Chapter Eight: Dead Stop

Chapter Eight: Dead Stop

Three unlikely allies set out from the fringes of Lake Michigan to cross the devastated city which once was Chicago. Once the third largest city in the nation the Windy City was now the third largest concentration of ravenous zombies in the nation. Robert Berry former garbage man steered the cumbersome mobile palace through the wreck strewn streets. Occasionally nudging a smaller obstacles out of their path all the while zombies were drawn to the coach a massive white beaming transport for the living a gigantic ice cream truck for the living dead. "Pretty soon there'll be to many to simply crush under!" he plotted to himself. "Gotta get to the north side further west where the road opens up that way I can floor this bitch." The zombies howled and wailed even as their kin were rolled under the vehicle they continued to beat and hammer at the fuselage. The white shine replaced with caked on gore from thousands of hands. That had attempted to force their way into the coach while shredding flesh and shattering bone against the bus in an effort to taste its occupants. Valerie sat hands over here ears to block the ungodly snarls from outside. Trevor Clevantes vampire prince sat as usual with a calm dignified demeanor as if her were on vacation. Were his blood not black it would assuredly have be blue the type of aristocrats and royalty.

Trevor moved in a whisper to Val’s side even disheveled wearing no make up he was stunned at her natural beauties glow under the dim cabin lights. Trevor surmised as he wrapped an arm around her. "Relax M' Lady the coach is sealed like a tank you'll be fine I am here remember." easily passing the useless false hope of protection and wealth to Valerie in the midst of the apocalypse. She smiled "what now?" gazing across her breast. “We drive until Robert says we require fuel" slight pressure in his hug she blushed "Then I will slip out and refuel us once Robert shows me how!" smirking at the idea of physical labor. Rob glanced down the rear of the cabin. He took time testing his options; he wanted to say "fuck you learn yourself." He held the sarcasm at bay for his own sake. It was tough going steering the beached whale through tight darkened city streets add that to the teaming masses of undead. Every move the bus made, every sound drew in legions of zombies from every direction. "Finally!" exclaimed Rob turning the coach onto Mannheim road. "What is it Robert" Trevor came forward leaning in. "Oh nooo…” Rob coughed out "don't let me interrupt you two!" Rolling his eyes "it seems in the rush to get out of the city no one went towards the airport!" Trevor leaned in to gaze out of the port hole in the front shutter. "Why there are no cars or anything at all!" "Exactly!" said Rob perturbed and jealous. "Well my friend we best make time!" the horses in the dishwasher sized engine under hood yearned to break free. Gunning the diesel powered motor. The dead were pelted back by the speeding busses impact. "Wooo Yeah!" he gave the horn a slap the device blared aloud. Trevor took his seat and the coach bolted for distance and yet regardless of their progress no one could rest. They were now running parallel to the airport only Robert saw the destruction wrought by the dead in the city of broad shoulders. Airplanes lay smoldering or twisted some crashed with dead pilots at the helm others purposefully kamikaze into the tarmac rather than fight with walking corpses. Two Terminals burned out of control as if they were burning beacons in the night.

“Isn't this where it all started here at the airport?" He shouted to be heard. "Yes!" Val sat with her arms folded she could feel the chaos outside. Passing a small gate which led towards the runways he observed a woeful scene an airport van flipping over as it headed out in advance of a regimen of the undead quickly three survivors emerged from the wreckage hobbling towards the road the dead in full glory pursing them for their flesh. Robert flung the coach upon the curb. "Hold on to something" the gate was mowed under as he rode onto the smooth tarmac. The survivors came as best they could. Robert beat the horn yet again this time with a purpose. "Just keep moving!" he mouthed the coach bouncing heavily "We have some humans left out there!" Robert maneuvered the massive mobile home with no effort in the wide open space he came around the three a woman and two men the crew of a small commuter airline. Bruised and battered sporting filthy MidWest Air uniforms the humans moved with a purpose. The tires grabbed asphalt as the bus slid to a halt providing a barrier between the living and the dead. Trevor swung himself to the door of the camper as Robert opened it! "GET IN!" waving the limping people aboard. No time to waist the vampire snatched the exhausted survivors aboard. Robert sealed the door in advance of the horde. "Than....k you!!" a slim man in a tan dirty uniform with MWA stitched upon it in red stuttered his grey and black hair matted with sweat under his cap. He held a frail looking Asian American stewardess sporting a dislocated arm. Zombies beset the unmoving coach in addition to the same female version of the first mans uniform. "I am Jim Rivers this is Li Lee, and that is our fearless Captain Steven Nash." The Captain used to having a crew at his command sporting broad shoulders and a bald head built like a football player was in Roberts face. "Move this thing man!" he ordered "I can't stopped to fast. Trying to save your asses! It won't move until the air pressure builds back up in the shocks!" Nash looked down upon Robert Berry. "Bullshit!" he made to snatch Rob from his appointed seat and they exchanged blows. Trevor seized the taller Captain "My dear fellow show some manners!" He was curt and tense "this is my vehicle and my friend here is driving it very well I might add!" The bus began to rock slowly but then it became more pronounced. "If they flip us were dead!” The Captain swung hard knocking an unsuspecting Trevor to the floor.

No human had dared ever embarrass the prince his anger exploded outward. He came to his feet in the blink of an eye pinning the larger man to the front of the coach with a hand to his throat. "We do this my way you go where I say without question!" the seething immortal continued "Should you ever get the ur...." The young Lord Clevantes was silenced mid sentence by a useless knee to the groin combined with a solid elbow to the jaw. Trevor held tight fingernails elongating into talons digging in to his victim’s neck. He flared his wings in the cramped bus reversing the struggling man. Pushing him back down the wide isle Trevor swooped out of the coaches roof hatch Captain in tow he rose above the onslaught of zombies. The missing dead from the airport had been found they were of course pursuing the last of the living. Where none had stood before hundreds were now amassed below. Dignity be damned as the Captain saw his fate being pulled towards an open vampire’s maw razor sharp fangs extending down. His bowels released and yet it was the least of his concerns. Trevor clamped down on his throat as the dead stretched for them some even managed to hop on their decaying legs all in vain to reach the pair that hovered feet above them. Trevor plunged his fangs deep into Steve’s exposed neck. He pierced a thick throbbing artery which literally pumped blood down his throat in gushes. Trevor couldn’t swallow fast enough as the blood poured from around his lips. The blood flowed as the man spasms going limp in the vampire’s grasp the dead below receiving a generous coating which drives them insane with glee. Moving easily on wings brimming with strength Trevor lured the zombies away from the bus. Leaving enough sweet nectar for a few moments of life to be spent reflecting on many mistakes the vampire flung Steve over his shoulder like a candy wrapper he never looked back. Capitan Steven Nash landed adding insult breaking most of the bones in his body amid the ghouls. He was ravaged and stripped of tissue and flesh while still living. The dead fought over his innards providing wiggle room for the bus. Once aboard coated down his front with type O blood courtesy of the missing Captain. "Anybody else has the desire to test my rules?" staring at the new feed. Jim Rivers tumbled back stunned and shocked into silence submitting with a "no" head nod. He dropped his co-worker Li Lee who had fainted dead away. "Robert while we have a distraction please!" Trevor spoke never batting an eye to Jim showing his dominance much like any animal would have. The bus came to life easily enough. Rob swallowed hard "what the fuck have we gotten into?" he whispered. He was disgusted "Man a lil tact with that shit would be nice!" Shaking his head he pulled the bus back onto the road. Which the dead now littered having finished Captain Nash they were free to again harass the living. Intentionally Rob his black skin wet with sweat weaved the bus to rundown the putrid soldiers of deaths army purposely. "Whhh....as going on hhhere?" Jim croaked out as they gained speed. Trevor strips off his shirt exposing his well toned hairless chest. Using the ragged shirt to wipe the blood from his chest and face he sighs. Never taking his eyes from Jim Rivers he responds “life” before disappearing into the coach’s rear.