  “I feel so horrible,” I began.  “I had to kill you but I didn’t want too.  I did it to protect the others.  I know that wasn’t what you wanted but I couldn’t see you suffer or change.  This is my fault why you even had to become a victim in the first place.  I’m sorry.”         

Grim appeared and stood near the grave.  He looked down and shook his head.  “Sam Freeman,” he spoke.  “He was a business man when he was alive and also a family man.  He is survived by his son and daughter whom are at the ages of five and seven.  Children, I need you two to go back and look for the two small ones or else they’ll be next.  He lost his wife giving birth to their daughter and they have no other family around.  The need someone to take care of them.”         

“Where exactly can we find them?” Thorn asked.         

Grim sighed and then with his long white bony finger pointed in the direction of the blockade.  “They are locked inside of a small black family car,” he explained.  “Oh plus, Quill, you’ll have to be careful because they witnessed you shooting their father so that’ll take some explaining to do.”

I sighed and closed my eyes.  “That’s why he didn’t want me to kill him.”         

Grim nodded.         

I looked at Grim and felt horrible.  “I’m sorry I ruined your world for the mortals.  You warned me to be careful which I thought I was but one got through before I had time to kill him.  I’m so sorry.”         

Grim’s eyeless sockets locked onto me and I could feel that he was upset too.         

“This isn’t your fault, child.  It could have happened to anyone.  Now I need you to pull yourself together and try to beat this thing.  Understood?”         

I nodded.         

“Good.  I will be back.  I have things I need to do now.”  He vanished without another word.         

“See that, Grim doesn’t even blame you,” Thorn said.  “He’s honest too so you know that should be encouraging.”

I nodded.  “How am I going to explain to a couple of small children that I had to kill their father?”         

Thorn shrugged.  “Not quite sure about that but I’ll be with you to help.”         

I nodded again.

 

                           *****          

It hadn’t taken us long to find the car.  Thorn went to open the side door but the children must have locked it for safety.  “We’re not going to hurt you,” he spoke and then tapped on the door.  “We’re here to help.”         

Two pairs of little eyes stared out at us.  Each of them was puffy and red from crying.  The two children didn’t bother to unlock the door and open it for us.         

I looked at Thorn.  “They witnessed something horrible happen to their father and I was the cause.  They’re afraid of me.”         

Thorn sighed and placed a hand on my arm.  “We just need to let them know that you did it to keep everyone safe.”         

“They’re just children.  They’re not going to understand that I had to do it.  Anna was ticked off at you for killing her husband last night.  There’s no way those two will get over it and we can’t just lore them out with candy.”         

Thorn thought for a moment and a small smile grew on his rugged face.  “Maybe we can.  Stay here, I’ll be right back.”  He left me alone at the car for a few moments.

I wondered what he was planning when he came back holding something in his hands.  “What are you doing?” I asked.         

“Luring them out with candy.”  He opened his hands to reveal some wrapped Hersey kisses and a bag of mms.

I watched him walk over to the car and knock again.

“We’re not going to hurt you and we have some candy,” he informed the two children.

We heard a clicking noise and the door opened slightly.  The little boy looked at Thorn’s hand and then turned his attention inside of the car.  “I don’t think we should trust them,” he spoke.         

“But they have candy,” the little girl’s voice squeaked.

“But daddy says not to trust strangers.”         

Thorn sighed and placed a hand inside and pulled the door wide open.  “Look it’s not safe here,” he told them.  “Your father was bitten and my friend here had to do something horrible but to keep everyone who’s still alive safe.”         

The little boy slowly climbed out of the car and stared at me.  “She’s the one who shot our daddy.”         

I felt my heart drop at the sound of the child’s voice.  His words were upsetting and hurt more than anything else that I as an immortal could only imagine.         

“I know but she did it to keep you and your sister safe,” Thorn tried to explain.  “I know right now it doesn’t seem like it but she had good reason.”         

I walked over them and dropped to my knees.  “I’m sorry but I had too.  A monster had bitten him and he would have turned into another one.  I understand why you’re mad and even afraid but right now we just want to help and get you and your sister somewhere safe.  Okay?”         

It took a lot of convincing but eventually the two children agreed to come with us and I had promised not to lay a hand another mortal.         

“I’m Thorn and this is Quill,” Thorn told the children.

“I’m Tom and this is my sister Sasha,” the boy answered.

“Nice too meet you, Tom,” Thorn said, holding out a hand for the boy to take.         

Tom shook Thorn’s hand then climbed out of the car and walked over to me.  He looked up at me with sad eyes.  “You said that you had to kill our daddy?” he asked.         

I nodded.         

“You think he’s in Heaven with our mommy?”         

I nodded again.         

Grim appeared and stood next to me.  I knew that the mortals couldn’t see him but Thorn and I knew he was there for a reason.  “Be careful in the city.  The place has been over run and they had to try to destroy it.  Explosives were sent off and destroyed almost everything in sight.  With that said, there still are zombies in the city so keep an eye out.”         

Thorn and I both nodded.         

Grim vanished again.

Dead Man’s Land

Ziles and Thorn cleared the road of the cars while I stayed near the car with the others. Vivid stepped out of the car and looked at me then turned her attention toward the two guys.  “Strong,” she spoke.         

I rolled my eyes.         

She kind of laughed.  “So is Thorn seeing anyone?” she asked.         

“I don’t think so but it’s not any of my business if he is or not,” I answered, trying to keep my jealousy hidden.         

Vivid nodded.  “He is attractive and he’s strong.”         

I just kept to myself.  I didn’t want to listen to her continuing on about someone I had practically know my whole life.  “We work together.  We don’t talk about stupid things like relationships.”         

Vivid looked at me and her mouth dropped with a smile.  “Are you jealous?” she asked.  “Do you have feelings for him?”         

The questions had come out of nowhere and had thrown me off in surprise.  “No,” I replied.  “Our relationship is professional and nothing else.  He probably sees me as a kid anyways.”         

Vivid nodded.  “Then you won’t mind if I work my charm on him then.”

“Keep it professional,” I hissed.  “We’re here on a mission not to find dates for a ball.”         

Vivid laughed.  “You do your job then and I’ll do mine.”

“Keep it professional,” I repeated.         

Vivid took a break from laughing but a mischievous smile grew on her face.         

Sasha opened the door and climbed out.  Bones followed behind and sat down.  “What happened to your dog?” she asked.         

“What do you mean?” I asked the child.         

“Why doesn’t he have any fur or skin like most dogs have?”         

I sighed.  We hadn’t exactly explained the whole situation to the children so I didn’t know how to tell her.  “It’s a skin condition,” I lied.         

“But he doesn’t have eyeballs either?  All animals and people have eyeballs.”         

I nodded then sighed.  “He was born like that.  It’s a long story, Sasha.”         

She nodded.  “What kind of dog is he anyways?”         

I looked at Bones.  I knew if he were from the mortals’ world he would have been a normal bred dog but being from our world it was a whole another story.  “He’s a blood hound,” I replied.  “He’s just different.”         

“Blood hound?”         

I nodded.         

“Like a hunting dog?”         

I nodded again.         

“What does he hunt?”         

“Anything,” I answered, “mostly zombies.”         

“Oh.”         

Bones sat down and looked around.  He stayed quiet, almost as if he were planning something in his head.

I sat on the concrete next to him and waited for Ziles and Thorn to return.  We were going to need to get a bigger car for everyone to fit but I knew that we would make it work until then.

 

          

Back on the road, we headed toward the city.  Thorn had explained to Ziles what Grim had told us early about the city being a horrible place to go but we needed to check for at least one survivor if there were any.  The dark grey sky from the night before only continued to grow worst.  I watched flashes of lightning strike in different areas.  A loud roar of thunder filled the air.  The next thing I knew it was pouring rain outside.

 

          

We neared the city but Thorn had Anna drive into the woods.  He had her stay there with the two kids and Ziles.  “Vivid, now I need to see what you can do,” he told the demon.         

“I know what she can do but it has nothing to deal with zombies,” I muttered to myself.         

A wide smile grew on Vivid’s face.

“Quill and I will cover you,” Thorn explained.

Vivid nodded.  “I was wondering when you would need my help,” she said, placing a hand on his chest and drawing circles with her finger.  She glanced at me as if she knew she was ticking me off.

I dropped my mouth at how rude she was being then I quickly pulled myself together.  “Bones, stay here with Ziles and Anna.  I’ll be back,” I told my dog which obeyed.

 

          

The city was a disaster like Grim had said.  Fires had destroyed cities and bodies of zombies filled the ground.  I shook my head.  I followed behind Vivid and Thorn, watching for any unwanted friends.  A few distracted zombies fed from another corpse.  Thorn nodded toward Vivid to do something.         

The demon nodded and walked over the zombies.  She pulled the one away from the others and locked eyes with it.  The creature’s teeth chatted as it tried to bite her.  She just smiled and then sighed.  “Hades will be pleased with the sight of this,” she laughed.  “Can we keep this one as a pet?”         

“Are you kidding me?” I asked.  “We have mortals to watch out for.  We can’t risk their lives because you want to keep a damn zombie.”         

“I was just joking.”  We watched as she sprouted wings and threw the zombie in midair.  She jumped and spread her wings while her arms reached out and grabbed the zombie.  That was when I realized that her hands hand transformed into long sharp claws and fangs filled her smile.  She torn the zombie to shreds, throwing it up into the air again but this time catching the remains in her mouth.         

“Not surprised,” I told Thorn, “a demon that can transform and then eat the creatures.”         

Thorn nodded.  “Well at least we know she can do more than what I thought.”         

“She can do more than flirt,” I replied, kind of jealous.

Thorn looked at me and kind of smiled.  “She’s not my type,” he replied.         

I sighed.  “You’ll have to tell her that yourself.”         

Thorn nodded.         

I turned my attention toward the zombies which had finished there meal and turned their attention toward us.  “Dead meat, heading this way, you think we could bring back some for Ziles.”         

Thorn nodded while he pulled out his crossbow.  “He probably would rather be here and get it while it’s moving but I’m sure he won’t mind if we bring some back for him.  We’ll probably have to wait though… we don’t need the children to watch that.”         

I nodded and drew two swords from my back.  “Let’s end this.”  I hurried over to two of the zombies and sliced each of them from their heads to their feet while Thorn shot a couple with his crossbow.  I was glad that I was immortal because when they bit me I didn’t have to worry about turning into one of them but I felt horrible knowing that the zombies instead of being the ones in our world were once mortals and living souls.  They had names and personalities.  They had friends and family.  They went to work or to school.  They had lives but because of me all of that was gone.         

In the process of fighting, a couple of humans ran into the scene and helped us fight.  Luckily, they hadn’t been bitten or even scratched.  Vivid had quickly transformed back into human form before either of them had raised any questions and helped us fight.  When we knew the zombies were dead, I sat down on a bus bench and looked around what used to be a city.  I shook my head.         

“Either of you bitten?” Thorn asked.         

“No, man,” one of the two humans answered.  I noticed that they both were males and had to be somewhere in their late teens or early twenties.  “I’m Edmund Countmore and this is Gus Simon,” he introduced himself and the other guy.         

“I’m Thorn Allitwine and these two ladies are Quill Huntington and Vivid-”         

“Vivid… I can be connected with Aphrodite from Ancient Greece,” she told Edmund, flirtatiously.         

She’ll flirt with any guy, won’t she? I thought and sighed.  I shook my head, wishing that she would just stop talking to people.         

“Really now?” Edmund asked, laughing.         

I shook my head with annoyance.         

Vivid just laughed.  I had a feeling that she learnt how to be flirtatious from her mother.         

Thorn examined the two humans.  “Is there any others?” he asked.         

Edmund shook his head.  “No… My girlfriend was at the hospital getting ready to have our child when this thing started and well neither she nor the baby survived.  Actually the hospital was the first placed bombed.  I was on my way there when it happened.  Those things just came out of nowhere and began destroying everything in sight… killing people left and right.”         

Thorn nodded.         

“I ran into Gus, here and we’ve been trying to search for others,” he replied.  He began laughing.  “Actually we know our skills from watching zombie movies and stuff.  ‘We call them Walkers,’” he laughed.         

I raised an eyebrow then exchanged a look with Thorn.

“You know the Walking Dead?” he asked.         

I shook my head, burying my face in my hand.  “The mortals think this is a joke,” I whispered to Thorn.

“This is serious,” Thorn replied.  “This is survival, not a game.”         

“But-”         

Thorn shook his head.  “Listen you two are welcome to come back with the three of us but I will warn you that this isn’t a game and lives are at stake.  There are things that you two are unaware of as well about us and when you find out you’ll probably want to scram… but we are here for your protection.  We’re not too worried about ourselves.”         

“Why not?” Gus asked.         

“It’s a long story.”  Thorn took a moment before continuing.  “Now are you two coming or staying?”         

“We’ll go but first we know a few places where we can thing supplies like food, water, ammo, and stuff like that,” Edmund replied.         

Thorn nodded.  “Please take us there then.”         

Edmund nodded.

 

          

We walked into a store which had been ransacked when the invasion had begun.  The most of the shelves in the isles had been knocked over or destroyed.  I walked through one isle with the shelves still standing and grabbed some medicines like aspen and painkillers.  I knew we would need them at some point in time for the mortals.  When I had finished, I found Thorn going through bullets and then he picked up a few and handed them to me.         

“Are those the right kind of bullets for any of your guns?” he asked.         

I checked them out then nodded.  “Yeah… thanks.  I could use these.  I mean right now my guns are full and loaded but I know that in the future I’ll need them.”         

He nodded.  “I guess the mortals were fighting each other for this stuff before the whole place was over run.”

I nodded in agreement.  “We’re going to need a bigger vehicle,” I told Thorn with a sigh.  “I mean there are more of us now.  I’m sure Vivid would fly if she had too but I honestly don’t see that happening with her flirting with you and Edmund over there.  Ziles would probably run but we don’t need him getting tired.  We need him to be stay strong so he can help us fight.”         

“We’ll find something,” Thorn agreed.  “There’s probably a car lot around here somewhere.  Maybe we could find big van or RV or something.”         

I nodded.

What Are Zombies?

A few hours later, we had found a double decker bus which worked to our convenience.  I knew Thorn knew it would be a good option for us to take, seeing that we didn’t know how long it would be when we met up with more mortals if we were that lucky.  Once everyone was in side, Edmund jumped into the driver seat and drove off.  Thorn gave him direction to where the others were.

 

          

When we arrived at our small camp, we climbed off the bus after Edmund had placed it into park.  “We figured it would be better to have a vehicle that could fit everyone here,” Thorn told the others.         

Anna and Ziles nodded.         

“And this is Edmund and Gus,” he explained as the two new comers climbed out and waved at everyone.

Bones tilted his head and examined them.  He stood up and made his way over to them sniffing their clothes.         

“What the heck is that thing?” Edmund asked, jumping back from Bones in fear.         

“My dog,” I answered.         

“You’re aware that your dog is dead right?”         

I nodded.  “He’s actually a blood hound… a skull hound where we’re from.”          

“A skull hound?”         

“Yeah that’s what they’re called.  His name is Bones.  He loves hunting, especially zombies.”         

Edmund just stared at me confused and somewhat afraid.         

“We aren’t mortals,” I began.         

“What do you mean?” Gus asked.         

“We’re bounty hunters… part of the order in our world,” I continued then I looked over at Thorn.         

Thorn nodded for me to go on.         

I turned my attention back toward the others.  “Thorn and I are actually immortal.  Ziles,” I spoke pointing to the werewolf who had found the jackpot of zombie meat we had brought for him, “is a lycanthrope or werewolf.  Vivid is a demon-goddess from Ancient Greece… that unknown daughter of Aphrodite.”         

Edmund and Gus exchanged looks then looked back at me.         

I took a moment before I continued.  “Our job is to keep our world from colliding with your world which because of me the two worlds have clashed.  Those zombies I tried to keep in our world but it didn’t happen.  One zombie slipped through before I could stop him.  There’s no telling how long it’ll be when we stop the invasion if we can.  Zombies are the hardest things to destroy once they’re created.  They have animal like minds which is why once someone becomes a zombie they don’t act the same… as a matter of fact they are creatures that like to eat and devour anything they come into contact with.”         

“Are there mortals in your world?” Gus asked.         

I shook my head.         

“Then where do they come from?”         

I sighed.  “They are dead werewolves, vampires, and other creatures in our world.  See they can’t harm us the same way they can harm any mortal… now I will say that the zombies once the werewolf or vampire or whatever other creature it is dies they don’t have the form of whatever it was when it was alive.  That’s why when a mortal is bitten; they only become a zombie instead of the other creature as well.  It’s a long process that of course you mortals could never fully understand.”         

Ziles removed the zombie’s leg which he had in his mouth before he had his say.  “Zombies aren’t easily destroyed.  You would have to destroy the brain, but of course if you are a werewolf, all you have to do is eat them.”  He went back to the leg he was chowing on.         

Thorn and I exchanged a look, trying not to laugh.  I turned my attention back toward the mortals and regained my composure.  “Ziles does make a good point that you mortals should know about destroying the brain but all you have to do is shoot them in the head or if you use a sword or any other weapon you just have to really go for the head, well the brain inside of the head.  Now as you can tell the werewolves love the meat.  Now are there any other questions?”         

“Yeah,” Edmund replied.  “If your job was supposed to keep those things from escaping but you failed at that why should we trust you?  I mean why should we put our lives in your hands when something could happen to us?”         

The question shot through me and I closed my eyes.  Somehow I knew that would come up but I was hoping that they wouldn’t think to ask it.  I took a moment for myself to think.  “I’m not going to let anything happen to you guys.  I’m here to try to fix my mistake.  It wasn’t supposed to happen but it did…”         

“Quill knows what she’s doing and she’s excellent in this sort of thing.  It could have happened to any of us,” Thorn replied, placing hand on my shoulder.  “If I were mortal, I’d feel safe in her hands.”         

I looked at Thorn with gratefulness.  I was surprised by his kind words.         

Ziles stood up.  “I need to go look for a river to wash my hands and I was thinking that a few of us should go get some more firewood as well.”         

Thorn stood up as well.  “I agree.  Edmund, and Gus, would you two like to come with us.  I think we could leave the ladies and children alone for a little while.  Quill and Vivid will keep an eye out for them.”         

“Yeah,” Edmund and Gus spoke in unison.         

The four guys left us alone.         

Bones walked the perimeter, staying near us.  He paced back and forth as if he were guarding a treasure chest.

“I’m sleepy,” Sasha’s little voice spoke.         

I looked down at her and her brother.  They both were tired and obviously ready for bed.  “Why don’t you two climb on the bus and sleep there?” I asked.         

“But I’m not tired,” Tom spoke in a sleepy voice.         

I smiled.  “Well, Tom, why don’t you bring your sister on to the bus and keep an eye on her for us?”         

Tom nodded.  “Come on, Sasha.”  He helped his sister to her feet and they both worked their way up the stairs.         

Vivid, Anna, and I just sat around the fire in silence while we waited for the guys to arrive back when Anna started crying.         

“What’s wrong?” Vivid asked with concern in her voice.

“Oscar,” she whispered.         

I was new to the world of emotions of feeling love for a man so I didn’t know how to make her feel better.  I also didn’t know what it was like to lose someone close to me.  “Can you tell us about him?” I asked.         

Anna glanced up at me for a moment then turned her attention toward the fire which was dying down.  “He was handsome,” she whispered with a small smile.  “He meant the world to me.  Before I met him, I would cut myself.”  She looked up at me.  “Those scars on my arm were from then,” she explained.  “You see before Oscar came into my life I thought that I was worthless and didn’t belong here or anywhere else for that matter.  I thought that I was supposed to be alone forever and no one would ever love me.  I would cut myself… I wanted to feel the pain but I didn’t want to actually kill myself.  It was all for attention.  Then one day, I met Oscar.”  She let out a small laugh.  “We would talk for hours about nothing.  He would bring me out and we would do things like go to the park and take a walk around the lake or go to the movies… you know everything that couples do.  One day he noticed the scars on my arm and asked about them.  I thought he would be rude about it or yell at me but instead he took my hand and told me that I didn’t have to hurt myself.  He told me that he would always take care of me and love me and I didn’t need to get attention from him in a bad way.”

Vivid and I just listened to Anna’s story.         

“Last year, we got married… as a matter of fact yesterday,” she began crying, “was our one year anniversary and we had decided to come camping but now… he’s dead.”  She wiped tears from her eyes.         

I looked down and hid my face in my hand, feeling so much worse.         

“We were going to start trying for kids soon and now everything we had planned is gone and I don’t know if I could live with it.”         

“Anna, I began.  I am so sorry this is my fault,” I told her, keeping my face covered.         

Anna placed a hand on my knee.  “It’s not your fault,” she told me.  “Oscar always told me that things happen for a reason,” she began.  “It’s not your fault this happened.  I just don’t know if I want to live now.”

“Don’t give up your life,” Vivid’s voice spoke.         

I looked over at the demon and noticed that she felt as horrible as I did.         

“From the sound of it, Oscar wouldn’t want you to give up or to go back to cutting yourself,” she continued.  “If anything, he would want you to find someone else.”         

“Someone else?” Anna’s sad voice asked.  “But with the world gone because of those zombies how am I going to find someone else?”         

“Well,” Vivid began, “there’s got to be other survivors.  I mean you, Tom, Sasha, Edmund, and Gus survived.”         

“So far,” Anna replied, “but what happens when they die or I die?”         

Vivid and I exchanged glances.         

“We’ll figure something out,” I told her.         

Anna slightly nodded.         

“Why don’t you go ahead and get some rest too?” Vivid asked Anna.         

Anna nodded then walked onto the bus.         

I took a moment and sighed.         

“Mortals,” Vivid spoke softly.  “They have so much emotion.”         

I nodded.         

“You know I haven’t been flirting with Thorn because I really want him,” she spoke.         

I looked at her and raised an eyebrow.         

“I could tell that you like him and I wanted to see if I could get your feelings out.”         

“I don’t like him… he’s my commander.  Our relationship is professional.”         

Vivid laughed.  “That’s what you say but that’s not what you mean.”         

“I don’t like him.”         

She laughed a little more.  “You’re in denial.  Why do you get so frustrated when I talk to him then?”         

I felt myself blush a little at the question.  “Because… he’s the leader… the boss… that’s why and you shouldn’t flirt with him.  It’s unprofessional.”

She shook her head again.  “Why are you trying so hard to convince yourself otherwise?”         

“I’m not trying to convince myself… it is how I feel.”

She shook her head again.  “You think you can full me.  I know love when I see it.”         

“I’m not in love,” I denied.  “I don’t even talk to him about relationships because it’s unprofessional.  Why are we even talking about this?”         

“That’s why Elisa hates you.  She has feelings for Thorn but you get to be the one who spends time with him instead.”         

“Elisa’s always hated me,” I replied.         

Vivid nodded.  “Because you’re always working with Thorn...  she’s jealous of you.”         

I took time to think.  I didn’t know if Vivid was being honest or just trying to distract me for something she wanted to do.         

“Thorn has feelings for you too, you know.”         

I shook my head and spat out a small laugh.  “Whatever.”         

“It’s true.”         

Within the next few moments the guys, returned with fire wood.  They placed the wood down next to the fire and looked around.  “Where are Anna and the two kids?” Thorn asked.         

“Sleeping on the bus,” I answered.         

Thorn nodded.         

Bones trotted back over to us and sat next to me.         

I stood up.  “Here I’ll go keep watch.”         

“I’ll go with you if you don’t mind having a guest,” Thorn replied.         

I nodded.  “Sure.”  We stood near a few trees, looking around for any signs of zombies.  “Anna told us about her husband,” I told him.         

He nodded.         

“Apparently he was a good guy.”         

“Cool.”         

“Thorn, do you ever wonder what it’d be like to be mortal?” I asked.         

He thought for a moment and shrugged.  “I guess it’d be different… not knowing how much time you have left to live.”         

I nodded.         

“What about you?”         

I sighed.  “I don’t know.  I guess it’d be interesting to live day to day although death would be a big part of living.  I never really thought about death.  I mean we know werewolves and vampires which die but to like our families… we just live on forever.  Life on this planet was supposed to be like that before Adam and Eve eat from the tree.”  I took another moment.  “I guess we take for granted what the mortals… life that never really comes to an end.”

Thorn nodded.

A Place to Stay

The next morning, we had everyone load up on the bus.  Edmund sat behind the driver’s seat again.  Thorn and Edmund held a conversation about safe havens and stores while I took a seat next to a window and looked out of it.  The woods were dull and lifeless.  I couldn’t imagine what the rest of the mortals’ world would look like all because I failed at my job.         

“You know we could see if there are other wolf packs or vampire clans around here for help,” Ziles spoke taking a seat next to me.         

I shook my head and looked over at the werewolf.  “You know where any of them could be located?” I asked.         

He shrugged.  “It depends are where we are.  Hey, Edmund, were on earth are we?  I mean literally.”         

Edmund held up his hand to Thorn and then turned his attention toward Ziles and me.  “We’re in Canton, North Carolina.”         

Ziles thought for a moment.  “There should be a group around here but I’m not quite sure.  Us werewolves and vampires like to live in the woods to keep us from the humans,” he replied.         

I nodded.         

“Quill,” he began, “you know that I can die right?”         

I nodded.         

“I just if I don’t make it back… out of this world could you let my pack know and…Swimra?”         

“Don’t talk like that,” I whispered.         

“But-”         

“You’re going to make it back with us and you can run into her arms and tell her how much you missed her but none of us are going to have to explain anything to her.”

He nodded.         

“You’re pretty smart and quick so I see you making it out of this thing anyways,” I reassured him.         

He nodded.  “Thanks, Quill.  You’re a good friend.”         

I smiled.

 

          

Edmund pulled up to an old abandoned cabin which appeared to have quite a bit of rooms.  “I guess we can stay here for the night?” he asked, unsure if he was making a good suggestion.         

Thorn looked out of the windshield and nodded.  “I think it’s a good place but we need to make sure it’s safe first; just to be cautious.  Quill, you and Bones can go in to check it out.  I’ll cover you.”         

I nodded while Ziles moved out of the way so I could get through.         

Bones was busy playing with the children until I whistled for him.         

“Come on, boy,” I spoke to the dog.         

He quickly jumped up and followed me off of the bus.

Thorn stood at the foot of the door and let me through.  He waited for Bones to walk down and out of the bus as well.         

My dog trotted before me and walked over to the front door.  He tilted his head and then looked at me.

When I was on the small porch, I peered into the window to see if there was a zombie inside but the windows were old and filled with dust that it was difficult to see anything.  “We’re going in blind,” I told Thorn, still staring into the window.         

“Alright,” his voice spoke from behind me.         

I moved over the door and opened it, keeping a hand on a sword.  I slowly walked in with Bones at myself.

He began to sniff the air.         

I moved slowly, moving furniture around to make sure there were no surprises.  When I knew the living room was clear, I moved into the hallway and then into the room across from the living room.  Pictures were covered with white sheets and a few of the walls revealed that someone had lived there once before but during some sort of problem had to leave in a hurry.         

Bones didn’t seem to have a problem, searching the rooms.  I knew that if a zombie had been in the house or even in the same room he would have sensed its presence and began growling but he was just trotting around, happily.         

I opened the closet door which revealed an empty closet.         

“How do things look so far?” Thorn asked in a hushed tone, just in case.         

“So far so good,” I replied.  “Bones isn’t growling which is a good sign but we still have another floor to check and he could just be distracted by the scenery.  You know how he is.”         

Thorn nodded.  “I’m sure we’re good then but it’s always good to check just in case.”         

I nodded in agreement.  I took a seat in a chair for a break.  “I’m worried about Anna.”         

“Why’s that?”         

I took a deep breath before going into detail.  “She explained that before she met her husband she usually would cut herself but when he came into her life and found out he explained that she didn’t need to hurt herself anymore.  He’s gone now… what if she decides that she-?”

“We’ll keep an eye on her,” Thorn replied.         

I nodded.

 

          

Once we knew the cabin was safe, we let the humans inside and pick their rooms.  I sat on the steps of the porch with Bones at my side.  I shook my head and looked at the dead mutt.  “All of this is because I screwed up,” I told him.

His eyeless sockets locked onto me and he just stared into my eyes.  If I were mortal, it probably would have been the creepiest thing I have ever seen but it was normal for me.  Not only that but you get use it after a while and also from knowing the Grim Reaper as well.         

“Grim should come and take my life because I don’t deserve to live after I killed off the mortal population by letting that zombie through.  Why did it have to be a zombie anyways?  Why couldn’t it have been a fairy or even a dragon?  Those would have been easier to do away with but zombies?  No mortal have to suffer from that curse.”  I sighed.         

I listened as someone walked out onto the porch behind me and closed the door.  “The mortals are all fast asleep,” Vivid’s voice spoke.         

I slightly nodded.         

“You know you don’t help anyone when you just pity yourself.”         

I sighed.         

“Quill, you didn’t do this on purpose.  It’s not your fault.  Zombies can be difficult to deal with.”  She took a moment before she continued on.  “A zombie can destroy a person’s life but it’s not your fault.  This could have happened to anyone.”         

“Tell that to the mortals,” I answered.  “Tell that to Anna… tell that to Edmund… both of them had lost someone dear to them and it’s my fault.  I was standing at that portal.  I fought all those damn zombies but one escaped before I had a chance to stop it.  I ruined lives.”

Vivid shook her head.  “That’s what you want to believe.  No one blames you for this.”         

“Why do you even care anyways?  You barely even know me.”  I stood up and turned to face her.         

She sighed.  “You don’t realize it do you?”         

“Realize what?” I asked.         

“Friendship… someone who tries to help you and is willing to put their self in danger just to help you fix what you think is wrong,” she answered, shaking her head, “just like you deny being in love with Thorn… you don’t know how to let people in.”         

I looked at the ground.  “Why?  Why should I let people in?”         

Vivid pulled out something from her pocket and handed it to me.         

“What is this?” I asked.         

“Open it,” she replied.         

I looked down and realized that it was a folded piece of paper.  I unfolded it and noticed that it had writing on it.  “What is this?”         

“A prophecy,” she answered.  “Grim gave it to me.  He wanted me to wait to give it to you.”         

I looked at it and gave myself a moment before I began reading it.  I looked at Vivid then back to the paper.  I began reading it for myself in my head.  The mortals’ death will be that from a creature of death.  Time will take its course and the world will cease.  The dead will walk and devour anyone or anything.  No one mortal can keep it from ending all help will be that from living souls of those that can’t die or are mixed with life of another creature.  This will be the time of soulless task and immortality to cease from the world and the world’s protection will be no more.  I looked up at Vivid and closed my eyes.  “Is this the end…?” I asked, “The end for the mortals?”         

Vivid held back tears as she locked eyes with me.  “We still have time to stop this.  Grim told me that we can change the events.  I don’t know how and I don’t know when but we can and if so then the mortals’ world will be safe and sound.  It’ll go back to being peaceful.”         

“But what happens if we fail?” I asked.         

Vivid dropped her head.  “Then it’s the end and there’s nothing we can really do.  It’ll be helpless.”         

I thought about her words and I nodded.  “Come on, Bones, let’s go to bed.”  I walked past Vivid and handed the piece of paper back to her.  “I guess we’ll have to find a way to stop it then.”         

She nodded.         

“Look I need to get some rest but so you know… I could use a friend.  I usually stay to myself but I don’t think I could hold this burden on my own.”         

She nodded.  “Good night.”         

“Good night… and as for me and Thorn I would appreciate it if you don’t say anything to him about my feelings.  I don’t want to get rejected.  I’ve never been in love with anyone until now and I don’t like feeling vulnerable especially when I have to work with him.”         

She smiled and nodded.  “You’re secret’s safe with me.”

I nodded.

The Safe Haven

I lay on the bed staring at the dark ceiling, thinking about the words which had been written on that paper.  I couldn’t get the words out of my mind.  Finally, I sat up and looked down at Bones who had been sleeping on the floor, curled up into a ball.  I shook my head when I noticed a dark shadow moving in the dim light.  “Grim?” I asked.

“Yes, child,” he replied.         

I sighed and shook my head.  “Vivid had me read the prophecy you told her about,” I told him.         

“Prophecy?  What prophecy?” Grim asked, clearly he was lost and confused.  He knew almost everything there was to know but he knew nothing about what Vivid had told me about.         

“The one that mentions the end of the mortals’ world and talks about the zombies,” I replied.         

Grim sighed and moved out closer to where the moonlight helped bring out his dark cloak.  I watched him shake his head.  “I don’t talk to demons unless they’re getting into trouble and I have to get onto them.  I didn’t speak to Vivid about anything.  The mention of zombies?  That’s just nonsense.  If I needed to explain about a prophecy I would have but I didn’t.  She was clearly lying to you for some reason.  You need to keep your guard up around that demon.”         

Anger began to fill up inside of me at the sound of his words.  “She lied to me?!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.  I didn’t care if I woke anyone up or not.  I was furious.         

Bones lifted his head up for a moment but then quickly rested his head in between his paws again.         

“Keep your voice down, child,” Grim spoke, turning his attention toward the bedroom door, “people are sleeping.”

I took a deep breath and calmed down.  “I’ll be fine,” I told him, trying to calm down.         

Grim nodded and then turned his attention toward the window.  “You need to get outside as soon as possible.”

I stood up and walked over to the window next to him.  I looked outside and turned my attention toward the woods.  I noticed a couple of zombies making their way to the cabin.  “Damn,” I muttered.         

“Language, child, language,” Grim spoke.         

I turned around and picked up a couple of small daggers I had placed on the nightstand and then hurried out of the room.  I had begun heading down the stairs when Thorn stopped me.  “Where are you going?” he asked.

“Outside,” I answered.  “We have a couple of unwanted guest heading our way.”         

He nodded.  “Need any help?”         

“I’ll be fine.”         

He nodded again.  “I’ll come anyways, just in case.”

I nodded.

 

          

The zombies didn’t stop.  I ran to one while I pulled out a dagger and stuck the blade into the zombie’s head.  When I went to pulled the dagger out of the blade, the other zombie took advantage by grabbing my arm and taking a huge bite into my skin.  “Ouch!”         

“Quill!” Thorn shouted, hurrying outside.  He instantly stuck a piece of broken glass into the zombie’s head and removed the zombie from my arm.       

“Good thing we heal fast but that still hurt,” I told Thorn.         

He pushed the piece of glass into the creature’s head till the thing dropped dead.  He grabbed my arm and examined it.  He laughed a little.  “It’s also a good thing that their bites don’t affect us,” he answered.  “You better hope the mortals don’t see that.”         

I nodded.  “Thorn,” I began.         

“What?” he asked, locking eyes with me.          

“Why don’t you ever go out?  I mean on dates?” I asked him.         

He stared at me for a moment then directed his gaze toward my arm.  “I just don’t see myself as a relationship kind of guy,” he answered.         

I nodded.         

“I mean I just don’t see what the point is with letting you get out there and then ending up with nothing but a broken heart,” he answered.         

I nodded again.  “Sorry I asked.”         

“Don’t be sorry,” he answered then slightly smiled.  “Why don’t you date?”         

I shrugged.  “I don’t know… I guess I’ve never really meant anyone worth sharing my life with.”         

He nodded.         

“Are we losers because we don’t put ourselves out there for the opposite sex to use that power of a relationship over us?”         

He laughed.  “No we’re not.”  He sighed.  “Actually, I do have feelings for someone.”         

“Oh,” I replied, feeling disappointment take over.         

“Quill, I’m about-”         

“What’s going on out here?” Vivid asked, working her way outside.          

I noticed as Thorn eyed the demon.         

“I really hate her,” he replied.         

I laughed a little at his words.         

Vivid walked over to us and examined my arm then turned her attention toward the two dead zombies.  “Well it’s a good thing the mortals aren’t out here.”         

“The mortals already know that we can’t die,” I answered.         

“Still if they see your wound they’re going to flip.”         

I shook my head and rolled my eyes.  “I think you should be the last to talk about anything.”         

“Why do you say that?”         

“I talked to Grim,” I answered, “he explained that he hasn’t talked to you about anything that you lied to me about that damn prophecy…”         

“Prophecy?  What prophecy?” Thorn asked, confused.

“Forget it,” I answered, eyeing Vivid.         

Vivid shot a look at me as if I had been the one who lied.         

“You’re just a demon,” I told the so called demi-goddess.  I took a deep breath and looked toward the cabin.  “The mortals can sleep soundly tonight.  I don’t think I’m going to be going to bed for a while though.  I can’t seem to sleep.”         

“Alright, want any company?” Thorn asked.         

I slightly nodded.         

“Okay then.  You can go back to the cabin, Vivid.”         

“Fine.”  Vivid turned around and headed toward the cabin.         

I shook my head and turned my attention toward Thorn.  Clearly, he didn’t like to deal with the demon either.

 

 

The sun began to rise while Thorn and I walked onto the small porch.  “We’ve been up practically all night,” I told Thorn with a sigh.         

He nodded in agreement.         

“I’m going to go take a nap or something… or at least try to get some sleep,” I told him.         

“Yeah I think I should do the same.  I’m sure Ziles and Vivid could keep an eye out for any zombies.  Although I think the mortals are safe for now,” he replied.         

I nodded.  I opened the front door to the porch and we walked inside.          

Annie was in the living room, fixing up the place.  She looked up at us and smiled slightly.  “I know we’re not going to be staying here for too long but I thought that for now that the rooms could be cleaned up.”          

Thorn nodded and smiled.  “Good idea.”         

I walked over to a window and looked outside while Thorn and Annie began a new conversation.  I noticed something in the distance, moving around.  “I’ll be right back.”         

“Alright.”         

I hurried out of the cottage and wondered down the path when an arrow slammed into my stomach.  I looked down and examined the weapon.  I sighed and removed the arrow from my body when a couple of hunters revealed themselves.  “Looks like we got ourselves a live one, Billy,” one of the men spoke to the other.

“Aren’t you a sexy little thing?” Billy replied.         

I held the arrow in my hand and eyed the two mortals.  “Morons,” I whispered while I revealed my stomach.  “Notice I’m not bleeding?”         

“Well would you look at that, Kevin, she ain’t bleeding,” Billy spoke, kind of laughing.         

“That’s funny to you?” I asked.         

Billy’s face turned into a frown of fear.  “You ain’t one of them are you?”         

“I wouldn’t be talking if I was… as a matter of fact I’d probably attack the both of you right now, mortal.”

“If you ain’t one of them, and clearly not one of us, then what are ya?” Kevin asked.         

I sighed.  “It’s a long story but if either of you look at me like I’m a piece of meat then I will place a bullet in your head instantly and I’m not kidding… as a matter of fact that goes for the other girls you two lay eyes on… got it?”

They both kind of laughed for a moment then grew serious and nodded in agreement.  “Now what are ya?” Kevin asked again.         

I sighed.  “I’m an immortal and I’m here to protect all of you mortals from the zombies.”         

“Oh,” Billy replied.  “What’s your name, se- I mean miss?”         

“Quill Huntington,” I replied.         

Bones had found his way over to me and stared at the two hunters and tilted his head.         

“What is that thing?”         

“My dog,” I replied.  “He’s a hunting dog.”

 

          

The two hunters followed me and Bones into the cottage.  Ziles and Edmund walked into the living room from the direction of the kitchen.  Ziles sniffed the air then looked over at the two mortal men.  “More humans, Quill?” he asked.         

I nodded.         

“Each of them need baths,” Ziles replied, “I can smell them from here.”         

I laughed for a moment then turned my attention toward the two mortals.  “This is Ziles… he’s a werewolf and the mortal is Edmund.”         

“Werewolves don’t exist,” Billy replied with laughter.

Without hesitation Ziles ran and jumped in front of Billy, grabbing the collar of his ripped jacket and held him up in midair revealing his wolfish claws.  “Believe me, human, we do exist along with vampires and other nonhuman creatures which we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have to protect you humans from the zombies out there… got it?” he asked with a smile which revealed his canines.         

Billy stared at Ziles in silence and quickly nodded.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 14.10.2014

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