Writing Contest 2/Lee Everett

I was sitting around a campfire, with just the two others I’ve been surviving with in front of me. These two have been surviving with me for longer than I can remember, and I would give my life for them. “Anyone got any stories to tell? We’re still far away from that Fort everyone is talking about, and we got time to burn.” James says, and he looks at me and Walter.

“Well I’ve never really told you guys what happened to me when the apocalypse was starting, if you guys are interested I can tell you it.” I say, I’ve been meaning to tell them this anyway, and this seems like the best time.

“Sure, we’ve got nothing else to do right now.” Walter says, and I prepare my mind, trying to remember back to all those days ago.

It began when this apocalypse was fresh, about 10 days in if my brain isn’t failing me. I was stuck with 7 other kids, and they were already at each other’s throats every day, arguing over the simplest of things like who goes to the bathroom first. We had decided to stay in our school because it seemed like the best idea at the time. There was John, who we considered the leader although he wasn’t very good at it. Then there was Bob, and he was the idiotic bully of the group, he thought he was the best and deserved everything, and he stole rations, but no one stood up because he was pretty damn strong. Tara was the only girl amongst us, god bless the poor girl, she kept being treated like a toy, being tossed around the guys, I of course was nice to her, and treated her like a human being. There was the three brothers Gary, Michael, and Sebastian, and they stuck together, and they kept the supplies in check. Then there was Smith, and he never really talked much, and he arrived like the 5th day, and we just took him in, because that was the nice thing to do. We were holed up in the cafeteria, because that was where the food was, and it had the least amount of entrances, just four in the front, which we thought we could protect. The staff and everyone else had ditched us because they had families of their own they had to protect. I had a mentally challenged aunt who tried her best to raise me, but since she was a bit off she just couldn’t take care of me, I still loved her nonetheless. Then there was Mom who tried to protect me when dad left us, but she was gone most of the time because of work, so I never really grew attached to her. I never found out what happened to them, although I regret never searching for my aunt. I was considered a loner by the others except for Tara, she actually thought of me as a friend.

I woke up to someone shaking me, trying to wake me up. “Zeke, Zeke, Ezekiel MacGrath wake the fuck up.” I hear Tara say into my ear, and she seems to be worried.

I got up, and I looked around, only to see the others frantically moving around the doors, trying to keep them closed. I quickly sprinted at the doors, and I helped them keep them closed. “’Bout time you woke up MacGrath.” Bob says, and he proceeds to slice his knife into a biter’s forehead, killing it.

“Sorry, I was having amazing dreams about being away from you.” I say, and I quickly close the door on a biter, slicing its fingers off with the edge of the door.

“Both of you shut the fuck up and help Smith keep the back door closed, I can keep these closed.” John says, and he proceeds to kill another biter, and he closes another one of the doors, just one left.

I turn around and quickly sprint towards the back door. I see James there, holding the door back, with five biters trying to break in. I quickly grab the metal pipe I keep near my bed and sprint towards the back door. When I reach it I quickly shove the pipe through a biter’s mouth, coming out the back of its head. The biter falls to the ground, and I quickly do the same to the biter behind it.

“Let the door open Smith, I can take care of these three.” I say, and Smith nods, and moves away from the door. I quickly trip the first one to come out, and I slam the pipe into the side of another’s head, smashing it in. I kick the third one down, and I stomp on the first one’s head. I walk towards the third one, and I swing the pipe down on its head, killing it.

“Nice.” Smith says, and I nod at him.

“Look at MacGrath over here, thinking he’s a badass.” Bob says, and he grabs my shoulder. “Usually I would make fun of you, but that was pretty badass MacGrath, so you get a few badass points in my book.”

Bob walks away, and I look back at Smith, “Idiot.” I say, and I nod my head at Bob. Smith lets out a small chuckle. “The stranger’s finally letting out some emotion huh. Come on man, after this you are bound to be hungry, because you are most likely a robot if you are not.” I say, and I walk towards the left side of the cafeteria, where we store the food.

Gary, Michael, and Sebastian are standing there, each with a knife in their hands. “Hey the threat is over guys, now can I have my breakfast?” I ask them, and I hear my stomach grumble a bit.

“Sure Zeke, let’s see here,” Gary says, staring at the rations list he made on the 4th day of the apocalypse, which he made to last four months, “You get four chicken wings and a carton of milk, hope that’s enough for your restless stomach.”

I walk up to Sebastian, who hands me a tray with four chicken wings on it, “Thanks Sebastian.” I say, and he simply nods at me. I walk up to Michael, and he hands me my carton of milk. “Thanks Michael.” I say.

“No problem.” Michael says.

Smith gets his rations, and he follows me to one of the tables. Tara’s already sitting there, eating cereal. “You get cereal for breakfast, and I get chicken wings, I can’t tell who got it better.” I say, and Tara smiles.

“Smith did, just looks at that mac and cheese he’s eating.” Tara says, and I look at Smith, who’s already digging in to his mac and cheese.

“Smith man why don’t you say something, I want to get to know you. We’re gonna be stuck together for a while, and it would be a good idea for us to get to know each other.

Everyone else joins us at the one table, and they all look at Smith. “Yeah Smith, I want to know more about you man, you’re like a mystery.” Sebastian says.

Smith moves in his seat, and puts his spoon down. “Well before I met you guys I was surviving with my brother and sister. Then on the fourth day some asshole bandits came and they shot my brother and sister, they nearly got me too, but I got away. They chased after me, and I tackled one, stole his gun, and shot him. I killed the other two, and I didn’t care because they had taken my brother and sister without even thinking about it. Then I found you guys, and after what happened, I just wanted to forget what had happened. I need a moment.” Smith says, and he stands up, and he walks towards the garbage room in the corner of the cafeteria, and he enters it.

“Shit man, I feel like a dick now.” Sebastian says, and he finishes his food.

I pick up my last chicken wing, “It’s not your fault, its those bandit’s fault. Let’s hope they never come for us.” I say, and I devour the chicken wing.

“Come on Zeke, don’t talk like that.” Michael says, and he stands up, and puts his tray in the sink we use to clean the trays.

“Man, and I thought this thing would just blow over. But if people are already acting like that I don’t see our situation ending anytime soon.” Gary says, and he puts his tray in the sink.

“I agree with Gary.” John says, and he puts his tray in the sink. Bob stands up and puts his tray in the sink also.

“I feel bad for Smith, he just wanted to survive with his family and some assholes took that from him. He’s not even an adult, hell none of us are, and he had to kill three people. It just goes to show you Zeke, this apocalypse is changing people in ways we can’t even think of.” Tara says, and she stands up and puts her tray in the sink.

I stand up, put my tray in the sink, and I look back at the garbage room. Smith needs someone to help him through his grieving, and this could be my chance to be useful for once. I walk towards the garbage room, and I open the door. I see Smith sitting in a corner, with tears running down his face.

“Smith?” I say, and he looks up at me, and I can see the torment in his face.

“I had to kill three people Zeke. Everyone so far in this apocalypse has had the luxury of either being with their loved ones, or not having to kill anyone. And you know what Zeke; I got fucking robbed of both because some assholes wanted an extra can of beans for themselves. My brother and sister are dead because of those assholes, and you know what Zeke, I don’t regret killing those three bastards, in fact if I could I would kill them again, and again, and again. Those assholes deserved worse than death Zeke. I just want my brother and sister again Zeke, I just want to go back to how things were before.” Smith says, and he stands up.

“Listen Smith whenever I’ve felt bad in my life, like when my father abandoned me before I was even born, or when my mom was barely ever around, or when my mentally challenged Aunt who was left to raise me had her fits, I just always try to think about the good times. Remember that Smith, remember the good times, not the bad times. Remember the good times you had with your brother and sister. It’ll keep them alive in your head, which would mean they will always be with you. Just remember man, they are looking down from heaven, looking over you.” I say, and Smith walks up to me and hugs me.

“Thank you Zeke, of all the people in this group you are the one person I genuinely trust, you always seemed to actually care about me, unlike everyone else who just checked in to see if I was even alive inside. Zeke I’ve heard you talking to Tara about how you think you’re useless, and take it from me Zeke, you aren’t useless. Everyone has a role on this earth, nobody is useless.” Smith says, and he breaks the hug.

“Thanks man, I’m genuinely sorry about your brother and sister, you’re holding up better than I could ever imagine I could if I was in your shoes. Wherever your brother and sister are, they are smiling at you, and they are proud of you.” I say, and Smith nods at me, and he walks out of the room, into the cafeteria. I walk back into the cafeteria, and I look at John, who is waving me over.

“Yeah John?” I ask him when I reach him.

“You wanna come with me and Bob on a supply run. We’re gonna check the gun store that’s a few blocks away from here.” John says.

“Sure, just let me get my stuff ready.” I say.

“Alright, meet me and Bob outside the school when you’re ready.” John says, and he nods to Bob, and they walk out of the cafeteria. After that little show the biters put up in the morning things seemed to have calmed down.

I walk over to my sleeping bag, and grab my book bag. I put the metal pipe inside of it, and I take my copy of The Dark Knight Returns out of it. Tara walks over to me, and she says “Heard you’re going with them on the supply run today, good luck Zeke, don’t die on me now.”

I take my pocket knife out of the book bag and put it in my pocket. I stand up and look at her. “I promise you I won’t die today.” I say.

“Good.” She says, and she kisses me on the cheek.

I walk towards the door of the cafeteria, and I nod towards Gary, Michael, Sebastian, and Smith, who all seem to be talking together.

I open the door, walk into the halls, and close the door. I walk quietly towards the front of the school. I open the front doors, and I walk outside. I see John and Bob talking near John’s car parked in front of the school.

I walk towards the car. “I’m here guys, let’s get going.” I say, and they nod and enter the car’s front seats. I enter the back seat. John starts up the car, and he starts driving the car towards the store.

John and Bob talk about random shit while we drive over there, I stay silent, leaning back into the seat. However when the car suddenly stops, and John and Bob shut up I look up.

“Zeke, don’t speak, get down.” John says, and he opens his door, and walks out.

I lower myself into the small space in between both seats. “What’s happening Bob?” I ask, wanting to know what the fuck just happened.

“There’s people with guns out there, they were blocking our way so John went to talk with them.” Bob says, and when he finishes talking I hear a few loud pops. “Oh god they shot John. Zeke I need you to do me a favor, get the fuck out of the car now and run back to the school.” Bob says, and he switches to the driver’s seat. “I’m going to buy you some time Zeke, I know I’ve always been a douche to you and said you are weak, but right now I need you to be strong, like a superhero in those comics you read. NOW GO.” Bob says.

I open the door of the car, and instantly start running away from where we were driving. I look back for a moment to see about 10 men shooting at the car, and Bob ramming the car into them, taking out two of them. They don’t seem to notice me, so I take the advantage and sprint as fast as my legs can towards the school.

I look back again, then I see them sprinting towards me, and then I hear a few more pops, and hear bullets whiz by me. I trip, but I quickly stand up again and start sprinting even faster, barely feeling my legs. Jesus Christ I’m tired, I feel like I can barely move, but my legs somehow continue to gain speed. Eventually I look back again to see that the people are no longer visible. But I keep on sprinting and sprinting until I finally reach the school. I see 3 biters in front of the doors. I quickly pull the metal pole out of my book bag and sprint towards the biters. I quickly slam the pole into a biter’s head. I kick another biter in the chest, and I turn around and I shove the pole through a biter’s mouth and I tilt it upward into the biter’s brain. The biter falls, and I turn around and stomp the other biter’s head.

I open the door of the school and quickly sprint to the cafeteria. I see Tara and Smith talking to each other, and start knocking on the door as loudly as I can. They look at me and Tara quickly stands up and moves the tables from the door and opens the door. I quickly rush into the room and collapse gasping for breath. I’m so tired I can barely speak. I’m so fucking tired I can barely say “Bandits, coming, here.” I say that in gasps.

Smith rushes up to me, giving me a bottle of water. I quickly drink half of the water, and I slowly stand up. “There are bandits coming here, turn off the fucking lights and hide, because they have guns and they killed John and Bob. Why the fuck are you dragging your feet? HIDE!” I say, and Smith rushes to the lights. Then I finally notice that Gary, Sebastian, and Michael aren’t here. “Where are Gary, Sebastian, and Michael?” I ask them.

“I don’t know they just walked out a while ago, they haven’t returned.” Smith says.

We all sit down behind the place where the food is given out, “Wait I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Gary, Sebastian, and Michael leave when Bob and John are killed. You don’t think they could be with those bandits.?” I say, and the moment I finish speaking a hear the door of the cafeteria creek open, and I peak over the counter to see one of those bandits walking into the cafeteria, with Gary walking with him.

They both hold pistols. I look at Smith and Tara and whisper “Don’t panic, but Gary and some bandit are searching the cafeteria as we speak.” I say, and I peak over again to see the bandit walking towards us and Gary searching our stuff. The bandit moves past the small swing doors.

Acting quickly I rush at him, slamming the pipe into his stomach. He lets out a gasp, and the pistol falls out of his hands. I quickly cover his mouth as he falls down. Smith slowly moves towards me and picks up the pistol. Without hesitating he moves my hand, places his hands on the man’s head, and snaps his neck.

I stare at him, but all he says is “He would do the same without hesitating, if you want to survive this little experience then you better be willing to do the same thing.”

I move past the sliding doors, and see Gary walking back to the cafeteria doors. I silently move to him, and right as he’s about to open the cafeteria door I grab the back of his head, and I slam it into the door. “Why would you do this Gary?” I say, and Gary quickly responds by ramming the back of his head into my face, knocking me down.

He puts his pistol in my face and says, “They told me that my brothers and I either join them or they would kill us three, and you people aren’t family so I chose to protect my family.” Gary says, and I quickly respond by hitting the gun away from my face, knocking it out of Gary’s hands. I kick Gary in the shin as hard as I can, knocking him down. I stand up, grab Gary’s hair, pick him up, and I ram his head into the Cafeteria door’s glass.

He lets out a yell, but I quickly shut him up by ramming his head into the shattered glass. I grab a shard of glass, and without even thinking a stab him in the back of the head. “Jesus christ Zeke.” I hear Tara say, but I just grab Gary’s pistol.

“We’re leaving the school, grab your stuff as quickly as you can, if we stay here longer than we should the bandits will know something is up, and they will kill us.” I say, and to be honest, I don’t really feel anything about killing Gary.

Throughout my life I’ve never really felt too compassionate to anyone or anything, just my aunt, but that’s because she tried her best to raise me. I tried to feel, but I guess it’s all because of my father, and that I never really had a good upbringing. But no matter, I’m going to make it my life’s goal to protect these two, no matter what. I walk to my stuff and pick up The Dark Knight Returns and put it in my book bag.

I open the cafeteria door, and we walk to the front doors of the school. “From here on out, we are going to do as I say, to stay alive. Just keep in mind that anything I do from here on out is for you guys, because it is my goal to make sure you two live.” I say, and I open the front doors of the school, and that’s the last time I ever saw that school.

“We survived together for over five years, and I thought that we would never be separated, I thought I was actually doing my job, but then some other assholes came and separated us. Then you guys came after a while and saved me. You guys are my family now, but I really wish that I never would have gotten separated from them.” I say, and I stand up and put the fire out. “We should get rest, it’ll be a long journey tomorrow if we want to make it to The Fort soon.”