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Chapter 10: Old Friend, New Enemy

Chapter 10: Old Friend, New Enemy

Never in Nate's "natural life" would he have ever thought of scaling the side of a house. He wasn't particularly fit and he had always been a klutz but tonight in his new found condition he leaps on to the nearest widow sill. In a frenzied lust Napoleon pulls himself up the side of the James house. He climbs with a purpose taking hold of anything he can to pull himself up to the attic window. Not once does the man who in life was afraid of heights ever look down. The grunt Nate lets loose once he places a hand on the attic window sill is one of pleasure as his muscles no longer felt stress or strain. With a final heave he balances his rotten corpse using his elbows and slams his hand palm first through the glass pane slicing into his jellied flesh.

Ben had positioned himself at the base of the stairs leading upstairs to the second floor of the house. He had an idea sprinting back across the dinning room and into the kitchen. From the sink he grabs a pair of bright yellow latex gloves. Just then he hears the commotion from the attic signaling his undead neighbors much anticipated arrival. A distant muffled savage grunt followed by a heavy crash. Ben holds his breath moving quietly back to the base of the stairs snapping the gloves on awkwardly as he goes. From the attic comes the sound of a wild animal trapped. Nate fought his way around the tightly pack claustrophobic attic space. Ben knew when Napoleon found the hatch from the attic it would be more than obvious. The sounds of splintering wood followed by the clatter of falling debris and a wet splat from what he assumes to be Nate. Benjamin knew his foe had found the way into his sanctuary. A roar erupts from the second floor of the house soon comes pounding footsteps from above. Nate was howling his name “Beeeeeeeeeennnnnnnn!” as he came cresting the top step. Ben stands rigid against the wall at the base of the staircase. His tongue feels coarse as if it is wrapped in sandpaper and his heartbeat bangs at his temples with each pulse. It was him, Nate and the hammer he clutched. Ben knew is his eyes would betray him the dark. He shudders as the dead man gallops down the stairs; he is almost half way down. Ben didn’t know what his enemy was capable of and more importantly he saw himself as the last barrier between death and his family. Leaning back into the wall planting his feet Ben flexes his brawny arms cocking them back slowly. Napoleon puts one tainted foot onto the tile floor and Ben unleashes the tension in his arms with gritted teeth into one savage double handed blow. Unfortunately Ben misjudges Napoleon’s diminutive height.

The fetid man took the brunt of the hit square in the gut crushing his ribs causing him to flip head over heals. The screeching corpse lands with the sound of snapping bones. In the kitchen sliding to a sudden stop banging in to the cabinets where Ben Jr. was hiding. As quickly as Nate had come to his feet. Ben was already on the move charging him bringing the mallet to bear. “You Black …….” Nate’s insult silenced mid word. The hammer catches him square in the cheek caving in the right side of his face and spinning him around. Ben delivers a boot to the back of the staggering figure. Nate is propelled forward head first into the stainless steel kitchen sink. Ben seizes the opportunity rumbling up behind Nate grasping him by his neck. The hammer then shatters the back of Nate’s head as he fails pinned in place. The next blow removes the top of the polluted man’s head and finally Nate’s hate fueled infected rage is stilled. Ben senses the room swimming away from him before he braces himself on the sinks edge. The big man vomits what little he had eaten over the back and decimated skull of his fallen adversary. Dropping mallet in the sink Ben grabs the corpse and tosses it through the open doorway to his left. This way he thought Nate and Carl can keep each other company. He strips the gloves free and turning on the water on in the sink. It trickles out as Ben throws a handful of the tepid water into his face breathing deeply.

“Crap” he thinks to himself. “Chip!” he calls his boy. “Come on we need to get down stairs.” he pants. The cabinet below him bursts open as his partially paralyzed son pulls himself free from his hiding spot. Ben sways unsteady on his feet “Dad did … Did he get you? Did he bite you?” the boy asks from the floor hesitantly. “No son I’m fine.” Ben kneels down grabbing his son in his arms hefting him up. “Dad…Dad!” the boy shouts clapping his dad on the shoulder. “The mallet dad … we’ve got to keep the mallet!” momentarily Ben’s exhaustion shows. He turns and jabs a hand under the running faucet picking the “lucky” mallet up. “Man …. Jesus…” he swoons. “Chip I really hope that was left over jelly and egg shells from your mother cooking I just put my hand into.” Chip strokes his father’s brow “Yeah dad it was …it sure was.” He says unconvincingly. Ben carries his son to the basement doorway but as he opens the door he feels the house shutter. In the distance the sounds of a fire consuming oxygen in a great “whoosh” can he heard. “We will worry about the attic window tomorrow.” He tells his son while locking the door behind them carefully taking one stair at a time. “Chip…” Ben speaks while they cross the empty basement workshop. “Let me tell your mom and Mrs. Fullerton what happened ok?” Chip snorts “You?! Mr. ‘she made it flesh.’” Ben Jr. mocks his father. “Tell me what?!” Anne whispers from the rear false wall of the workbench. Ben winces at his stupidity upon hearing his wife in the dark. “And what the hell was that racket Benjamin?” She blocks their entrance into the underground shelter “Where’s Carl Ben?!”

 

 

 

 

Today we find Benjamin James having squared off against Napoleon Archer. His one time neighbor and block mate. The only difference is Nate has been stricken by the same infection that Carl Fullerton had. What next for the James clan? Well first Ben has to explain to his wife why he and Chip first bashed in Carl's head then Nate's. What's worse Carl's family has no idea he's never coming back!

 

Come back the week of October 21st to find out what happens in Chapter 11!

 

Sincerely

 

The Living Dark

 

 

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Chapter 9: A new breed of man

Chapter 9: A new breed of man

     When a human dies and passes from this earthly world into the afterlife they say it's peaceful. It's reported and theorized that you don't even feel you soul leave your body no matter how violent your death is. What no one can tell you until now is what it feels like to die and still be cognizant as you rise up as a zombie. Napoleon Archer was running full tilt towards the James house. He felt no pain in his knees from arthritis, he felt no shortness of breath due to living a life filled with foods garnished with bacon. He vaults up the front porch investigating what he thought was a flash of light before his dull orange tinted cloudy eyes. His body feels like a wet sack of mashed potatoes. There was a sensation of feeling his bodies mass succumb to gravity. Napoleon kept thinking great sloughs of meat would soon fall from his body a plop to the ground. His mind as cloudy as his vision struggled as if it were a butterfly trapped by a maniacal child in a glass jar. His thoughts were a jumble of instincts and urges forcing him forward as all about him in the air hung a sweet odor. "Ben!" the dead man called then broke out into a wet sickly sounding laugh. "It's time to get you and those mutts of yours out of my neighborhood!" With that insult he starts beating on the boarded door.

   

    In the darkened house Ben sits behind the wall that forms the kitchen across from the open basement door. Safety was mere feet away a he cradled his eldest son in his lap. Ben looks up to see the kitchen window noticing a gap in the bottom of his security measures. Silently he prays to himself that the thing that had been his neighbor would not come checking around the back of the house. If the diseased man peers through said crack he would look upon the hidden pair. "Ben come give me you flesh!" Napoleon rages. "You never belonged here, we never wanted your kind here and you know it!" Slowly Ben presses his hands over Chip's ears attempting to stem the flow of hate permeating into his son’s young mind. Nate was sniffing at the air like an animal that sweet odor he sought was masked but the foul stench of death. "Somebody is dead in here." Nate quips. The ghoulish man assaulting the house lets out a sinister chuckle "I hope it's not you Benjamin James!" The pounding came again at the door "I want to kill you myself and peel that black skin from your hide!" Ben's fear melts suddenly dead or alive his prick-ish little neighbor had threatened him and his family. Ben could tolerate no more "Listen to me son." He tells the boy nestled in his arms as he heard Nate pulling at the boards securing the door. "I'm going have a word with our neighbor Chip." he says under his breath. The boy lurches in protest but his father puts a quick stop to that. Ben squeezes Chip gently applying firm pressure to his son assuring the boy he was in control of the situation. Nate now took to kicking the door with no regard for the damage to his unfeeling leg. "When I stand up and move for the door you climb under the sink and stay there." Ben locks eyes with his child "You stay there don't make a sound and if I don't make it Junior. It's up to take care of the family." The boy's eyes snap wide with shock "but dad!" He protests Ben places a thick calloused finger to his son’s lips. "Shhh! I won't lose but I need to you you're safe son." Chip bobs his head in a wordless agreement and Ben can see his son’s eyes become glassy with tears. Chip sits upright clutching the hammer he'd used to finish Carl off. "Don't use the gun dad the sound will draw more of them out." Ben felt the hammer pushed into his chest by Chip. Chip then rolls himself off his dad ample lap and onto the floor. Benjamin James draws up to his full height in the dark kitchen "Kick his ass dad!" comes from the floor he can vaguely see his sons outline. Ben pushes the sinful pride from his mind and turns the corner. He's got to focus and some how or another figure out how does one outsmart a dead man.

    Nate knew what he was doing wasn't right but he'd known for years his feeling about having a "black" neighbor weren't right either. His assault against the door continued as his mind was a jumble of hate. If Ben was dead and he could pull his heart out he'd at least and tear his filthy house down with his bare hands. Nate had given in to the hate that vomited out of him like the orange dish washing liquid color bile clinging to his chin. He couldn't see worth a damn as a dull milky film had developed over his dead eyeballs but anger drove his actions now. Somewhere in the distance a scream broke Nate’s manic battering his head pivots with animal like movements slowly he begins to breathe in that deep sweet scent and it draws him. It tugs him away from the stench in the house to the edge of the porch "yessss!" Nate hisses spraying orange flecked spittle lost in the splendor of the orange Aurora undulating in the night sky above him. He places a decomposing hand on the banister intent on hopping down form the porch. "Nate buddy is ... is that you?!" He hears a whisper from behind the door. In a flash he was presses against the splintered wood tiny slivers of it digging into his rotting flesh. "Heeeeeyyyyyyy Benny old buddy olllllld pal." the dead man plays out. "Nate man I need your help man thank God you came I'm hurt!" the voice pleads from behind the barricade. Napoleon could barely contain his blood lust he simply wants to dissolve into the door and materialize on the other side then devour Ben as he begs for mercy. "I... I got you buddy just let me in!" Nate stammers. He is in ecstasy inhaling the living essence behind the door. Ben moans in pain from behind the barricade and it almost drives Nate into an orgasm of rage. "I can't Nate ..." Ben spoke in distressed tones. "My arm is broken man I just..." he goes silent.” Then what Ben!? What ... What!?" Nate screams. Ben murmurs through the barrier. "Nate bro I killed Carl ... he .... He went all rabid so I put him down. I don't know what to do can you get to the attic window Nate!?" Napoleon’s eyes trace up the side of the house slowly until he see the houses only weak spot. "I left it open Nate in case we had to escape. I know it's asking a lot buddy but can you climb up there and come down here and help me? My kids are scared man and its dark in here Nate please?” A wicked grin spreads across Nate’s tattered and torn face. "That's right beg ... me for help and soon you’ll be begging for more than that!” Nate thought clearly for the first time since he'd succumbed to whatever had claimed him and his family.

 

Well as we can see I have decided to post the story here as well. I hope however that my fans will still come to

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and give the page a "like."

 

Chapter 9: A new breed of man finds Ben and Chip trying to make it down stairs to saftey without being seen. The only problem is their dead infected neighbor Napoleon "Nate" Archer. He is pounding away at the door attempting to get in a verify or see to Bens death personally. As always feel free to leave a comment
 

Sincerly

 

The Living Dark

 

Come back the week of October 14th for Chapter 10!

Chapter 8: Then the darkness moved

Chapter 8: Then the darkness moved

   As they both gaze through the crack in the window boards Chip and Ben can see Carl Fullerton moving gingerly towards their house. The lean athletic man stops briefly gazing at his own quite home. He appears confused and unsure of what to do next. He swings around and head for the James house. "What do we do Chip?!" Ben shouts pulling away from the widow catching his son by his grey t shirt. "Uh how do I know dad you’re the parent!" Ben looks about confused before he hastily replies. "but … but you're the expert!" he tells Chip. "Dad how am I an expert on something that doesn't exist?! I am a 17 year old kid deal with it!" Ben is flushed with panic spinning about the room "why in the hell did I listen to you?! Now I am sacred as crap but I don't know what I’m afraid of!" Ben notices perspiration beading up on his dark forehead; he wipes it away with the back of his hand. "Daddy .... just play it cool act normal!" Chip pleads with his father who appears on the verge of a panic attack. "Cool boy you've convinced me that my best friend is coming back here ...."

    A quick series of knocks at the door breaks the conversation "... a damn zombie!" He whispers going for the door in an uncoordinated rush. Ben comes around the couch heading for his protected front door he trips over one of the two by fours laying across the threshold. He bumps several pieces of wood sending them flying nosily into the door. Ben catches himself on the door frame "for Christ sake dad!" Chip shouts a hushed whisper. "Boy do not take the Lords name in vain!” his father calls back righting himself before the door. Pumped on adrenaline the carpenter pulls the two support board across the door down by hand flinging the door open wide he's face to face with his neighbor. "Heyyyyyy Carl how you feeling buddy!" he grins awkwardly. "Ben ....." Carl begins "… dude you don't look so good bro." Carl tells him from the front porch. "Why are you sweating like a hog man is everything ok?!" Ben is still sporting a forced grin "Uhhh tired my friend ... that's all I feel like a dead man walking!" Ben laughs aloud beginning to hyperventilate. Chips rolls as close to his father as he can manage then asks "dad are you gonna let Mr. Fullerton in so we can close the door?!" "Yeah ... yeah close the door!" with that Ben whips the door shut without thinking. Carl stands stunned on the front porch as Ben sheepishly opens the front door once more. "So... so Sorry Carl come in man." Ben says flatly. Carl steps in past Ben and moves to a tan love seat near the door plopping down heavily. Carl tilts his head back exhaling a long sigh "man it was a mad house down at St. George's." He speaks to no one in particular as Ben starts to repair the doors braces. Chip produces the mallet from besides his leg and tosses it to his dad. With precision Ben nails the boards back in place as his son wheels in closer to assist him by handing him boards. "Damn I'm starving Carl sits up suddenly!"

Ben throws the wood he's holding to the ground and rushes at Carl Fullerton from behind with the mallet held high ready to strike. Chip glides up in front of his dad catching his elbow. The two almost topple backwards but Ben catches his boy and the chair in time to avoid the spill. Carl turns around to see the two behind him with goofy smiles plastered on their faces. "You guys got any food up here?" Carl asks trailing off staring at the James men suspiciously. Ben pulls his wheelchair bound son upright his grin wavering. "Yeah … yeah Carl ..." he turns back meaning to fixes the remaining board to the doors support bracket. "Anne brought some sandwiches up ....." he speaks between hammer blows. "She made them flesh ...earlier ....." Chip winces at his dad's Freudian slip. "Fresh... she made them fresh a while ago." He chuckles nervously turning from the barricaded door. "Great!" Carl exclaims standing up from the couch. "I haven’t eaten all day seriously … where are they?" Chip points towards the kitchen "in there in the blue cooler Mr. Fullerton." Chip instructs watching Carl Fullerton walk to the kitchen "maybe once I eat we can make that supply run Ben?" Ben looks at his son hunching his shoulder silently only to see his son return the gesture. "Sure yeah Buddy!" he calls as Carl rounds the wall into the kitchen area. Ben Jr. motions for his dad to lean down and Ben obliges. The boy slaps his dad in the back of his head in the same manner one would if they were trying to wake someone sleeping heavily. "Flesh!" the boy shouts in his father’s ear. "Flesh .... she made them flesh! Come on dad really?!" The boy shakes his head in exasperation. "I see why mom doesn't let you play poker with the guys!" Ben looks down at his son attempting to compose himself. Carl comes back from the kitchen with two sandwiches and a bottle of water. "I got two ..." he says holding the white bread bologna sandwiches aloft. "I hope you don't mind." Ben shakes his head implying he doesn't falling in behind Carl. "No sir we don't mind if you eat us!" he shouts with glee. Chip slaps his forehead in frustration tossing his sandy brown hair out of his eyes. "What Carl’s" says chewing looking back at Ben. "I said we don't mind if you eat usssssss.....out of house and home!"

    Ben sits down heavily on the love seat. Carl moves all the way into the living room taking a seat on the expensive leather sofa with his back to the crack in Ben and Chip had used to spy on him. Chip rolls in to position across from Carl and his dad. Unknowingly they sit apart from each other in the artificial glow of lantern light. The cone of light touches each of their faces from its perch in the center of the grouping. "What was it like at the hospital Mr. Fullerton?" Chip inquires. Carl is in mid swig after finishing one sandwich he drains the bottle of water. "Chip it was pure unadulterated chaos son.” the man takes a huge bite from his remaining sandwich. "Man I feel so much better now! I was so hungry I was shaking." Carl says absently staring at the sandwich he looks up. "Hey Ben how are Bianca and the girls man?!" asking about his family. Ben bounces up to attention "They're fine Carl. Anne says the girls were playing while she and Bianca talked." Carl nods his approval "so guys check this out." He starts excitedly finishing off his last sandwich bite "So I'm waiting in line to be seen. They have this huge triage area set up outside with generators. The Hospital is running using these huge generators the army has brought in." Chip perks up now "the army is there too Mr. Fullerton?" Carl leans forward and Ben notices he seems livelier and some of his color has returned. "Obviously eating has done him some good." Ben thinks to himself. "Yes sir Chip they have got tanks, helicopters and soldiers everywhere. They have the situation secure and the hospital is running efficiently." Ben raises a calloused finger in the air as if he were in school. Carl slyly arches an eyebrow "yes Ben." "How's your arm?" he blurts. Gone was Carl's bloodied bed sheet wound dressing and in its place tight neat professional pristine while gauze. From elbow to wrist and encompassing his damaged pinkie finger. Carl regards the arm cautiously "they told me to take it easy and gave me some antibiotics. Took a butterfly stitch to close it too and I tell you what. Tomorrow I go jogging I’m taking my gun with me if I see those dumb asses. I'm shooting them!" Carl looks to Ben "Sorry buddy didn't mean to curse in front of Jr. there." He says with a wink to the teenager. Chip blushes ever so slightly his father notices probably at the thought of finally being on an inside joke with grown ups more than anything else. Carl catches a ray of late evening sun cascading into the dimly lit room.

   "Fellas look we've talked up so much time maybe its best if we go in the morning to my house and grab what we need. I don't want to leave the house unguarded. I've heard things about what goes on at night now it's not safe to be out I think." Chip leans in "How so Sir?!" Ben can see his son waiting to hear that word. Waiting to hear his friend utter that cliché' Hollywood word "Zombies." "Well Chip ..." he begins "first I've heard that you can now see the Aurora Borealis from like dusk until just before sunrise since the solar flares. Except it a muted cantaloupe orange color but when going outdoors at night now you have to watch yourself." He wipes his mouth absently with his good hand rubbing the saliva on his pants. "A soldier told me that bands of marauders are going about stealing supplies and generally wreaking havoc as they go." Ben snorts "criminals always take advantage of the night. Well need to get downstairs before it gets to dark or somebody sees the light." "Wait!" Carl shouts causing Benjamin James to flinch spasming in his seat kicking the cabinet holding the lantern. The room is cast into a thick blackness "Nobody move I'll get it!" Ben erupts he can be heard scrambling about. Somewhere in the dark a lamp crashes to the floor. "Sorry guys … sorry" Ben utters as the sound of him slapping the floor searching for rogue batteries. Chip is immobilized with fear he doesn't know if he fears Carl Fullerton, his ominous words, or the dark. Chips finds himself with a death grip on the arm rests of wheelchair breath caught in his throat. He wants to call for his dad; he needs the security of the rock that has been there for him through out his life even after "the accident." To hell with being one of the guys Chip opens his mouth intent on calling for his father.

    "Mr. Fullerton ...." slips from his lips effortlessly. "Yes Chip." the man answers from the darkness. "Are ..." the boy in the wheelchair swallows. "Are … you ok Sir?" the leather couch squeaks as Carl shifts his weight unseen "Yes Son I ... Just ..... want see the.… Aurora." Another crash from the floor Ben yells "almost got it!" In the dark Chip lowers a trembling hand down releasing his wheelchair brakes. "Sorry Carl!" Ben yelps from the floor "I didn't mean to step on your foot!" Ben stands up "Annnnnd got it!" flicking the switch the lantern pushes the dark back as Ben turns to face Carl. "It's ok Ben." Sitting on the edge of the couch Carl is smiling broadly. His eyes were a dull shade of orange a thick sheen of light orange drool coats his chin. Every vein in his body courses orange infected blood like a polluted river emanating from under the bandages on his arm. His skin begins to sizzle as if cooked by an unseen flame peeling up in flakes before wafting in the stale air to the floor. "Jesus!" Ben cries fumbling backwards. Carl launches at his friend teeth bared. "Come back here!" he snarls. Ben hits the floor the lantern lands painfully in his chest. He sees Carl’s diseased face looming above him beyond the light reach. The sound of ragged breathing is punctuated by Carl screeching "What!" Ben hears an all too familiar sound feet stumbling over the end of Chips metal footrests. Carl falls form the gloom landing on Ben who catches him under the chin with both his paw sized hands. Immediately he feels the intense heat Carl’s body emits singeing his palms. The lantern bobbles between to two as they struggle. "You're lucky that cripple saved you Ben!" Carl screams wrapping his hands around Ben's and pulling them outward. "When I'm done with you he's ...." his words cut off suddenly. Ben felt a blow from the dark and the rush of air accompanying it. Then it came again punctuated with a crunching noise. Carl goes limp and the life behind the orange film in his eyes dies. The body is pulled back into the dark and hits the floor with a meaty thud.

   "Dad… Dad! Chip sobs. Ben sits up to respond to his boy his body goes rigid then relaxes. Ben Jr. embraces his father tightly the mallet still in his hand digs painfully into his back but Ben doesn't care. Stroking the head of his crying boy Ben steels himself as a shudder runs up his spine. "S'ok son ... S'ok" he soothes his son whose pretense of adulthood has melted away in a rivulet of tears. Ben struggles to his feet hefting his son up. With his free hand he searches in the dark for the boy’s chair. The only light filtering in in comes from the moon through the crack in the boards. Ben sees movement in the distance on the street. "shhh!" he tells Chip in his arms scanning the street. It was Napoleon walking down his porch and into the street. Ben sees his profile as the stout man stares in the distance at Mohammed’s house across the cul-de-sac. Ben's first thought is for his neighbor’s safety he goes to call for him. "Dad no!" Chip whimpers feeling his father’s chest draw in. Napoleon abruptly turns to face the James house the side of his face away from them comes into view and it’s a shredded bloodied pulp wisps of smoke swirl skyward from his decimated face. Ben swears he and the man have locked eyes. Ben snaps to and stomps a boot down crushing the lantern and snuffing out the light. Chip and Ben bear witness to Napoleon walk then sprint towards their house.
 

The Living Dark has finally revealed it's dark and insidious nature. After Carl's much heralded return to the James household. The men fore go the plan of retrieving supplies from Carl's house and decide to listen as Carl tells them what he's learned. The sun sets and in the dark all hell breaks loose as the James men have a fight on their hands.

After such a heart pounding Chapter we will take a week off and meet back here the week of October 7th for Chapter 9 of The Living Dark.

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Sincerely: The Living Dark



https://www.facebook.com/TheLivingDark?ref=hl

Chapter 7: A bond renewed

Chapter 7: A bond renewed

    Ben looks to his son panting, he attempts to swallow but his chest seizes. Chip pats his dad firmly on his back without a word. Ben doesn't know what to make of what he'd witnessed clearly the quality wasn't great and it was more than obvious. Whatever the video showed wasn't "normal human behavior." "So dad..." Ben Jr. speaks up "what do you think? I mean it doesn't prove anything one hundred percent but I'm thinking your decision to hold up down here is pure genius at this point." Ben looks to his son nodding "But Jr. I can't just cast Carl out he's my best friend and we have his family here." Ben pulls himself up using the workbench for support. "Maybe they'll find out if he's got 'it' ..... Ah whatever the hell 'it' maybe down at St. George's!" Ben exclaims snapping his fingers together. "Dad we don't know what he would have and we have no clue as to how it passes from person to person. Carl maybe your friend dad but we are your family." Chip places a heavy burden squarely on his dad’s solid shoulders. Ben thinks back to his days in church. He wishes that he'd spent more time there in light of recent events. God’s word told him that "he was to be his brother's keeper" but it also commanded that he be his "family’s protector."

   Ben turns about in a circle placing both hands down on his workstation his head is hung low chin resting on his heaving chest. "Chip if he comes back we can keep upstairs until we ensure that he's well." The boy looks around unlocking his wheelchair "dad how!?" the young man calls out. Big Ben "shushes" his son coming to his ear. "He and I will go get supplies from their house and that way we can keep him busy and watch him." What happens next shocks the man his son grabs his shirt by the collar. "Dad there is no way you're going out there with Mr. Fullerton and he's infected too!" Who's yelling.……? What’s going guys?!" they both turn to face Anne James. Umm ... Honey…” the two James men straighten up like guilty mischievous children. Ben smooths out his shirt coming over to sooth his wife "honey ... Anne." He begins looking slyly over her shoulder at the passageway to their shelter. "Babe look ..." he embraces her rubbing her arms. "How are Bianca and the girls? Anybody injured or hurt?" Anne pulls her head back eyeballing her husband suspiciously "No ... why? What were you two carrying on about?” Anne peaks around her husband at the sound of the laptop snapping shut.

  "Mom!" Chip stammers "Dad ... he uh doesn't feel that I can help him uhhh….. Upstairs… and I'm tired of being treated like a kid! Like because I'm in this chair, he thinks I can’t grow up!” Ben's spine tingles at the verbal back stab. His son uses the truth to deflect Anne's suspicions and it hurt like hell. Anne cast an accusing glare at her husband who had recoiled slightly at the truthful lie. "Sorry… honey" Ben Senior blurts sheepishly. Many a night Anne and Ben had argued the same point and many a night they were sure Benjamin "Chip" James Jr. was listening. Ben's forces his eyes up in vain attempting to meet his wife stare of disapproval. She folds her arms across her chest "the universal sign" of a visit to the dog house. Secretly Ben was wishing he'd followed through on adding that spare room in their shelter for just such an occasion. "Take him with you Benjamin Robert James." He flinches at the dreaded use of his middle name “yeah doghouse for sure“. Ben muses. "Ok.... ok honey!" holding his hands aloft warily. "Anne head back into the bunker seal the door. Chip and I will give the signal if we need to get in.” Anne's posture relaxes as she uncrosses her arms planting a kiss on her husband’s cheek. She sways her way back down the passageway and vanishes. The door grinds on its hinges before clapping shut.

   Ben waits until he hears the locks deploy turning to his son. "You turkey!" he shouts punching Chip in the arm. He giggles at his father’s jovial anger which brings Ben a moment of levity. "Come on son hop up!" he tells him squatting down. Soon a familiar sensation as Chip hoists himself upon to his father’s wide back. Once the boy is free of his chair Ben uses a few quick motions to collapse the chair before standing up. With his son on his back carrying the chair Ben huffs up the stairs one at a time. Memories float back into Ben’s mind of days past how many times had he and his son made this journey. He couldn't recall but one thing was certain his upper body strength had become that of a man. "Son… son…” he croaks. “Yeah dad!" comes his answer. "You’re choking me ease up!" Ben taps his sons elbow. "Sorry dad! You must getting old Chip chuckles in his father's ear. They crest the stairs and Ben flips the wheelchair open as Chip glides down into his seat from his fathers back. Chip raises his hip and pulls a pair of black batters gloves from his back pocket he slips them onto his hands wiggling his fingers. Chip rolls swiftly into the large ornate dining room he continues right into the living room where he comes to a stop. "Chip question....." his dad calls walking up behind him. “In a movie when a person gets bitten by zombie.”

   The two are now side by side sizing up their partially secured front door. “Don’t they turn pretty quickly? I mean if you’re right son Carl’s not coming back right?” The boy cranes down from his wheelchair and snags a small metal mallet. He tucks the wooden handled tool down besides his right leg knowing they would soon have to repair their fort. “Well dad … I can only tell you what I know from TV. In Hollywood zombie victims usually show signs of turning pretty quick. They get all sick and sweaty …..“he pauses “…while vomiting and bleeding everywhere!” Looking up to his father “Dad did Mr. Fullerton look sick!?” Ben appears lost in thought then he answers “No son he was fine other than the bleeding. He looked completely normal even took time to comfort Bianca and the girls.” Chip flaps his arms in exasperation “then I’m just speculating dad.” Big Ben walks over to his boarded front window bending down peering through a crack between two boards. He observes the street from what he could see was deceptively quiet. “Son I’d like to thank you for giving me something else to worry about needlessly.” Chip laughs aloud “I get it from you pops!” The day floats by easily enough as the father and son relive days gone by. They check the house to ensure the home is still secured and await Carl Fullerton’s return. After a few hours Anne brings them a picnic styled lunch and a lantern. Just past four in the afternoon as the Sun is losing ground on this day with out power. Chip is parked out in front of the crack between the boards on the houses front bay window. “Dad!” the boy shouts pulling his father over to the crack. “It’s him Mr. Fullerton dad!” Ben sees his friend Carl moving under his own strength but with much effort zeroing in on his homestead.

Looks like the James men have found themselves renewing their father son bond. After a day spent discussing zombies and the impending return of their neighbor Carl Fullerton. Who suffered a wound at the hands (well mouths to be exact) of some "drug addicts" during his early morning work out. Ben Jr has convinced his father that Mr. Fullerton is going to return form the hospital a "zombie!" It won't belong now before Ben Sr. finds out if his son is right or wrong. Carl Fullerton has appeared in the street and heading back to his family and The James' household.


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Return the week of September 23rd what becomes of Carl Fullerton in Chapter 8!

Chapter 6: Believe what you see ....... mostly

Chapter 6: Believe what you see …… mostly

     Ben glares down at his wheelchair bound son "Chip I don't have time for this son." Ben steps over the leg struts on his sons black wheelchair moving briskly to his workbench, he reaches for the sleek sliver laptop sitting before him. Chip catches his fathers wrist "Dad seriously!" What passes next is one of those brief tense moments of silence that only a father and his eldest son can know. Benjamin junior gains a brief moment of clarity he realizes as he has since he was confined to his wheelchair. That his father often took pity on him holding off on some of those life lessons that if he were "able bodied" his Father would've taught him long ago. Chip was well aware of being spared the full wrath of his father. Just as Chip felt he was spared the full depth of his father's love both were out of guilt. Slowly the younger Benjamin relaxes his grip drawing back his hand. "Dad trust me..." Muffled voices floating through the open shelter door break the stalemate. Chip speaks up first “Dad I was looking on my phone yesterday before the battery died. There are all these rumors drifting around the web.” Ben carries through with his initial plan and powers up the charging laptop. Ben turns his back to the device as it goes through its setup. Leaning on the workbench crossing his arms, he resigns himself to hearing his boy out. “Look dad I know you’re stressed I get that so am I, but we can’t ignore the facts.” Chip pulls the computer across to him parking his wheelchair and deploying the brakes. Ben Jr. pulls his cell phone from his pocket and plugs it in as well. Using the phones internet signal he opens a wifi connection with the laptop. The boy’s hands dance about the keyboard logging onto the internet as he goes. “I heard what you told Mrs. Fullerton ….” Chip doesn’t look away from the glowing screen. “…. apparently dad it’s ok for you to indulge your rampant paranoia, but you think me saying Mr. Fullerton’s gonna turn into a zombie needs proof.” “Son I…….” Ben was cutoff by his eldest. “A lot of web pages are down and more are going down daily dad but the wireless phone networks are still running on back up power.” Ben’s inclination was to rub his temple. When his kids talked technology it made his head pound. He had worked with his hands all his life building physical things that could be touched. Ben had no desire to understand the “web” or anything he couldn’t see or touch with his own two hands. However he felt bad about dismissing his son so he indulges him.

　

    “Watch this dad…” Chip pivots the bright screen towards his dad. A grainy image begins to play silently. “This news channel hasn’t updated since last night but this video is from Japan.” Ben kneels down resting an arm on his son’s chair. The video looks as if it was shot from a cell phone and the photographer seems to be back peddling slowly as trying to remain unseen. The subject in the video is stalking about in the shadows of a darkened alley. The figure looks to be a short petite female and she is looking for something. She moves with an odd hunched gait from one side of the alley to another searching for something or someone. Ben is conscious that he his leaning into the screen. He wants to take his hand and wipe the screen as if it will make the picture clearer. The stooped over form isn’t quite walking but she isn’t staggering either. “Son …” Ben says nervously rubbing his goatee. “You said zombie and I have seen a few of your movies. Don’t zombies shuffle around slower than that?” He points to the computer screen. “Yeah dad just watch this!” the boy whispers placing his hand on Big Bens back. Behind the female in the video shadows take human forms. These shadows look as if they’re swaying in place while light dances behind them obscuring their features. Suddenly the odd woman stares directly at the camera her face appears streaked with a dark liquid. Ben feels his heart skip a beat reeling back instinctively as if the woman on screen had the power to leap through into his basement. She moves now with a purpose and the photographer has taken notice. Ben sees the woman from the neck down her face obscured by the dark. She is wearing a torn dark blouse and a filthy white skirt. The person shooting the video now appears to be running while filming over their shoulder. The shaking in the video becomes more pronounced and the woman is falling behind the fleeing cameraperson. In the silent movie the woman is screaming with her head thrown back. Hunching down she leaps into the air coming down closer to the camera before vaulting off screen again. Now the cameraperson is sprinting the video showing the fingers wrapped around the device and denim jeans. In in an instant the video shows the camera phone pirouetting wildly in the air before static fills the screen.

Here in Chapter 6 of The Living Dark we find Benjamin and his son nicknamed "Chip." In the basement of their fortified house. Ben is still reeling from his oldest son's claim that his injured neighbor will return from the ER as a zombie! Chip has something to show his dad as proof once the fire up the generator and power up their laptop. Ben is shocked at what his son has shown him.
Next week Chapter will be up what will Ben do with what he's learned as he prepares for Carl Fullerton's return?


Want to know what happens next? Comeback the week of September 16th to find out!


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Chapter 5: There's a knock the door

Chapter 5: There’s a knock at the door

    The front door rattles as someone pounds it from the outside. “Ben!” is shouted out during a pause in the assault. He knew the voice it was Carl Fullerton his neighbor. Scrapping along the wall Ben positions himself behind the door. Leaning forward he peers through peephole. Just in time to see a bandaged fist arch forward beating the door again. Ben recoils backwards almost spilling his treasure trove of chargers. “Just wait Bianca ….” Ben hears the man on the porch stammer. Some where he hears a child crying a little girl whimpering softly. Spurred into action by the distressed child he yells out. “Hold on Carl I’m coming!” with that Ben sets down the equipment in his hand. He begins to open the door in a precise sequence taking down two by fours from the top, middle and bottom of the reinforced door. From a brace he had installed on the door and on the floor. Ben removes three two by two that add support to the door. “Wait a minute Carl I need a hammer!” he shouts. Ben sprints into the kitchen returning with a hammer to remove the doors last line of defense. With some effort he pries two by fours from the top bottom and middle of the door frame. Tossing the wood behind him Ben pops the door open to be met by the Fullerton family in a very disheveled state.

        “What’s… what’s going on Carl?!” Ben demands. Carl doesn’t answer instead he pushed his wife holding their youngest in the door before hefting his oldest daughter over the threshold all three dressed in their pj's. “Ben……” the man stops mid sentence. Carl turns and closes the door to Benjamin’s house. “This morning ….” he pants out of breath. “I was jogging and some guys jumped me. We got into a scuffle one bit me on the arm and took a good chunk out of my pinkie too!” The man holds his left arm aloft it’s wrapped in a bed sheet. Around the covered mid forearm is a circular blood stain. “Wait what?!” Ben yelps as the little girl nestled in her mother’s arms whimpers again. Soon Carl’s oldest daughter Dakota starts crying as well her mother pulls the eight year old girl near to her. “I was attacked Ben! I need a favor buddy….” Carl looks about. “Look can Bianca and the girls stay here with you guys while I run down to the ER at St. George hospital?” Ben stands stupefied mouth agape “Uh … Uh yeah … Yeah no problem Carl.” Ben extends a hand to the woman and her daughters instinctively the thin girl clinging to her mother’s night gown squeezes further behind her mother. "Aw Dakota you know Mr. James you play with Belinda all the time." The injured father goads his child with his soft words. "Carl ... Carl its ok man." Ben licks his lips looking about cautiously. "Why not just stay her let us patch you up I'm sure it will make Bianca and the girls feel better to have you around." Ben implores. Carl holds his arm aloft with a smirk on his face "Damn drug addicts..... it was three of them wearing Halloween mask or make or some crap!" Carl seems to acknowledge the damaged limb and digits as an after thought. "Ben ..." he says looking past his homemade field dressing. "Do you know how many germs are in the human mouth? It's disgusting my friend that much I will tell you. I'm going to run down to the hospital they have a military style triage in the parking lot even though they still have power." Carl comes over to his wife gently he kisses the toddler in his wife arms and then he embraces his wife. "I'll be alright honey I promise…” the woman stifles back tears. Carl reluctantly releases his grip on his spouse kneeling before her. He coaxes Dakota from her maternal hiding spot softly calling her name "Dakota honey." In an instant the girl is buried in her fathers arms. Carl takes his daughter with his good hand "Dakota can you be a big girl and help mommy until I get back from the doctor?" He asks and her response is so soft Ben can’t hear it from where he is standing. Carl stands with some effort turning to Ben "Thanks Ben." He extends his right hand both men shake with a firmness that can only be conveyed by true friendship. Carl moves for the door stopping abruptly "When I get back we'd like to come over if the offer still stands." "Without a doubt Carl we’ll be here when you get back.” Ben tells his friend. "Tell you what Carl I will come back up and check every two hours on the hour and I will wait fifteen minuets before I head back down ..." The last part of the sentence he finishes with mimed quotation marks "...The Batcave as the kids have named it." The two men share a laugh as Carl opens the door "Hey Ben we have some supplies at our house we can get them when I get back buddy!" Ben signals his agreement with a bobble of the head "Sure thing Carl." The man trots off the porch and Ben watches him head off towards St. George's. He closes the door locking it and for the time being places the three two by fours back in their respective slots.

       Picking up the chargers and laptop once more he becomes aware of eyes following his every movement. Bianca is trembling visibly. He struggles to find words to reassure the woman and her children. If this was his wife this wouldn't be an issue but Ben had never felt comfortable showing his emotion especially to someone who he knew wasn’t vested in them. "Um ladies this way .... was all that he could force out. "Ben... "The woman spoke up without moving. He turns to the petite blond noticing Cammy her baby was dozing softly on her mothers shoulder now. "Ben do you think ... think … everything’s going to be ok?!" Ben froze attempting to make his way to his hidden sanctuary downstairs. He had grown tired of hearing this question but what irritated him the most he had to lie about his true feelings. "Bianca ..." he said urging the woman forward "if I believed everything was going to be ok I would be living in a locked cell in the basement of my boarded up house." Strangely the woman cracks an awkward smile and moves for the open basement door "thank you Benjamin." He stops with one foot dangling over the empty black chasm below. It was his turn to be taken aback "Thank me.... for what Bianca?" She took his elbow as she instructed Dakota to "Go with Mr. James." Ben sweeps the girl up to his chest “for being honest with me.” She tells him "Carl keeps giving me that over confident everything’s gonna be alright garbage acting like he's not afraid. It's like he's at work and giving me the same pat answers he feeds his clients."Ben smiles at his neighbor’s wife then they begin their descent. A light flicks on from below them cascading up the bare staircase "dad is that you?" A voice forces out in a harsh whisper "Chip is that you?!" Ben calls back to the disembodied light "Yeah dad it's me and Brandon mom got worried you were gone so long then we heard a racket.” Ben takes a cautious step down and turns to assist Bianca Fullerton. "Brandon ...." he hollers "Go tell your mother I am bringing Mrs. Fullerton and the girls down. Mr. Fullerton was attacked this morning and he went to the emergency room." "Ok dad…” Ben hears his son’s sneakers scuff across the floor in the basement. Then seconds later as they make their way down a cry of "MooooooM!" Erupts through the quiet.

        Chip uses the flashlight to guide them the rest of the way down the stairs. No sooner than Bianca’s slipper covered foot touches down on the floor. Ann moves swiftly from behind the bench “Bianca honey how are you?!” The Women hug tightly “Tell me what happened to Carl.” Anne ushers Bianca and the Fullerton girls behind the bench and into the shelter. Ben is left with his eldest son Chip. Ben places his haul on the workbench as muffled voices filter in from the other side. Chip rolls over to the generator once more flipping the switch just above the blinking red light for the second time in as many days. The Depot is illuminated once again Chip watches his dad dutifully go about plugging the chargers in a power strip. Ben starts to round the bench and head for the passageway he stumbles as Chip using his wheelchair pins him into a corner. “Umm son I wasn’t going to leave you ….” the boy pushes the wheelchair painfully against his father’s legs. “What happened to Mr. Fullerton dad?” ignoring his dads words all together. “He … he was jumped by some guys son. Now why are you so jumpy backup and I will take care of you. I was not going to leave you out here.” Chip glances down the corridor to where the others are gathered. “Dad was he hurt … injured.” Hunching his shoulders leaning forward Chip meets his father’s gaze. “Define injured dad.” Ben Jr. continues his interrogation. “Uh he said he was bitten son on his arm and hand. He was bleeding from what I could see son. Now explain yourself Junior.” The boy reaches forward pulling his father down by his shirt and whispers into his ear. “Dad you know you can’t let Mr. Fullerton back in here right?” Ben draws back glaring at his child “Please son … what the hell are you talking about?!” Ben’s forehead creases in frustration. “He was bit dad come on you know what happens next.” Ben throws his hands up in anger and exasperation. “ … Mr. Fullerton’s been bit he’s gonna turn into a zombie dad!” Benjamin James stares down at his son words refusing to part his lips.
 
Things are starting to get crazy for The James family. Carl Fullerton a neighbor shows up with his family. Carl has been bitten and is leaving his family while he runs off to the ER. What's worse is Ben Jr. Seems to think there's an underlying reason why they shouldn't let Carl back into the house. What is the revelation and is Chip right to be leery of Carl?
Comeback the week of September 9th to find out.
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