Page 4 of Deceptively Dead

I feel a small, unwelcome pang when I think of the harem girls and how I won’t be able to keep them safe anymore. I squash that feeling pretty quickly.When did I get so sentimental? Still, I kind of wish I could say goodbye. But that would mean crossing nearly the entire compound to get to them, it’s not a solid idea, I shouldn’t even be thinking it, so I push it aside and concentrateon where to go from here. I need a place close to the fence, a place where there will be cover while I try to figure a way to get through.Of course!I think excitedly, the West gate ‘market stalls’, where the poorest of this society go to trade anything they have for more food. It’s not regulated and has spilt over into the cleared area near the fences. It’s perfect.

I make sure everything is as I found it, minus the stolen items, before quietly leaving Ben’s room. I slip down the hall and down the stairs, making as little noise as possible, but no one is around to hear me anyway. It seems like they are already at the walls. Luck might be on my side tonight. When I’m outside I decide to stick close to the building instead of crossing through the open, it’s going to take longer, and look more suspicious if I’m caught, but I need to make sure no one knows where I went, just in case they find Ben before I’m out of here.

I creep along the buildings so slowly that it takes me ages to get to the West gate markets, but I’m fairly confident no one saw me. I only had one close call when a messenger boy went sprinting through the courtyard, towards the knight’s rooms. I’ve never been so on edge. I’m terrified I’m about to be caught. I make my way through the dodgy, rickety stands propped up around the market, until I’m crouched by the one closest to the fence. I’m so close I can nearly touch it! I’m just about to reach out to the fence when movement catches my eye. One of the knights moves into a patch of moonlight and sweeps his eyes over where I’m hiding.

“Did you hear that?” he asks the darkness sharply, and I swear I’m wound so tight I nearly reply ‘No’ but thankfully manage to keep my stupid mouth shut as his friend replies for me.

“No, didn’t hear anything. Reckon the zombies will even show up?” the other knight says from the darkness, sounding fairly worried.

“If course they’ll show up! Didn’t you hear Ben? He’s lucky to be alive poor guy!”

Heh, I meanalivewouldn’t be a word I used to describe poor Ben at the moment.I quickly cover my smile as I giggle on the inside. I’m starting to think I might have a serious mental health problem.

I check my new watch, but it’s far too dark to see the hands in the shadow of the rickety stall.Damn, how much longer?! Surely, it’s been over an hour since I left Ben’s room. I need these idiots to move. Now.My thoughts are making me anxious and I have to concentrate on not fidgeting and giving my hiding place away. I seriously consider shooting them as they continue to chatter for what feels like hours. It’s a little frightening that the only reason I don’t is because it will make too much noise. Instead, I crouch dead still and try to figure out a way to get over/under/around the fence somehow.

It’s not looking good and I’m starting to hyperventilate about my plan not working and what will happen to me if I’m caught, when I hear them. The unmistakable scream of tortured vocal chords that signals they’ve found something to eat, is echoed from across the compound. And it sounds like there’s a lot of them. I know if I were closer, I would hear the constant moaning that emanates from those that still have an intact throat, those that don’t usually make a horrific gurgling slurp. I shudder, it’s been so long since I’ve heard them, I forgot about the fear they inspire.

The knights both go tense and start whispering furiously to each other. I assume they’re debating whether to go help or stay at their posts, where there likely won’t be any zombie killing action, which means no reward. I’m silently urging them to go when the gunfire starts. It’s too much for the knights and they both take off in the direction of the action. Idiots. I waste barely any time getting to the fence, I run my hands over the metalaffixed to it, looking for weaknesses and find none. I look left and right along the length of my prison, searching for anything that might give me a chance. In the distance I can just make out the dark mass of a bus, sitting right up alongside the fence.Jackpot.It will take me dangerously close to the zombies and knights, but it’s the only chance I’ll have. I pull a canvas covering from one of the stalls and crouch run as fast as possible toward the bus, desperately hoping everyone is occupied. I won’t have long to get over and I’ll be a sitting duck while I do.

I hit the bus and scramble up the hood as fast as I can, slipping and sliding on the windscreen, trying to stay flat on the metal. When I finally manage to claw my way to the top of the bus I pause to listen. The gunfire’s died down from the initial trigger happy onslaught. I risk a quick peek in the direction of the zombies and get a little transfixed by the scene unfolding in front of me. Along the fence line flaming torches have been set up, likely to lure the zombies towards the main bulk of the knights for an easier kill zone, and in their flickering light I watch the dead emerge from the tree line. Shuffling and dragging their limbs behind them, they are all in various stages of decomposition. Some look like they died yesterday, with waxy faces and dried blood covering their ragged clothing. Others look like they have been dead for a long time, their exposed bones shine brightly in the torch light. As I watch, a clump of flesh falls from one of the nearest, shortly before it reaches the fence, screaming and trying to force its arms through too small holes, its teeth gnashing at the wire before it’s stabbed through the eye by a knight. I shudder as I watch it fall limply to the ground, the knights making their ending look easy, but I know how hard they are to survive when there’s no fence to keep you safe. And I’m about to go out there with them, again.

I watch for a little while longer as the steady stream of dead emerges from the woods and are dispatched by the yahooingidiots inside the fence. They laugh and high five each other with every kill.I’m glad they’re having so much fun, it makes it easier for me to disappear.

On that thought I start to move. I scuttle back until I hit the fence and turn to throw the canvas over the razor wire. Once it’s over I check my weapons are strapped on and get a firm hold of my pillowcase pack, making sure the top is tied closed securely, I fling it over first and scramble up and over after it. There’s no soft landing on the other side and I let out a harsh breath when I hit the ground, dropping forward onto my knees. Pain jars through me and my sore body screams in protest, but I don’t have time to be gentle on myself. I heave up to my feet and grab my pack, I quickly look back to see if I was spotted, but the bus sits in my way.Of course, the bus is in your way, you just jumped off it!I groan at myself.Gods, I need to find somewhere to get myself together, I’m losing it.I shake my head a little to try and clear my thoughts, then I lock my eyes on the uninterrupted view of the dark tree line, and I realize.I’m. Free.

Chapter Four

Ihit the tree line running and I don’t stop, dodging trunks and branches and not really caring what direction I’m heading in, so long as it’sawayfrom Jacob’s ‘sanctuary’. I only stop when I find myself at the edge of an old road. I stand in the shadows of the trees and stare at the road while I get my breath back. I have to make a decision, follow the road or continue through the woods. The road will be faster and anyone tracking me won’t be able to follow my footprints, I’ll also be able to see clearly in both directions. I’m about to take a step out towards the road when a memory hits me from nowhere.I’m sitting on our old couch on the farm back home, watching one of my sister’s favourite scary movies with her. My heads shoved under a pillow and I’m screaming at her/the T.V. “WHY ARE YOU STAYING ON THE ROAD?? GET OFF THE FUCKING ROAD YOU TWIT!!” as the character runs terrified down the middle of a dark, deserted highway with a serial killer hot on her heels. “Everyone knows you DON’T RUN DOWN THE ROAD! Kelly!” I half yell at her“Why is she running on the road still???” Kelly just laughs at me and continues shoving popcorn into her mouth. “Well, fine, she’s going to die and it’s her own stupid fault!” I rage at the character.

The last image from the memory is my sister’s smiling face as she shrugs her shoulders at me in a ‘what are you gunna do’ sort of way. My heart starts to hurt, and I realize I’m crying. I quickly scrub the tears away and turn back into the woods.I’ll be damned if I’m not going to follow my own good advice.

I move through the trees with a lot more caution this time, slipping from trunk to trunk, listening intently for any signs of pursuit or the dead. I walk downhill, hoping to find water and I don’t stop moving until the sun starts to lighten the sky above me. My earlier fatigue starts to pull at me so I stop to take a small drink from Ben’s stolen water, but I can’t rest for long, I need as much distance between me and the settlement as possible, because when Jacob realizes what I’ve done, he won’t stop hunting me until I’m dead. I’ve seen it before.

The thought of Jacob spurs me on, and I heave my tired body from beneath the low bush that sheltered me during my brief rest. I consider eating some of the candy bar I stole from Ben’s things but decide to keep it for later, when I’m really hungry. Right now, I’m just thirsty, so freaking thirsty and I know Ben’s water won’t relieve my thirst for long, it’s already starting to run out. I struggle on, moving slower and slower as my body starts to really protest the abuse I’ve put it though. My head starts to get so heavy; I can barely lift it as the morning wears on. It’s so hot, I need water, but when I try to take another sip, the bottle is empty. By the time I hear the sound of water rushing over rocks, I’m sure I must be hallucinating, but I stumble in that direction anyway and when I come to the happily bubbling little stream fatigue pulls me down next to it. I collapse, sinking my face into the cool water. I don’t even bother to cup my hands, I just plungemy face in and gulp water as fast as possible, only coming up when I run out of oxygen. I roll to my side and breathe deeply before getting to my knees in the damp soil and looking around at where I am.

It’s a small clearing deep in the woods and I’m surprised to see the sun high overhead. I check my watch and notice it’s well past midday, I’ve been stumbling along for a lot longer than I realized, likely leaving tracks for anyone to follow. I look up at the tall trees surrounding me and decide I need to find a place to rest, before fatigue causes a mistake I can’t fix. I hurriedly fill my empty water bottle and wash off most of the dirt and grime on my face and arms, paying particular care to the reasonably fresh wounds from my knife fight with David and letting the cool water soothe my swollen face. I decide to use the stream to cover my tracks and head in the least likely direction, upstream, back towards the settlement, hoping to confuse any pursuers. Sure, I haven’t heard anything, and I might be paranoid, but I am certain there will be pursuers. Sooner or later.

I follow the stream for an hour or so, until I find a rocky patch of bank to climb out on. With my thirst momentarily quenched, my fatigue has taken a back seat and I’m able to think straight again. I move cautiously through the woods, ensuring I leave as little trace as possible, until I find what I’m looking for. A huge oak tree, with massive branches and thick leaves to hide me while I sleep. I’ve never thought a tree could be so beautiful. I study it carefully, moving fully around the massive trunk to find somewhere to climb up. Even the lowest of branches is easily out of my reach, though. I stand directly beneath that low branch and contemplate all the ways I might get myself up there, finding that my options are severely limited. I frown as I mentally search through the gear I stole from Ben and my thoughts snag on the length of rope, hopefully it’s long enough to loop over the branch. I quickly rifle through the contents of the makeshift bagand pull out the rope. I snatch a smallish rock from the base of the tree and tie one end of the rope around it, then I stand back and toss the rock over the branch, it takes a few tries, but I get there. Once I feed the rope over the branch a bit more, I’m able to grab hold of the rock again. I remove the trusty rock and make a sturdy loop in that end, then I proceed to thread the other end of my rope through the loop and pull, tightening the noose on the branch above and leaving me with a long single length of rope that doesn’t quite reach the ground. I tie the dangling length securely to my make-shift pack and give it all a hard tug, just to make sure it’s going to stay in place. I’m not going to be winning any boy scout awards, but it all seems sturdy enough. I can’t help but to groan as I stare at the gently swaying rope I have to climb. My limbs already hurt just thinking about it. I never made it to the top of the rope in gym class, but then again, I was never climbing for my life, either.

I spend a couple seconds lamenting terrible decisions as I shake out my arms, then I launch at the rope, grabbing as high as I can and proceed to laboriously haul myself up. I have no real rope climbing technique, so I just use my arms, and they are onfire. It feels like an eternity as I stubbornly muscle my way to the branch above. Eventually I claw my way onto the branch and spend an embarrassingly long time laying on my chest, gasping for air. Once I’m fairly sure I’m not going to die from what feels like a heart attack, I pull the rope and my pack up to me. I untie the pack and jam it between myself and the trunk so it won’t fall, then I get to work loosening the noose around the branch. Once I get the rope off the branch, I loop it around my body in a manner where I can tie the pack to my waist. It looks ridiculous and throws me off balance a bit, but I need both my hands to climb. I start slowly upwards, moving from branch to branch, until I get to a large limb about three quarters of the way up, and I decide it will do. I’m high off the ground and mostly obscuredby leaves. I settle in against the trunk and unwind the rope from my body, using it to loop around my waist and the branch, so I won’t accidentally tumble to my death. I thread my arm through the granny knots holding the pillowcase closed, so it won’t drop out of the tree. Taking a deep drink from the water bottle I try to relax my body as I listen to the sounds of the forest and watch the sunlight shine through the leaves of my new bedroom, making the shadows dance in the breeze.

Chapter Five

Iwake with a jolt and then a second jolt as the first nearly sends me tumbling off my perch.Shit, that’s right,I think to myself as I try to slow my heart rate,yesterday happened. I’m free. I’m sure to be hunted. But I’m free. For now.I look around me groggily, noting that the sun has almost disappeared and the world below is dark and gloomy. I wonder what woke me. Then I hear a slight noise below me. I freeze, my body locking up in terror,this is it, they’ve found me, they’re going to torture me and chain my reanimated corpse to the gates when they’re done.My mind tries to send me into a dark spiral of panic. Or,I try to reason with myself,it could just be an animal, like a deer or something, heck it could even just be a dead body. That would be much more preferable. Point is, stop overreacting, it’s going to be fine.I realise I’m having a full-blown conversation with myself and quickly shut it down. That’s a one-way ticket to crazy town. I peer below me trying to see into the shadows of the forest floor. I strain my eyes and stay perfectly still, listeningfor any indication of what’s below. I start to think I might have imagined the noise, but then I see him creep into view. Dressed in mostly black and creeping from tree to tree I watch the man scout around, trying to pick up my trail, I assume. I don’t know him immediately, but when he turns I can see Jacob’s yellow, painted crown on his breast. A knight then. Dang. I thought I might have had more time.

I think of drawing my bow, but it’s still strapped securely to my back, the amount of movement to get it unslung would certainly get his attention. Guns are out too, unless I want everyone within a ten mile radius knowing where I’m hiding. So, I sit deathly still and watch him, I try not to breathe and will myself to sink into the bark at my back. I know if he were to stand in the right spot and look up he’d see me. I hope the rapidly falling darkness will conceal me. He spends a long time lurking beneath my tree, he looks at the lowest branches and peers around at other trees, but he never looks directly up.Idiot, he must think I wouldn’t be smart or strong enough to get up here.Hopefully his arrogance will keep me safe. It feels like an eternity until he moves away from my hiding place, I listen as he goes, not as quiet in the nearly complete darkness.

Just as I start to relax and breathe again, another shadow passes under my tree. I freeze again and watch as this shadow follows the path of the knight. I can’t make out any details about him, it’s too dark, only his frame, tall and muscular as he stands beneath me and his short dark hair, though I can’t be sure of the exact color. Then he lifts his head peering into my tree, and I see the shine of his eyes, I feel as if he’s looking straight at me. Time seems to stop for a moment as I look into his shadowed face and I get the strangest feeling that I’m falling.Maybe this is what it truly feels like before you’re about to die. I crash back into myself with that thought and snap my eyes shut like a coward, certain this is when he sounds the alarm. After a few moments ofsilence, I crack my eyes open to look, but he’s gone. I never heard him leave.

It takes me a long time to convince myself the second guy has gone and an even longer time to piece what happened together in my head. The first guy was definitely a knight of Jacob’s, so that means he’s sent men out after me already. Jacob does not deal well with betrayal. It’s slightly disturbing how fast they tracked me and how close he came to finding me. If the knight had had the sense of that other guy, the second one, I would be on my way back to the camp right now, I have no doubt.So why didn’t the second guy turn me in? I’m certain he saw me, he looked right at me. But he left me be.I didn’t see Jacob's mark on him, maybe he doesn’t belong to the knights? But if he doesn’t belong to them then what was he doing out here, in the middle of the forest? Why was he following the knight? Because I’m certain now that’s what he was doing. He wasn’t after me, apparently. He was stalking my stalker.

Chapter Six

Ispend the next two days avoiding knights and zombies as I try to make my way down the forested hill, towards a tiny town at the base. There I hope to persuade a vehicle to start for me so I might be able to get far enough away that Jacobs influence can’t reach me. As plans go it’s fairly sketchy, I mean I have no back up plan and really no idea about cars. But it’s the best plan I can come up with, so I cling to it like a lifeline, letting it pull me through long days and terrifying close calls. I also cling to the thought that there’s at leastonehuman in this forest that doesn’t want me dead, at least for now, I guess. The night where I locked eyes with the stranger swoops through my head on replay any time I stop to rest. It’s very disconcerting.I mean I know I’m starved for any sort of kindness, but this is kind of pathetic. Just because he didn’t immediately kill you does not make him a good person.Still, the shine of his eyes in the moonlightcontinues to plague my restless dreams.

Its midmorning on my third day of freedom when I come upon the tiny town, not much more than a gas station and a couple of houses, really. I survey the town from the shelter of the trees, looking for any signs of movement, but there’s none, it’s a ghost town.Probably literally. Super creepy. From where I’m standing in the trees, I look down a small bank onto the town itself, this position offers me a great view of the whole place, and I study it carefully. On the opposite side of the old road to what I am on is a little line up of five old cottages, all of them are in various states of ruin, it doesn’t take nature long to reclaim structures when there’s no human interference. The gas station is at the end of the road, opposite a building that looks like it could have once been a bar or club. Cars are parked in driveways and one at the gas station. There’s a couple haphazardly abandoned along the road too.

I pick out a car that looks in better shape than the others, it’s stopped in the middle of the road, close-ish to the trees and across from a little cottage on the far side. I send a desperate plea to the universe for it to still work, as I plan a route with the best cover to get me to the car. Of course, I’ll have to be in the open for a while anyway to try and get it working, but it’s always best to use as much caution as possible. I start moving, slipping from tree to tree and trying to be as quiet as possible as I navigate the sharp decline. Luckily for me the brush on the hill is thick enough to cover me if I double over and keep my head down and it takes me all the way to the bottom of the bank. I crouch there for an eternity as my anxiety tries to tear me apart and I have to spare a few precious minutes to get myself under control. Once I can hear anything other than my rapidly beating heart, I listen intently before the next stretch where I’ll have to sprint about fifty meters to the car, over clear ground. My straining ears hear nothing, so I gather the remaining pieces of my nerve and bolt, not letting my head talk me out of it. I skid to a stop behind thecar, panting hard, but I made it. A smile spreads across my face,I’m nearly there.I lift myself into a crouch, ready to climb into the passenger side door, when I hear a door bang open across the road.

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