When I was done I got my hunting knife out of the first zombie. It took a couple minutes to remove. It was really stuck inside the zombie’s head.
I got my key out of my pocket and made my way to the trunk of the car. Ian and I kept a first aid kits in all the vehicles we used. They were all first aid kits we were able to get from sporting goods stores with some additional items added. I put in needles and thread in all of them for cases like this when stitches might be necessary. So far there hadn’t been any but I was glad I had thought of it before.
I turned the key and popped open the truck. I was over whelmed by a smell that I hadn’t noticed when riding in the car. Though the smell of rotting corpses hangs in the air all the time so of course I wouldn’t have really thought much of smelling it while riding down the road. But Milo hadn’t paid attention to it either or I just didn’t notice if he did.
There was a dead possum in the back of the trunk. That was what had attracted all the zombies. I was grossed out but I picked up the possum and threw it as far as I could. It landed a good fifteen feet from where I stood.
I didn’t understand how it had gotten in the trunk. I decided to ask Ian about it later. I got the first aid kit from the back of the trunk. When I turned around there was a zombie right behind me. I wasn’t sure where he had come from because I didn’t see him when I threw the possum.
It lounged for my throat. I managed to move out of the way. This zombie was quick and chumped its teeth at my throat again. I tried to move again but lost my balance and fell on the road hard.
The first aid kit flew out of my hand as the left side of my body erupted in pain from my thigh all the way up my side.
I didn’t have time to swear before the zombie was on top of me. I managed to get my right forearm under its neck to prevent it from getting any flesh with it chumping teeth. Its breath stunk really badly and between the pain on my left side and the smell, I was having a hard time not passing out.
I was trying to get my knife but couldn’t reach it. I had to think fast. I looked at how close the zombie’s head was to the back corner of the car. We were practically under the vehicle. I took a chance and grabbed the side of the zombie’s head. I pushed him violently into the corner of the car. The first blow didn’t stop it in its tracks but I knew it would work. So I hit the zombie into the corner of the car several more times, getting dark blood and decayed brain matter all over my face, neck, and clothes. The zombie stopped moving. I pushed it off of me.
I was in so much pain. I took a deep breath and crawled over to the first aid kit. It was lying under the driver side of the car.
After I got the first aid kit, I used the car to help get myself back to my feet. The blow I took was bad. I didn’t take the time to look at the damage. It hurt to walk and I was limping. I managed to make my way to the back entrance without getting attacked again which was lucky because I don’t think in my condition, I’d be able to fight another zombie off.
It hurt to make my way up the stairs. My body was in agony every time I made to lift my left leg for the next step. Milo heard me and came a fourth of the way down the stairs to meet me. His tail was wagging.
“Hey, boy,” I said weakly.
“What the hell happened?” Ian asked.
He was down the stairs to meet me before I could reply. He helped me up the stairs. He wiped my face with his sleeve. I forgot I had zombie blood on my face.
“I took a nasty fall fighting a zombie,” I said.
When we got to the top I rested against the side wall.
“You okay?” He asked.
I nodded, “I’m going to have to take a break from runs after this but other than that I’m okay.”
“You sure?” He asked.
“No, but I’ll fake it,” I replied. “Did you put a possum in the trunk and forget about getting it out?”
“What? A possum? No. Why?”
“There were zombies all over the car when I got out there and when I went to get the first aid kit, there was a dead possum in the trunk. Which is weird, Milo didn’t even smell it.”
“Well, Milo was licking the back seats.”
I shook my head, “He always licks the backseats.”
“Only in the Nissan,” Ian stated.
I looked at him and it clicked. I never thought about it before that it was a habit that was particular to one car.
I sighed, “Can’t try to piece that puzzle together right now. Need to stitch up Natalie.”
Ian helped me over to the break area.
“Oh my God,” She said when she saw me. “This is my fault.”
“Really? You became one of the dead and tried to attack me?” I asked.
She looked confused for a second and then gave a weak smile before frowning. “No, but you’re trying to help me. That’s a mistake,” she said.
I sat down next to
