can was full and hauled it over to his truck. A funnel was already in place, and he began pouring the gas into his tank. Five gallons wasn’t going to get him anywhere; he needed more. He took the can back to the Honda to siphon more fuel. The gas flow began to slow as the Honda’s tank ran low. He walked back to the market while the gas slowly filled the can.
When he stepped through the door, he realized that he had forgotten the Winchester. Kyle quickly un- holstered the Glock and pointed it forward. The refreshments were to his left. He walked toward the water and took out a bottle. He opened it and swished the water around his mouth then spat it out on the ground. His stomach growled again. He grabbed a little basket and began filling it with chips and other snacks. He started walking back to the Honda. Half way back, he heard a click and someone say, “Where the hell do you think you’re going with those?”
Kyle shook his head, thinking that the voice was in his head. He slowly turned and standing at the doorway was a teenager no more than sixteen. The teen wore the uniform of a gas station attendant, but he did look a little too young to be working. His face was filthy like he hadn’t washed it in weeks and a bizarre look crossed his face as if thinking that this was the first person he’s seen alive in days. His hair fell parted to the side, wavy and messy. He held a small handgun firmly with both hands.
“You didn’t pay for that stuff or for that beer you drank,” the teenager said.
The teen began to sway left to right, almost as if he had to use the restroom. “Yes, really,” he spat back with fury and authority.
“You do know that the world has ended and we’re surrounded by the dead, right?”
“That doesn’t give you the right to steal from my store.”
Kyle was already tired going back and forth with the kid. That’s what he was, just a kid. He was probably scared and had no idea what else to do but to stay there and protect the store from looters.
“Listen,” Kyle said in a calm voice. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to just take stuff. How about I go back inside and you can check me out?”
“Yeah, okay,” he said, no longer in control of the situation.
The teen walked backwards into the store, not taking his gaze away from Kyle. He made his way behind the counter as Kyle walked into the store with the basket. He placed it on the counter as the boy began writing things down on a notepad.
“So what’s your name kid?” Kyle asked.
“Victor,” he replied.
“Hey, ah … Victor, I’m Kyle. Do you know what happened here? I’m guessing you were the one who was working when everything happened. Why did people just leave without their cars?”
“What? Have you been hiding under a rock?”
Kyle smiled. “Yeah something like that.”
Victor continued writing things down on the pad as he spoke. “Those things, whatever they are, started coming down the hill over there like a stampede. People panicked and ran in all the directions. There were so many of them that you wouldn’t be able to drive through them. They’d swallow the car whole. I was sitting here listening to tunes when I heard all the screams. I looked outside and there were people on top of people just biting and eating each other. Lucky for me I was alone so I just locked the doors. People started banging on the doors screaming for me to let them in. I froze. After about an hour the screaming outside stopped. I climbed to the roof to see what happened and there were bodies just lying on the ground dead, half eaten then suddenly they stood back up. A lot from the mob that came stumbling down the hill continued walking through the street chasing anyone alive, but there were a few that stuck around. Do you know what they are?”
“The Existing Dead,” Kyle answered, not really sure if that term had caught on yet. “So what happened after that?”
“Oh, I went to the roof and sat there. Eventually they just walked off and left behind a huge mess. I had no choice but to clean it up. It’s part of my job to keep the lot clean.”
“You’re a very dedicated worker.”
“My mom always said to take my job seriously. Even if it meant mopping the bathroom stalls after some idiot shit all over the ground, I should do it with a smile.”
“Yeah. So what were you doing when I came up?”
“That will be $52.50,” Victor said, then quickly continued. “When I heard your truck I ran into the freezer and hid. I’ve run into a few other survivors, but I usually keep the doors locked.”
“I’ll tell you what, how about you let me slide on the $52.50 and I’ll take you with me. You can’t just stay here,” Kyle said.
“Can you take me to my house? I live about thirty minutes away. My mom usually picks me up, but she never did. That’s why I’m still here.”
Kyle thought about it for a moment. He didn’t have time to go and take this kid home. Sitting here and doing nonsense wasn’t good for him either.
“Okay,” Kyle answered. “Help me put this stuff into the truck and let’s go.”
As soon as he answered, Kyle heard a very familiar moan. He jerked his head toward the door.
“Fuck, we have to get out of here,
Kyle poked his head out of the door. The Existing Dead where everywhere, slowly converging toward the gas station. A quick head count revealed six just in his eyesight. He ran as fast as he could to the Honda and grabbed the gas can. The dead were coming closer. He poured the remaining gas into the tank and closed the lid.
He looked at the door and one of them was already making its way inside. Several gunshots blazed through the air. Kyle holstered the Glock and ran toward the shotgun. He held it upright and quickly walked into the store. Victor was behind the counter pointing the gun at the Existing Dead. The creature tried to walk through the counter as if it wasn’t there.
“I shot him, but he’s not going down!” Victor yelled.
“You have to get them in the head,” Kyle yelled back. “Get down.”
Victor ducked under the counter. Kyle squeezed the trigger. A loud boom erupted from the weapon that echoed within the small store. The shell went through the neck of the zombie, almost severing its head. It tilted to the side and was held together by a nearly snapped spinal cord. Kyle pumped the shotgun again and fired. This time, the shell hit the top of its head, leaving a large hole where blood and brain matter oozed and smacked to the ground.
“Victor, are you okay? Did it bite you?” There was no reply. “Victor!” he yelled as he walked around the counter. The teenage boy was curled up into a ball. He kept repeating nonsensical words as if he were praying. Kyle helped the kid to his feet.
“They’re dead, they’re really dead,” he repeated.
“We already went over this. Grab the basket. We gotta get the fuck out of here now.”
Kyle took a few steps out the door and stopped. They were surrounded by at least thirty of the creatures now. The distance between the truck and them was closed by the Existing Dead.
“Do you have lighter fluid?” Kyle called out to Victor.
The kid checked behind the counter and found a few bottles. “Yeah!” he yelled back.
“Drench everything you can with them,” Kyle said as he fired the shotgun.
Victor wasn’t sure what Kyle’s plan was, but he did as he was told. He grabbed two bottles and squeezed the liquid all over the counter and down the aisles.
“I can’t hold them back much longer. Spray the doors!” Kyle yelled as he fired his last shell. He held the shotgun by the pistol grip and drew the Glock with his other hand as Victor sprayed the doors. Kyle fired one shot after another bringing down any Existing Dead he could. They continued walking toward him, as headshots were much harder with a handgun. The slide on the Glock kicked back when he was out of rounds.
“I’m out! Grab the basket,” he said as he ran back into the store. He holstered the Glock and yelled, “How did you get to the roof from the inside?”
Victor grabbed the basket and ran toward the back of the store. Kyle followed, nearly slipping on the lighter
