Chapter 34: Reunited

Chapter 34: Reunited

     People filter in from the offices down the corridor to have an audience with The Sin Preacher. This side of the church has no back exit unlike where the preacher and her “Inner Circle” dwell. The only way out is back the way they’d come. “Good Morning everyone we have visitors.” She calls out motioning those gathering around to come in closer. Sara takes notice that there aren’t any tables lined with food and clothes on this side of the church. The mood in this section of First New Faith is subdued when compared with the family picnic atmosphere they’d left. She also notices what she terms “a splash more of color” among this grouping. There is a cross section of the surrounding towns and cities taking refuge here. Private Lockett catches a few rogue stares at her uniform and more disturbingly at her weapons. Slowly those who are sitting about break into hopeful smiles their eyes upturned towards the preacher. “Beginning tomorrow morning we will be assigning chores after breakfast.” Ben didn’t know what to think about the scene before him. And why weren’t they using the rest of the church to give these people more room to breath? “I just wanted to give you all a quick update on our current situation. I picked up a few more survivors today and we have had very little activity thus far today from the unclean.” A few cheers go up along with sporadic high fives around the room after The Sin Preacher speaks. “Now for those of you that are new … “She turns to Benjamin and Sara. “We need to make sure we are as quite as possible from sunset to sunrise.” She pivots like a human sprinkler head making sure to address as man people as possible.” I will also be preaching all night from dusk until dawn. We will have the church PA system on but turned very low.” Ben’s first thought was “I’m not planning on being here at sundown.” “Miriam …. Um pastor.” Ben interrupts he decides not to broach the subject of leaving just yet. “Why aren’t you guys using the rest of the church …. “ Ben points thick finger up at the stained ceiling. “You know upstairs?” People in the crowd look down as if they had thought of the question but were afraid to ask. “Mr. James …” The Sin Preacher turns to face him. “The sanctuary is for worship and we do not enter unless we are engaged in worship or in my case preaching.” Ben suddenly feels small in the woman’s presence even though he dwarfs her in reality. “Good day everyone and God bless.” She says exiting the room with Ben, Lockett, and Brother Deacon trailing her. A few minuets later Ben finds himself along with Lockett reunited with his kids, Carson and Jamal. “Everyone please make yourselves comfortable I must attend to some things but we will talk in a bit.” With that she saunters down the hallway back towards her office.

    Several hours later the cluster of survivors has separated themselves from the cliquish workings of First New Faith. Ben is been anxiously awaiting the Sin Preacher’s return. So far the group has managed to hold him at bay. They are aware of the late hour but aren’t overly concerned knowing they are at the very least secure and so is everyone else at White Magic’s place. They are holding up an office converted into a dormitory style room. Chip and Belinda doze softly on a beat up old orange couch. “We are relatively safe here so if we have to wait until morning then so be it. “Sara says intentionally keeping her voice low. She doesn’t want to be heard through the paper thin walls as she talks. “As long as White Magic makes it back safely they will be fine at the house. “ “That’s the problem Lockett what if he didn’t and he turns? “ Ben interjects. There is a knock at the door Cody nods to Lockett then opens the door. Colonel is standing there filling the doorway with his bulky frame. “Crap Lockett wasn’t kidding.” Private Carson thinks. “The Sin Preacher requests your immediate audience in her office.” His hands are folded over his barrel chest. “All of you.” He overly emphasizes the last part of his statement. He spins on his heels walking away. Jamal peeks out of the door Cody Carson bumps him from behind. He stumbles into the hallway followed by Carson who takes long strides falling in step with the brute known as “Colonel.” Sara moves in closely Jamal trails looking back waiting on Ben James. It takes Ben a bit longer he has to rouse his children. Add to Ben’s list of chores he has to help Chip into his wheelchair. Jamal is ready to go back to lend a hand to his new family when Chip wheels around the corner. The boy prods his wheelchair forward his dad bringing up the rear. Ben is cradling a half sleeping Belinda in the safety of his beefy arms. He is the last to come around the corner running into a log jam of people. He can see everyone’s back as they pack the doorway of the Sin Preacher’s spacious office. “Mom!” As Chip exclaims the stationary bodies’ part like the Red Sea for the boy. Chip rolls through Ben trots by before the opening closes. “Chip …” Anne James cries out. The pair embraces Anne coming down to her knees to hug her son nearly pulling him from his wheelchair. “Daddy …daddy!” Ben sees his baby boy Brandon breaking away from the three way hug. The boy leaps into his dad’s arms Belinda’s adorable hazel eyes open wide. “B-Rand!” She shouts the sets about kissing the boy on his cheek. Anne rises at the sound of her baby’s voice. The tears in her eyes now spill down her cheek. “Oh God my baby ….” Ben shifts the girl in his arms angling her out towards her mother. Anne is running towards her daughter’s out stretched arms. “Mommy … Mommy … Mommy!” The girl calls out. Anne James latches onto the girl pulling her from her father’s arms. She spins around in place with the tiny girl covering her in joyful kisses. The tears Anne cries are of sheer unadulterated happiness. She stops staring at her burly husband she can see he is trying desperately to hold back his emotions. Anne steps forward moving right into her husband’s arms kissing him deeply. “Thank you Benjamin James ….” She pulls back breathlessly. “Thank you for saving our babies.” Ben looks down his chest hitching. “Baby all I did was and go get them Ben Junior did all the real work.” He tells her not out of modesty but amazement. “It wasn’t me honey it was all junior baby and the story he has to tell you.” Ben trails off. “Well it will show you how strong our boy truly is. I am in awe of him Anne I truly am.” Anne looks back to her son the family comes together in the center of the room oblivious to everyone else. Medina comes over to her unit mates exchanging slaps on the shoulder. Jamal smiles politely at Bianca who moves into the circle with the James family. “What a truly blessed occasion and proof of the power of God.” The Sin Preacher blurts out. Once again she has the attention of all present. “James family and friends welcome one and all to the First New Faith Baptist Church. Hopefully the discussion about leaving us can wait until morning now Mr. James. The hour of the day is late and we don’t want to compromise your safety or ours.” Ben gazes down at his wife and daughter. His eyes scan his boys then Bianca and the rest of the group. They look exhausted and at least they are safe and together again. “Miriam I believe that can wait until morning as you suggested.” Ben tells her Miriam claps her hands together with a smile. “Excellent we will make things more formal in the morning. Now if you will all excuse me I have to prepare myself for tonight’s sermon.” Anne looks perplexed. “Ma’am if you’re going to have a sermon tonight my family and I need to give thanks.” Anne squeezes Belinda in her arms.

    The Sin Preacher pushes her glasses up with her index finger. She grins bashfully. “Please Mrs. James call me Miriam.” The women walk to each other the shake hands politely. Anne breaks the silence glancing back at her heroic hubby. “We feel obligated to praise the Lord tonight. He has delivered us from evil no two ways about it.” The Sin Preacher takes in the crowd around her. “Mrs. James I am truly touched but my all night sermons are not for the congregation.” She stands before Anne beaming. “They are my penitence part of the duty I have inherited to lead my flock in the ways of the Lord.” She places a hand on Bianca’s shoulder as she stands next to Anne. “What a gorgeous baby Ma’am.” She tells the recently widowed mother. “I preach all night in order that God may hear the voice of his child and place his protection around his house. It’s exhausting but serving the Lord and leading men usually is.” With that The Sin Preacher dismisses everyone in the room. “Mr. James will you and Sara hang back with me for a moment please?” Miriam turns to her flat footed subordinates. The men stand about smirking amongst themselves. Colonel kneads a damp toothpick back and forth between his unevenly spaced teeth. The large man fills up the room like a piece of borrowed furniture. He has a smug looks of satisfaction etched on his face. “You may all leave as well.” The men’s faces all droop as they are dismissed by the Sin Preacher. Lockett looks between Carson and Medina her eyes imploring “Save me from this bitch. “ The young soldier is guarded she knows the preacher mistrusts her which puts them both on equal footing. Ben has his eyes locked on his wife’s face. Anne doesn’t want to let her husband go their family has spent too much time apart. Ben senses his spouse’s hesitation “Honey please give me a few seconds?” Anne looks hurt stung by Ben’s words. He reassures her with a comforting hug burring her in his thick arms. Anne relents watching this mysterious woman’s hold over the men around her. She knows that she has to guard her husband against this strange woman’s manipulative wiles. Then a light flickers on in Anne’s mind as if she is waking up from the seductive trance of a hypnotist or the song of a Siren. Here is Brother Gustavo‘s puppeteer slyly working in plain sight. Lockett rotates around to face The Sin Preacher placing a hand defiantly on her hip. She keeps a gloved hand wrapped around the grip of her assault rifle. “Hey guys show them back to the room we were in earlier.” Ben instructs Jamal and Carson as the group of survivors exits the room. Three completely different people stand there with but one thing in common. They have all managed to survive “The Event” and the subsequent chaos that has befallen the world. Miriam walks closer in her meticulously clean office that smells slightly damp like a well kept basement. “I want to ask you both a favor.” She stares at Ben her head pivoting slowly almost mechanically over to Sara‘s face. The Sin Preacher can see Ben is far less defensive than Sara. Miriam seizes in on Ben focusing her words in his general direction. “Now that God has brought you and your family back together by the hands of Brother Gustavo. I would like you two to consider coming into my inner circle.” Lockett rolls her eyes which Ben realizes she must do subconsciously. However when she sees the look on Ben’s face she becomes concerned. He has the gleam of a man about to be offered a promotion and the big corner office by his boss. She is panics “He’s falling for this shit” her mind screams while she scratches her head comically. Miriam moves in close extending a hand. She touches a shoulder on each of them with a slight bob of her head. “You don’t have to answer me tonight. I want you, your friends and your family to enjoy our hospitality.” Miriam squeezes Ben’s shoulder letting her hand slide off Sara‘s. “Take time we’ll talk in tomorrow after I rest up.” Stepping back Miriam takes a mental snapshot of each of the brown faces looking at her. Ben smiles almost gushing but Sara tugging his elbow has already made to leave the room. Ben snatches away from Sara angrily stomping his feet. There is nothing odder than watching a full grown football player sized man throw a temper tantrum. The pair exits the pastor’s office separately. She is finally left alone to her own devices the woman retreats into her own thoughts. She looks up at the ceiling moving behind the desk picking up her Bible. She scans around the spacious windowless office. The woman’s eyes beam one would think there were still people gathered about the office. Her cot sits in pressed into a corner unused today so much had happened that she hadn’t planned. She needed a moment alone with God to cry to him for his mercy and guidance. Tonight would test her pushing her faith to its limits but if she was successful. The Sin Preacher would rewrite the Book of Revelations. Changing forever they way Christians and the world saw the Rapture. From outside barley audible in the distance the roar of Brother Gustavo’s monstrous ice cream truck. “Good.” She remarks out loud to the empty office as her time draws nearer. Miriam runs her hand over the ancient intercom equipment. She traces the cracked black cord snaking from the mic as it trails over the edge of her desk. The old cord drifts skyward like a black spider web disappearing into the rafters. Soon Miriam would see if her words and faith were powerful enough to keep the unclean wolves at bay.

   “Ok so we are all agreed?” Private Carson speaks under his breath in the cramped room. Private Lockett has taken up post her back to the flimsy door. This way if anyone were to attempt to gain access to the windowless office they would rouse her. “We leave as soon as we get our bearings tomorrow.” He asks for answers from those around him. “Mr. James what do you think?” Carson looks to their undisputed leader. “Umm … “The husky man stammers. “Mr. James please tell me you’re not buying this chick’s bullshit?” Sara mutters from across the room. She turns to eye the flimsy door she’s propped on. There is a visible gap between the door and the joist where she can see a thin sliver of the outer hallway. “No offense big man but you looked like you were ready to ask for her autograph.” Ben swallows a lump in his throat scanning the room his eyes landing sheepishly on his wife. Anne James folds her arms across her chest. She strikes that prototypical pose a woman does where addressing the idea of her man’s affections for another woman. Every married man knows “the pose.” It means you have about ten seconds to explain yourself or catch all sorts of matrimonial hell. “I … I ….” he blurts fumbling over his tongue. “So far” Ben thinks “not so good.” “I just think we should hear her out. I mean imagine if we have found a secured place to hunker down and ride this thing out.” Anne is less worried about her husband’s amorous intentions than she is about his gullibility. “But at what price Benjamin James?” Anne crawls from the tangle of her children over to her husband’s side. “You would have her subjugate you for a ’safe’ place to lay your head?” Anne stands to her full height but even sitting in a folding chair her man is taller than she is. Ben takes her hands gently in his work calloused paws. “No honey I wouldn’t but for you and the kids I would.” Suddenly all of the air is sucked from the room. Ben’s head hangs low Anne takes her husband’s head in her hand. “Honey you have done fine … done fine by all of us.” She nods around gaining the approval of those whom her husband had collected on his post-apocalyptic journey. “Ben … “Bianca Fullerton places her hand on his wide back. She rubs in a circular motion cradling her infant in her other arm. “Carl told me when he got home that morning after he got bit that we should have stayed with you guys.” Her face contorts emotions long pinned up along with tears burst out. “I know you and Chip …..” He can hear the phlegm clogging her throat. “I … I know you and Chip killed him that night. I also know you had to do what you did to protect us.” Anne squeezes down onto her husband’s broad pier of a lap. She was mad alright mad at this “preacher” who made her husband doubt himself. This woman comes bearing her “Surviving the Apocalypse Made Easy With Jesus Handbook” and peddling easy answers. Ben can’t look Bianca in the face as she speaks. He still feels the guilt of killing Carl eating at him. “Ben …” He drags his eyes about halfway up towards Bianca. He stares instead at baby Cammy nestled in her arms. He longed to exist as the baby did a life of blissful ignorance and when the end came. The baby would only have to endure a few seconds of brief of agony then it would be all over. “Ben if you hadn’t made that shelter we would have been dead the first day.” Bianca regains her composure to a small degree. “Jamal would have made it home only to be ambushed by zombies and these soldiers. “ She nods at the Privates situated around the room. “Well they would have never made it off that bridge.” Carson hunches his muscular shoulders. “She’s kinda right big guy.” Cody Carson gives Ben a hearty pair of thumbs ups. “It’s like six degrees of Benjamin James.” He chuckles. Ben pounds a fist into one of his beefy legs. “It’s been two days people and I feel like giving up. Just let someone else make the life or death decisions for a change.” Anne grabs his chin yanking it towards her. “These are your kids, your friends and I am your wife.” She whispers harshly. “We are your responsibility damn it and you’d better get that straight. I don’t give a shit who’s leading who you are the head of this little group here.” Ben knows his wife doesn’t curse often but when she does she means it. “Look Mr. James … “Sara says rising to her feet. She throws Carson a raised eyebrow and the corn fed farm boy in camouflage quickly takes up her position at the door. “Dude look say what you will.” She moves in close to his ear Bianca Fullerton takes the hint and retreats to a ratty orange couch. Dakota immediately lays her head on her mother’s lap. “I get it this is stressful sir but you can’t tell me you’re buying this righteous horse crap?” Ben tries to look away from the ebony skinned solider. “That whole ‘I want you two in my inner circle’ bit is clearly meant to inflate our egos. Rule number one when you want to conquer a people. You take out their command and control.” Sara Lockett takes her voice back down an octave in case anyone is listening from the other side. “That’s us Mr. James me and you. If she gets us under her thumb she believes everyone else will follow.” She continues to tick off points. Anne jumps in talking through clenched teeth. “Follow my ass” She spits. “Then there’s the little thing of the people locked up on the other side of the church. Don’t for second think they are free to come and go as they please. There’s only on way in or out of that section of the church.” Lockett’s words push Ben’s mind back to their earlier tour. She’s right the people across the way their eyes told him the truth. They all looked drained like whatever they were fleeing from outside is the only reason they choose to stay here. “Let‘s not forget the strange faceless guy in the carport.” Lockett reminds those who have yet to meet Brother Gustavo of the creepy voice from the garage.

    “Oh … oh!” Medina yelps from the corner covering her mouth instinctively. “Hey …. We met the presumed owner of said voice.” She rummages through one of the bags she’s leaning on. “He beat the ever living shit out of White Magic.” “What?” Sara and Ben call out in unison. “Yeah he did really bad honey. He accused Magic of blaspheming.” Anne gazes down at her dumbfounded husband. “Magic stumbled down into his cellar. His face was a mess and he told us this guy in a ‘souped up ice cream truck’ was waiting on us.” Anne James holds Ben’s gaze a burst of static startles everyone causing baby Cammy to cry out. “Sorry …” Medina blushes scratching the fuzzy gauze wrapped around her head wound. In her hand she covers the radio Anne’s father had given Ben on the porch as he fought off death. Her fingers twist the radio’s tiny black knobs as she holds a torn sheet of paper up. “Hey … hey White Magic you out there?” She calls hunching over the radio attempting to silence the device. Medina stands dialing down the volume on the radio. She comes to the center of the room for everyone to hear. “Des … I … am.” Magic’s voice burst from the radio in all of its smashed nose glory. “Are you safe Magic? We are at The First New Faith Church with a lady named The Sin Preacher.” Medina holds the chipped black radio tightly. The sound that escapes the radio is harsh braying laughter. “Yeah I’m safe y’all the Sun is down and I’m locked up tight.” A collective sigh goes up from most of those present. “I know her …. Everybody here does. She’s one o’dem Bible nuts …. Only talks about the bad parts though.” Suddenly almost on cue a burst of feedback squeals from a mounted brown speaker over head. All eyes scan the ceiling in the corner they find the old battered brown dust covered speaker tucked in the corner like a barn owl. There’s a crackle “Yeah …. Though I… walk …. Walk … I walk through the … the … valley of …. The shadow of death,” The Sin Preacher’s voice spills out the tinny sounding speaker. Her breathing comes in panting gasps. She must be right upon the microphone of the out dated sound system. There is apprehension in her normally fluid voice. More feedback as the woman stammers into the microphone. “I …. I … I will fear ….no evil!” She yells the last two words. “For thou …. Thou art with me; thy rod and thy …. Staff they comfort me.” Her breathing slows down becoming less overbearing. Private Lockett cuts her eyes at the speaker. “I’m here to tell you if she’s going to be doing that.” She exhales dramatically. “It’s going to be a long night people.”

 

 

 

   So our favorite family of the post apocalypse has been reunited. The Sin Preacher has managed to bring all of the member of Benjamin James' group together in one place. The problem may or may not be the place in which this coming together has happened The First New Faith Baptist Church. They all find themselves making plans to severe their uneasy alliance with The Sin Preacher.

 

 

 

Come back the week of June 23rd for Chapter 35!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chapter 33: Inside the Sin Preacher's House

Chapter 33: Inside the Sin Preacher’s House

    

       Big Ben James assists his son Chip as he maneuvers his wheelchair. Belinda sits in Chip’s lap as they descend a small set of stairs coming into the back of the gleaming white church. Ben is happy they are safe for the moment but he has a larger concern. He and his recently rescued children are now separated from his wife and younger son. Well that's just one of his concerns the other is the disembodied voice belonging to the unseen mystery man at the rear of the barn/carport. He would definitely have words with Miranda the Sin Preacher as to this man's true identity. Benjamin has developed one rule of thumb since becoming a parent. "If my child doesn’t like somebody then I don't like them." He funnels through his mind as Chip's chair bangs down the last hollow wooden step. "Alright Mr. James and company let us help you get settled in so you all can catch your breath.” Miranda speaks while the group gathers in the tight dusty hallway. She hangs her hunting rifle on a brown wall mounted coat hook outside a flimsy plain chocolate brown colored door. On the door in those tacky gold and black peel off letters you buy from the hardware store to put on your mailbox it reads "Pastor's Office." "Mr. James if you don't mind I'd like to get everyone situated. Then I have some things I’d like to show you and Sara." Miranda asks politely. Ben and Sara eye each other with a measurable sense of unease initially. The Sin Preacher senses the apprehension floating about the two like dust in the air. Sara as usual speaks first "We aren't surrendering our weapons period." The soldier says bluntly. "Nor would I want you to Sara. I firmly believe in this time of Tribulation the Lord wants his soldiers well armed." Miranda responds in almost the same manner a politician would address an irksome reporter. "Follow me everyone." She continues leading the group down the musty smelling hallway. Sara intentionally falls to the rear of the line. Her trust issues have served her well thus far in life so why buck the trend now? The group is standing on the lower level of the church. They head through a small brown cork wood door coming into a wide area filled with tiny offices and classrooms on either side. At the far end is a common area decorated with mustard colored furniture older than mostly everyone in the group. Lining the walls are folding tables filled with various foods. Some of the foods are prepared others bags of snacks like a high school vending machine has been upended and poured across the tables.

     There are a few women and children along with one or two men they haven't met milling about. "This is where my inner circle of trustees and I live along with family and a few close friends." The Sin Preacher points out to the group. "Everyone ..... Everyone can I have your attention please?" She brings the people to order they all gather around the meek librarian looking woman. "This is Mr. Benjamin James ..." She directs the crowd's attention to Ben who smiles and waves as if he's a nervous game show contestant. "These are his kids and some members of his group. Some of whom are ....." Miranda turns confused her face puckering up as if a thought has caused he brain to seize. She waves the index finger on each hand at Privates Cody Carson and Sara Lockett. "Are still ..... Orrrrr… were military how's that work?" The question seems to genuinely puzzle Private Carson who looks to Lockett his de-facto commanding officer. "Still military Ma'am." Sara answers curtly. "Well hell then where's the rest of your people?" A large man in a red and black flannel shirt asks. His girth barely held at bay by a pair of bright yellow well worm tape measure patterned suspenders. The elastic clearly working overtime to restrain his belly from spilling over his belt. "The last time we saw them they were pretty well spread out." Lockett answers the man's question shifting her rifle in hand. "Spread out where?" The hefty man’s reply comes with a deep chewing tobacco tinged chuckle. "The ground." Sara tells the man with his inquiring line of questioning. Her face is stony devoid of emotion unlike the jubilant basement dwellers in the church. "The last time we saw any of our people other than Private Medina who is currently with the rest of our people. They were spread out in pieces mostly all over the ground. We were posted up at St. George's hospital the day after 'The Event." Sara decides to spare some details as there are a few children present. "The Sun went down and as I am sure many of you have seen or heard by now. Everyone who is bitten by an infected but survives until nightfall will die and reanimate as soon as the Sun sets." Somewhere a woman gasps aloud and judging by the looks on some of faces present not everyone knows this last nugget of information. "We imagine being at a major hospital the only one with power within a hundred miles. Now imagine almost everyone there with some type of bite or wound from an infected person. Now imagine what happened when the Sun went down." Lockett looks to Carson the bulky soldier is pale. She can tell he hasn't thought about the first night since it happened. "It was a massacre the infected pounced as soon as their eyes opened or they could drag themselves from their body bags. In less than ten minuets several hundred medical staff and soldiers we all dead, dying or busy being devoured." The room goes silent. "How'd you escape then?" The man in the flannel asks indignation dripping from his words. Private Sara Lockett has quickly grown tired of The New Faith Baptist Church and all of its occupants. "We were lucky is all I guess." Lockett tells the crowd dismissively. "We fought our way to an Armored Personnel Carrier. Then by the skin of out teeth we escaped using the hulking APC we plowed over everything in our way." The man’s braying donkey like laughter erupts as he slaps the arm of a younger man standing next to him. Miranda turns to Sara. "I'm sorry Private Lockett will you please forgive my dear brother Jeb? We don't believe in luck here at New Faith." Lockett raises her arms dropping her rifle to her side in frustration. "Well then I guess it's a good thing none of you were there." Sara is caught in one of those rare moments where a person wants to storm off dramatically but doesn't know the environment they are in. Her dramatic exit would loose a lot of muster if she inadvertently ended up in a bathroom or some place equally stupid.

　

      The Sin Preacher raises her hands to calm her exasperated congregation. "Look everyone these are my personal guest. So let us do away with the inquisition and remember there but for the grace of God go I." Heads being to nod in acceptance around the room as the preacher continues. "We have all for the most part been blessed to have been ....... somewhat removed from the ills that have plagued others during the rapture." Sara crinkles her nose up at the word "rapture." She makes inadvertent eye contact with Ben. She bugs her eyes wide in mockery as if to say "I told you so." Private Lockett readily admits she doesn’t know much about the Bible but this does not fit what she does know. "They actually think this is the rapture?" The question works its way from one side of her mind to the other as she stands silently. "Mr. James .... Private Lockett we can continue the tour while the others change clothes and eat if that's ok?" Miranda’s suggestion to split the group up is met with immediate rejection. "I'm not leaving my kids ..." Ben says defiantly. "We'll be ok dad I can handle it." Chip speaks up from his chair. "I will be right her Mr. James." Jamal blurts clapping Chip on the back. "I will not let them leave my sight." He reiterates stepping forward. "And I won't let him leave my sight." Carson chimes in playfully bumping Jamal. It is only in these closed confines that Ben realizes how big Cody is. Ben looks from Cody to Jamal and he thinks he can sense a bond with the young men. It looks like the James family has just grown by four. "Alright Sara if you don't mind?" Ben breathes deeply forcing out a smile trying to disguise the apprehension he feels. Private Lockett marches forward like stubborn child. The Sin Preacher leads the pair from her lair up a small boxed in flight of stairs that banks to the right. They come to a dimly lit landing two oil burning lanterns the kind you find in almost any camp site flicker. Behind them there are several stairs that lead up the locked doors of the church’s small sanctuary. It doesn’t appear as though the sanctuary is being used much these days. "Good day gentlemen." She announces to the two men flanking either side of the heavily barricaded church doorway. "Pastor" Both men acknowledge in unison like frightened school children. "I have some guest to introduce to you." She tells the two shadows. Both men step up into the cone of soft dancing light. "This is Mr. Benjamin James and Private Sara Lockett of the United States Army." Miranda gesture motions in the general direction of the two men currently pulling guard duty at the main doors to the church. "This is Deacon …" She tells Ben and Sara. "And in a bit of irony not lost on me He is also a Deacon in the church." Her attempt at humor was dry to say the least. "To his left ..." Miranda says pointing to a large well built older looking gentleman missing two fingers on his left hand. "We call him Colonel as he is retired military." Miranda grins broadly at Sara showing off her sparking white teeth. It's like she is saying "see I have soldiers too."

　

     There are handshakes all around the Sin preacher continues on. "I picked them up as they were being relentlessly pursued by the unclean.” Sara frowns up and now out of sight of Miranda congregation she wants to have a question answered. "'Unclean?” Lockett speaks up. "Why do you call them that?" Sara scans the men present but never let The Sin Preacher's face out of her gaze. "What do you mean when you say unclean?” The Preacher says her words becoming icy with frustration. "Because that's what they are filthy rotting sacks of lost humanity. The unclean vessels left behind after God has unleashed his Rapture calling up the souls that once dwelt with in them.” She squints attempting to read the girl's brown eyes in the dim light. "This is clearly the beginning of the end times my young friend you'd better come to terms with this fact.” The men wisely hold their tongues regardless of what they are truly thinking. "That's almost comical ..." Lockett says. She had been waiting to tangle with the preacher. Sara Lockett didn't believe in religion much but she believed in man even less. She viewed this 'Sin Preacher' in much the same light as the charlatans on television. They twisted the word of God, manipulated men and women all for their own personal gain. Sometimes when she thought no one was looking Lockett would read the Bible to herself just to see what the fuss was about. She was a free independent thinker the idea that she needed someone to talk to God on her behalf troubled her. "Do tell Private Lockett …” The man with the missing fingers takes an aggressive step towards Sara Lockett. "Stand down this instant!" Miranda admonishes the man showing her temper for all but the briefest second. He slinks back like a beaten circus animal. “What then Sara would you have us call these decrepit wanders?” She chuckles the way a parent laughs at a child trying to walk in their shoes. “What are they Private Lockett … zombies… the undead? You think what we believe is comical? Ha!” The Sin Preacher scoffs. “If you don’t believe in God Private Lockett then why must you force that upon others who do?” Lockett stands there the lights dancing off her brown skin. She and the Sin Preacher are now entwined in a genuine good ole fashioned stare down. “Suddenly you have nothing to say?” The Sin Preacher blinks first. “Typical … well Sara nothing personal but you may find people whose beliefs are based in the word of the most high and mighty in a house of worship oddly enough.” She crosses her arms glancing down a set of stairs opposite the one they came up. “Colonel …” Miranda appears to have moved on after having taken Private Lockett’s cynicism to task. “Tomorrow morning I want everyone ready. We will be assigning tasks and chores in my office. There will be no exceptions if we are to make this work.” The man may be on the business side of forty five but his physic is impressive. “Yes Ma’am …” He answers with a deep gravely voice. “Is there anything to report on watch thus far today Brothers?” Miranda cocks her head towards the door. “Nothing serious Ma’am just saw a few of the unclean ones passing through the area around the church.” Colonel relays the gist of what they have observed on this bright sunny day. “I want you to go out after Brother Gustavo returns and give them release understand?” Both men shake their heads to show their compliance. “Brother Deacon I am going down to show my guest the other survivors would you please accompany us?” She asks the man in a manner that suggests he can in no way refuse her off. “Yes Ma’am … “He says before bounding down the staircase that was tight as the one they’d come up banking down to the right. Miranda follows Brother Deacon the Deacon. Ben stops letting Sara pass him tugging her arm. He blows an angry sigh in her direction through clenched teeth like an angry teapot. Brother Deacon opens a flimsy brown door at the base of the stairs. Muted light drifts from the room. They enter the room unlike the one on the opposite side of the church. Compared to where the Sin Preacher and her inner circle reside a pall hangs over this space. There were people packed in every nook of the space. Nobody smiled there was just a constant murmur of human speech. All that ended the second the Sin Preacher enters the room. Silence fills the packed space the smell of so many unwashed frightened bodies only adds to the worry Ben feels taking roost in his gut.

 

 

 

 

   Well it appears there is both good and bad to be had in The New Faith Baptist Church. The Sin Preacher has welcomed the James Survivor group into the church. After a brief tour and some clear tension between Private Sara Lockett and The Sin Preacher. Even as Sara urges Ben to bid farewell to the church and its inhabitants things seem to take an odd turn. Ben has some questions of his own and now that he's enter a room opposite the preacher's inner sanctum he has even more concern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Come Back for Chapter 34 of The Living Dark the week of June 7th. The survivors will be here will you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chapter 32: Unredeemable Qualities

Chapter 32: Unredeemable Qualities

    Magic limps his way down into the basement stairs creaking under foot. He wants nothing more than to lock himself away again. He mulls the nagging question of how he plans to raise the false wall section downstairs. The pain in his face is his singular thought and right now it‘s all consuming. Even though his chest has been throbbing since the crazy man in the ice cream truck had kicked him in the gut. By the time he hits the mid point on the stairs he realizes he won't have to worry about opening the secret door. A shaft of light illuminates part of the packed dirt floor in the basement. Magic can barely make out the sounds of children laughing somewhere far away. He shuffles across the basement right into the tunnel clearly annoyed they had left the door open wide. "Behold" he thinks to himself upon seeing the rusty inner door partially ajar as well. He's not trying to disguise the noise he makes or sneak upon the women. He simply can't move any faster in his current state. He finally makes it to the door and pushes it inward with the last of his strength. The startled women and children are shocked to a one they freeze in place where they stand. All except Private Medina she is kneeling besides his hydroponics plant station. The young Hispanic soldier grabs her black rifle rising it up as if she means to shoot. "I .... I …" for a brief moment Magic fears the lunatic has broken his jaw. Holding one hand up in a submissive gesture Magic takes his time. "I ... not zombie." He manages to get out before before collapsing. The women rush to his aid Bianca Fullerton getting to him first. "My God what happened to you?" She shouts cradling his head on her lap. Medina is knocked aside as Anne James wobbles over on her tender foot towards Magic. "Where is everyone else? .. Where are my children? ... My husband.” She screams falling to her knees placing a hand on the boy's frail chest. He winces from her touch to the same spot he'd been kicked in. "Easy Anne …" Bianca cautions her. Just then baby Cammy starts fussing in her makeshift crib. "I got her Mrs. Fullerton." Brandon James calls from behind his mother. Anne's gaze washes over Magic coming back to his partially opened eyes. He tries to manage a smile but feels a molar pop loose landing on his tongue. Leaning to his side Magic spits the tooth and a wad of blood on to the floor. "Family ....okay." He forces out of his damaged mouth.

     They slowly sit Magic up on his backside. He swallows hard hoping to tell their tale in one breath. "Your kids we got dem." He grits his teeth at the pain. "We ... got .... separated ... Sara blew up.… Truck to…distract zombies." Magic stifles a cough dropping back to the floor in pain. "Get him up …" Medina orders moving over to the first aid pack Carson had left. She riffles through the sack coming up with the pain pills that Mrs. James had given the soldiers for her the previous day. Looking around she sees a bottle of water sitting near the children. Medina carefully steps by the boy rolling about the floor corralled by Anne and Bianca. "Here … here!" she calls out to the women offering up the pills and water. They gingerly place the pills up to Magic's swollen lips. Bianca tries her hand at assisting Magic with drinking the water from the bottle. Magic chokes down the pills spraying water back over Bianca and Anne. "Soo … sorry." He offers up an apology. "Th … thanks..." Magic continues to attempt to swallow the pills down. After much effort he succeeds in doing so. Magic places his busted right hand on Anne James hand. "A guy .... A… big… nuuu ... nut job in a suped… up ice cream truck ....pick ... me up." He fumbles looking directly at Anne James. "Says ... hisss ... hisss." Magic proceeds to vomit the meager contents of his stomach onto the floor. "Eww …" Dakota Fullerton shouts from across the room. He lays there surrounded by greenish puke momentarily looking truly content. "The … guy … says his Preacher found ... your people …rescued them. He says ... they ... are at ... a church cross da…… county." Anne is bolted to the floor tears welling up in her eyes. Bianca reaches over placing her hand in Anne's. The two women embrace in a motherly sisterhood a bond that comes from knowing all is well with their children. Medina attempts to help Magic off the floor but he brushes her hands away. "I just want to relax." He breathes in swallowing hard. Magic sits cross legged on the floor methodically breathing in and out. His busted nose whistles with each breath. He places his bruised head in his hands his composure slowly finding its way back. "The asshole ... that did this to me is waiting for you all. Got his … rrrrr .. Rig parked out …front." He speaks much slower deliberately focusing on not causing himself more undue pain. "Why is he waiting on us?" Anne says the confusion evident on her face. Magic looks up "He... wants to ... take you guys to the …” Magic closes his eyes squeezing them shut a single tear spills down his cheek. "Ahh man .... That hurts." The young man looks defeated as he wipes blood from his nose absently. "He wants to take ... you toooo .... the church where ... your family is." Anne gets it now her eyes light up. Medina steps in offering to play devils advocate. "Mrs. James ..." The soldier sporting the head bandage begins. "How do we know this guy is telling the truth?" She holds up a hand stifling Anne’s protest. "Also what the hell happened to you and are the others in the same shape as you? You have to come with us Magic you can't stay here in your condition." Bianca nods her head. "Agreed Anne I know how you must feel but we have to think this through. I mean a mysterious church, suped up zombie proof ice cream truck driven by a mad man." Magic snaps his fingers from the floor waving his hands. Medina clears her throat. “I’m just saying it all sounds far fetched and no offense I find this all hard to believe.”

   Together they all lift White Magic to his feet He throws an arm around Medina and Bianca. They guide him back to his CB radio cluttered desk. "Brandon." Anne calls out painfully coming up behind the trio. "Go clear Mr. Magic’s seat for him please." Anne James younger son darts down the length of the room. "Yes Mom." Brandon pushes the rickety chair up bracing it from behind. They sit White Magic down taking great care not to jostle the boy. Once he is safely seated White Magic spins around in his chair to open the top desk drawer. He pulls out a yellow tablet of paper and begins to write. Minutes later he hands the tablet of paper up to Medina. Her first thought is how exquisite Magic's handwriting is. She starts to read out loud. "The ice cream man did this to me. He was cool one minute the he started whopping my ass the next. He said I ‘blasphemed.’" Medina looks up in disbelief the other women are equally appalled. Medina reads on. "He described your husband and kids down to their clothes. He knew what your daughter was wearing even the color." Magic lays his head down on the desk feeling the cool wood soothe his aches. She reads on “Let me get this straight Medina. The world was cast into almost total darkness. We are huddled in a bootlegger‘s cellar as zombies some of who can talk roam about outside and yet you don‘t believe my story.” Medina chews her bottom lip cocking an eyebrow upward as common sense filters slowly into her mind. “Okkkkkay …” She says defensively. “When we you say it like this anything sounds logical now moving on.” Carlita finishes reading Magic‘s hastily written summary. "I can't go because I am ‘unclean’ he told me." Magic his head still on the desk dismissively holds up his arm the bite mark now in full view. "That's not acceptable ..." Bianca blurts. "You're one of us now." She looks to the other women pleading. "He's one of we can't leave him here. He took us in when we needed help." Magic lifts his head with much effort as Medina slaps the tablet of paper down on the desk besides Magic. He stares at the women coming to his defense clearly perplexed. He views them as no more than bumbling unwanted vacationing in-laws. He couldn’t wait for them to move onto greener pastures. They on the other hand had absorbed him into their clique making him one of their own. Medina pulls a lever on her assault rifle dropping the magazine into her hand. With a quick flip of her wrist he jams it roughly back into the receptacle on the weapon then pulling back its slide. “I say we go visit this mystery ice cream man Mrs. James.” Says the Private through teeth gritted not in pain but in anger. “Yes Ma’am I say we go see him this instant.” Anne James agrees Medina slipping her arm under Anne’s shoulder for support.

     The two women move slowly for the door until Medina stops. She takes the pistol on her side from its camouflaged holster. Medina extends the weapon in Bianca Fullerton’s direction. The woman takes the pistol she eyes it with a great deal of unease. Carlita Medina points a finger down at the pistol which looks oversized in Bianca’s petite hands. “Flip this lever down …” Medina shows the housewife how to use the safety. “Hold the pistol with two hands Mrs. Fullerton. Aim for the center mass or chest if your target is human. You have seventeen shots so count them off ok?” Bianca’s mouth hangs open “Ok ….. I guesssss.” Bianca looks to Anne for guidance. Private Medina taps Bianca Fullerton on the shoulder grabbing her attention back. “Mrs. Fullerton you and this pistol are all that stands between the children and this lunatic …. your children. I don’t need you to guess I need you to know if it comes down to it you have the life of everyone down here in your hands.” Bianca Fullerton glances quickly at the kids around the room. “Yes … Private Medina … I can and I will protect them.” White Magic has propped his head up on his arms absolutely amazed at the women’s sudden resolve. Medina and Anne make there way down the tunnel into the basement side by side. “Mrs. James you take the lead in the talking and I will keep my weapon at the ready.” The two women walk Medina helping Anne who is attempting to tear away from her. Private Medina was starting to feel sorry for the “ice cream man.” Anne James’ mood had darkened like a storm had rolled in across her face. Boldly they go up the stairs into the living room and out onto the front porch.

   Medina feels even dumber as she steps out into the sunlight behind Anne. One could have given White Magic the word skills of a literary master. He still would not be able to do justice to that which stands before them. “Good Morning ladies my name is Gustavo but everyone at the church calls me Brother Gustavo.” The man bows slightly leaning against his massive blood stained truck. Anne looks from side to side along with Medina searching for any signs of the undead. “Good day Sir my name is Anne James and this is Private Carlita Medina.” Anne says motioning to her dutiful helping hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you both. Now ladies if you don’t mind I still have much work to do today.” Brother Gustavo points a finger up the ladder leading into the rear of the truck. “Umm not so fast Brother Gustavo. We have some questions we need answered. Not that we aren’t appreciative but how do we know you aren’t lying to us.” Gustavo looks offended for the briefest of seconds. “The desire of a man is in his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. Proverbs chapter nineteen verse twenty two.” Gustavo speaks then stands stoically but Anne simply bats her eyes. She speaks almost as soon as Brother Gustavo has uttered his last syllable. “I said in my haste, all men are liars Psalms chapter one hundred sixteen verse eleven. Quoting the Bible neither explains who you are or your intentions Brother Gustavo.” Anne’s hands move up to her hips as she becomes more confrontational. The woman teeters on her injured foot momentarily ignoring the pain she feels. “All it does is show you know the Bible when Satan tempted Jesus the book of Matthew it showed he too knew the Bible.” Gustavo’s heart starts to flutter smiling broadly clapping his hand over his heart. “My sister you know the word of God too!” He shouts with glee. “Yes Mr. Gustavo so do my kids and many other people. It wasn’t written just for you in case you were wondering. Now why did you beat my friend so badly?” Gustavo moves towards the bottom step of the porch. Medina tenses up on her rifle at the sight of the gun in the stranger’s hand. “Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. This my sister as you know is …” Anne cuts the gangly man off mid sentence. “Psalms chapter seventy four verse eighteen. Now that still doesn’t explain why you had to hurt my friend. You can’t use the Bible to bully people Mr. Gustavo Jesus died for all of our sins. The most prevalent theme in the Bible is forgiveness.” With that Brother Gustavo begins to stammer tugging nervously at the tie around his neck. Medina smirks from besides Anne James this feisty side of her was new. “I am … No bully Mrs. James I practice the way the Old Testament tells us to.” Anne rolls her eyes at the man. “Why can’t our friend go with us Mr. Gustavo?” Medina asks placing a steadying hand on Anne. Gustavo can’t believe the mouthy pair of women. Here he was trying to do them a favor. He could wait to get back to First New Faith where the Sin Preacher ran a much tighter ship. “Miss I presume due to your age but your friend can’t come with us due to the fact that he’s been bitten.” Gustavo hunches his bony shoulders. “We all know what happens next I am afraid.” Medina doesn’t know if it is wise to let on what they know of Magic’s condition. She’s concerned about what will happen to their host if others find out he maybe be some kind of anomaly. Anne James however doesn’t have the same common sense caution. “He was bitten the day after ‘The Event’ thingy Mr. Gustavo. His wound has been healing itself as long as he is inside by nightfall and under ultraviolet lights.” Medina taps the woman’s elbow to get her attention. “Really? …..” Brother Gustavo breaks off mid sentence.

   He spots it in the distance several miles across the dried barren field. Along the back route he had taken to get to the Olmsted Farm. A lone figure emerges from the tree line falling face first in the dirt. The figure awkwardly attempts to right itself before finally rising to its feet. “An Unclean” He says absently as if the women aren’t there. “Ladies the time for talk has drawn to an end.” He says pointing in the general direction of the lone zombie. Medina trots over to the edge of the porch looking over the rail. Just then a second and third zombie makes their way from the thicket of tree. “Shit we got Rotters Mrs. James.” Anne’s face goes white with fear. “Look ladies …” Gustavo pleads. “I swear to you I know where your family is and I will take you right to them but we must hurry.” Private Medina blows air through her clenched jaw. “I’m afraid he’s right Mrs. James. If we don’t leave now and that’s a zombies becomes a Trotter tonight we could have our position compromised.” Anne finds her nerves. “Worse yet we could leave White Magic here alone having inadvertently given up his hiding spot.” Anne cautiously makes her way to the top step. “We’ll go with you Mister ….” Anne rethinks her options seeking to curry favor. At this point it is clearly evident that they will be visiting The First New Faith Baptist Church by way of a monstrous ice cream truck. “Brother Gustavo we need to know if we choose to leave your church we can and you need to draw those things away from here when we go.” Brother Gustavo is lost in thought having reset his brain to the task of dealing with ‘the unclean’ as he calls them. “Yes Ma’am you have my words on both counts.” He responds flatly without taking his eyes from the dead spilling across the field. “Private Medina will you hurry and gather the rest of our people and our things.” Anne says as she is assisted down the stairs by Gustavo with all the chivalry of a date to the senior prom. Medina vaults back into the house. She bull rushes back down the stairs ignoring the dizziness that has clouded her mind. An unwanted by product of the concussion she had suffered. She burst into the room with the remnants of the van’s occupants. “Let’s go guys we are leaving.” She yells sending everyone with the exception of White Magic scrambling about. “Mrs. Fullerton there are zombies in the area and Mrs. James is on the truck already.” Medina is picking up sacks and duffle bags as she goes. “Please lead the children out behind me we are in a hurry. She takes the time to go back to the injured young man resting his dreadlock covered head on the desk in the midst of all the commotion. “Magic look …” She says barley able to make eye contact with the houses sole living owner. “We are leaving you the pain pills and I swear to you we will be back for you.” “You have our word.” Bianca shouts from the front of the cellar. “I will lock you up tight on the way out.” Magic interrupts tearing off a sheet he has scribbled numbers on. Medina is confused by the strangely written number sequences. “I don’t get it.” She says in a fog partly due to her concussed brain. Magic pats the CB units on his desk then motions a finger to the bottom of a pack slung over Medina’s shoulder. “Oh … Oh these are the radio frequencies you’re broadcasting on. Magic beams back a smile from his pulverized face. He also holds up a thumb signaling that she is correct. “Also you hydroponics systems is awesome I went and grabbed some fruits and veggies from upstairs. I rigged them up so in several days you should start seeing edible produce growing to sustain your non existent food stock. I had to toss out your weed though.” The mask that is White Magic’s face droops downward. His thumb soon follows as he turns it down signaling his disapproval. Medina smiles as he lowers his head waving a hand over his head. “Go!” Medina urges Bianca and the kids forward. They exit the door into the tunnel Carlita uses her weight to push the door close satisfied once she hears the metal latch. They head out into the basement proper Medina repeats the process slamming the fake section of wall down and sealing White Magic back in his hiding spot. Medina resembles a weighed down pack mule but she still takes the lead. She guides Bianca and the kids back into the living room where she hears the first gun shot. “Fuck!” She mutters to no on in particular.

   Upon exiting the house the ice cream man is no where to be found. “Let’s go babies!” Anne James screams from her perch leaning out the rear of the truck waving. “Mrs. Fullerton you need to get the kids up the ladder now and hurry.” Private Medina orders dropping down of the front porch. She dumps every pack at the base of the metal ladder and starts to search the immediate area. The dead are now coming from the end of the driveway as well as across the field. She can see Brother Gustavo has ridden out to meet the incoming dead head on. Medina watches the man he has only a pistol in one hand and a big rock in the other. Behind her she hears the first child move up the ladder. Checking their rear to assure the dead aren’t boxing them in and encircling idling the truck. Medina sights down her rifle at the dead coming up the driveway they will cut off their driver as he foolishly bashes in the Rotter’s head with a rock. The first shot drops a corpse spraying brain matter up and out the back of its skull. Brother Gustavo turns at the sound of the gunshot. Medina furiously waves the man back to the truck. From overhead Bianca Fullerton calls out. “We’re in Medina pass me up the bags.” Medina fires a three round burst mowing down the advancing dead. Brother Gustavo’s lanky legs carry him back in great strides kicking up dust as he comes. Medina lets her rifle falls to her side and begins to toss bags up and into Anna and Bianca’s waiting arms. Three gunshots echo over her shoulder as Gustavo shots down a walking corpse with less than stellar accuracy. Medina turns throwing the last few bags into the ice cream truck. “Get in.” Cries Brother Gustavo tucking the gun in his waistband he lifts the rock with both hands over his head. He brings it down comically atop two zombie’s heads in rapid succession but there is nothing comical about his results. The dead fall at his feet their heads now a dark cranberry color pulp. Medina moves up the ladder her concussion catches up with her as she wobbles about the mid way point. She pitches to the side only to feel hands lock on to her. Anne and Bianca catch Private Medina before she can fall. Brandon heroically has his mother by the waist ensuring isn’t pulled from the truck. They drag Medina into the truck as Brother Gustavo comes sprinting the dead hot on his heels. He takes to long strides before hitting the ladder full speed plowing into the women clustered in the doorway. Brother Gustavo whirls around grabbing the ladder tugging it upwards but not before a zombie latches its cold dead grip onto the steel. Gustavo looks as the bloodied rock in his hand smiles and lobs it into the dead postman’s forehead. The crack of bone is loud the corpse pitches backwards into the dirt. He snatches the ladder up and into the truck letting it clatter to the floor. The noise instantly starts the infant on board to start wailing. The rear door is slammed as the living dead begin battering the truck again.

  Gustavo weaves his way past his passengers. “Can we please have some ice cream sir?” Brandon James grins at the though of being in an ice cream truck. “No!” Brother Gustavo points a bony finger at the children. “Don’t touch those freezers matter of fact don’t touch anything.” The man demands sitting down roughly his familiar driver’s seat. “Mrs. James …” He shouts over the moans of the dead as they beat the sides of the truck snarling in the mesh covered windows. “You wanted me to lead them away from you snake tongued friend?” Gustavo runs his own tongue across his teeth. He flips the switch “pop goes the weasel” rings out from the speakers atop the truck. “Next stop First New Faith Baptist Church.” He squeals putting the truck in gear he slowly rolls away from the house crushing the dead under the thick black off-road tires. He swings wide of the house past the stagnant “James and Sons Construction” van. Driving across the field behind the house he heads towards the way he’d come. Directly into the thick of the dead pouring from the tree line leading the trotter’s right back the way they’d come. The heavy black tires chew up the dead almost as easily as they do the loosely packed soil. They make small talk as Gustavo drives further away from the corpses struggling to keep up. They pass by the scattered cluster of wandering zombies he’d left earlier. Brother Gustavo takes a mental note. “I still have work to do” He cautions himself. Some time later he is backing the truck into his shed. He summons Brother Silas over to the front of the shed. “Take these folks straight down to the Sin Preacher’s office. So she can reunite them with their family and friends.” The obese man with the round belly nods his head. He appears to make an effort to stay well away from Brother Gustavo. Which all of the adults present take notice of. Brother Gustavo gives the man further instructions. “Tell her I was side tracked but I will complete the Lord’s work as she ordained before the sunsets. Tell her I will brief her fully upon my return Brother Proctor.” “Yeah … Yeah … yeah.” Silas offers up hoping to end the conversation as soon as possible. With that they part ways the women and children head into the church and Brother Gustavo takes back to his vessel of the apocalypse. Anne watches the man disappear back into the shed with the truck. She is immediately struck by how mislead Brother Gustavo is and how little of the Bible he must truly understand. The question she has floating around in her head is “who is his puppet master … who pulls his strings?”

 

 

 

 

 Well looks like the James family is on it's way to a family reunion. Seems the ice cream man is going out of his way to help reunite of family of survivors. It also looks like Anne James doesn't fear the odd Bible quoting loner.

 

 

 

 

 

Come back and see us the week of May 19th for Chapter 33.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Living Dark

 

 

 

Chapter 31: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream

Chapter 31: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream

    Gustavo draws in deep refreshing breaths of air. He tugs one of the wrought iron spears free of the sheath mounted next to the covered window. Brother Gustavo hooks one of his fingers into the loop bent into the end of the implement. He takes a knee staring out the mesh covered window. The zombie horde is vast its numbers are far greater than he’d imagined. This was not what he envisioned when he first agreed to do The Sin Preacher’s bidding. Gustavo felt confident in the woman’s presence. She was bold in her servitude of the Lord and it was contagious. Those infected with false life shuffle closer. He was close enough to hear the moans rising up from their foul mouths. The tall rail thin man was feeling an unwanted sensation creep up from his stomach. “Fear has found me.” Gustavo thinks from his kneeling position. He has no real way of knowing if the ice cream truck will hold up to the onslaught he’d driven into the midst of. Like one of those idiotic storm chasers on the television Gustavo had the feeling his quarry could turn on him. Unlike a tornado death at the hands of the undead would not be quick. His death would be agonizing and prolonged. “Forgive me Father I have faltered.” Gustavo mumbles under his breath. The first growling corpse begins to jam its gnarled fingers through the mesh covering the window. “I must find my strength from your words.” Gustavo turns his head up to the Heavens closing his eyes. The lone man in the grotesquely modified ice cream truck now encircled by zombies recites a passage from the Bible to comfort himself. The dead no longer moan sheepishly having caught the sight of flesh. The zombies jostle about both sides of the truck snarling. Their behavior oddly enough fell in line with what Gustavo was used to from the counties unruly young folks. “Ezekiel chapter 34 verse 8.” His voice cracks. “As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became meat to every beast of the field,” He shakes as the words renew his faith his conviction. “Because there was no shepherds, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock.” Gustavo’s glossy wet almost sickly eyes spring open. He is staring at the roof of the truck forcing his breathes through gritted teeth. He brings his head down slowly looking over the crowd outside the window. There were bumps and bangs from every side of the truck’s metal body. Neither the sounds of the undead nor the mechanical wail of “pop goes the weasel” could break his focus now.

    He came to see the face closest to his a man dressed in boxers wearing an open gore covered bath rode. The man’s face bore the unholy signs of being eaten. His nose had been torn literally off his face. “Thy will be done.” Gustavo calls out loud. The lanky ice cream man crouches down even more until he and the zombie are at eye level. There was nothing else in the world except him and the walking dead man. Gustavo stares in the milky white eyes of the agitated zombie. He asks himself “what must it feel like to be raptured?” To have one’s soul fly freely among the clouds ascending to the throne of the Almighty God. The frantic zombie gnashes its teeth against the mesh. Gustavo watches intrigued as the dead man’s teeth begin to shatter and splinter on the metal. It didn’t matter he inches closer his long beak like nose almost touching the mesh. Satisfied Gustavo brings up his spear aiming it though one of the many diamond shape holes in the mesh. He lines it up to the corpse he’d just been locked in a gaze with. He diligently aims for the dead man’s eye socket. Gustavo drives the spear forward popping the fetid eyeball quickly he spins the rod with his finger. The zombie’s frontal lobe is scrambled instantly Gustavo yanks the spear back as the zombie drops from sight. Before the corpse could hit the ground the others surge forward to take its place. Eyes now locked on a new undead a grin crosses his face. The next soul has presented itself to him he begins the hypnotic stare down with a fat dead woman in a tacky blue jogging sit. Gustavo becomes lost in her jellied eyes like he was trying to climb from the back seat to the front of a driverless car. The woman sways from side to side gently her dead movements less feral than those around her. The dead woman’s attempts to get at Gustavo are clumsy like her kin. Her actions however appear calculated and measured to a certain degree. Gustavo drags his tongue fiendishly across his sterling white teeth. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see.” He speaks softly almost a whisper to a lover. “Matthew Chapter 13 verse 16.” His grip on the improvised thrusting spear relaxes. Gustavo had fervently absorbed the words of the Bible all his life. From childhood to adulthood he would become lost in the pages of God’s holy Bible. As he sat in school other children about him learning to plot their course in life. Gus as he was known then reflected on his most favored passages. He read and absorbed the word from cover to cover. His parents paid their odd child no mind they simply indulged him. When teachers told Gustavo’s parents their son had “difficulty comprehending.” They took it to mean the boy was “slow” but that eventually he would understand. Gustavo’s hands tensed as he disengaged his hypnotic attachment to the undead woman. He blinks as he swivels his head on his shoulders like a snake charmer laying eyes on the next zombie pressing against the cage.

   Gustavo looses himself in his work as the hours of the day melt away. He goes on methodically purging the soulless bodies marching about the fields. One by one as Brother Gustavo stares deeply in each zombies eyes in an effort to prove his theory. He wasn’t doing this out of malice he was doing the Lord’s bidding destroying the hollow undead husks. He had to relocate the monstrous ice cream truck over a dozen separate times. The bodies of the now truly dead littered the back roads of the small rural farming towns in thick festering piles. Brother Gustavo knows there are now exactly thirty two shuffling corpses eagerly bumbling after the bloodstained truck. He craves a smoke with every fiber of his being as he navigates the truck back in the direction of Clow Oaks. Gustavo reaches over to his truck’s dashboard flipping off the switch activating “Pop goes the Weasel.” The dead would follow him anywhere he was now a shepherd tending to a flock that would greedily adhere to any trail he blazed. As long as he uses his flesh for bait they were blind to the obstacles and subjugated to his will. He gave the truck gas causing the cluster of corpses to fall further behind cresting a ridge Gustavo could see the burning sub division. The raging fire had consumed more than half the homes that once dotted the landscape. There were almost no dead he could see from this distance. The fire still danced over some of the houses. Gustavo came across a small foot bridge next to a flowing stream. “This is the perfect place for a quick puff.” He muses shutting down the engine. Gustavo moves through the truck looking at the blood and pieces of flesh strewn about the floor. He knows the truck would have to be cleaned before he turned in for the night. He removes a revolver from its hook on the wall squeezing it tightly in one hand for comfort. Unlocking the rear doors Gustavo check’s his rear flanks for the unclean. There are none so he plops down on the resting his feet on the bumper sitting in the open doors. His gaze settles on the calm peaceful calendar like scene. The wooden bridge and clear flowing water put his mind at peace. Gustavo saw God’s hand in everything in life none more so than in breath taking beauty of nature. Pulling the pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket he shakes one loose. Balancing the white tube of hand rolled tobacco between his lips Gustavo flicks his lighter sparking up a flame. “Heaven my Lord yes … this is simply heavenly.” He says taking in his first drag of cancerous smoke. There he sits cigarette in his left hand gun tapping his knee in his right. His perpetually one step off mind allows him to enjoy this peaceful moment even as an extinction level pandemic rages on across the globe. The sound of water splashing snaps Gustavo back from his meditation. In the distance a water logged corpse has pulled itself up from under the bridge.

   The dead man staggers towards him as he continues to enjoy his smoke break. He levels the revolver at the hunched over figure lumbering in his general direction. Gustavo thumbs back the weapons hammer sighting the dead man allowing him to come closer. The corpse looks left then right scanning the area cautiously startling the lanky man. “The soulless don’t do that?” He asks himself. Instead of waiting for an answer Gustavo cocks the revolver hammer down and calls out. “My Brother are you dead or are you alive?” The man jumps somewhat then speeds up his approach. Gustavo can see why coming over the hill below are his followers. “Nah man I aint dead.” The shivering man with the matted dreadlocks shouts. “I just needs some help dog I gots at get back to my place is all.” Gustavo is taken aback by the man speaking through chattering teeth. He speaks like he’s in a movie “I been stuck in that cold ass water all day bro.” The man says coming closer Gustavo stands bent over slightly in the doorway. He detested profanity the way The Sin Preacher despised smoking. “Hey man my name is White Magic and I would show appreciate it if you let me in yo sweet ride and gave me a lift.” The man whom he could see standing below him was much more a boy. White Magic’s eyes nervously dart back in the direction of the approaching zombies. Gustavo’s gaze carries up from the man tap dancing like a child about to wet themselves to the marching dead. “Listen to me my friend and listen well.” Gustavo kneels down flicking his cigarette butt away. He is keenly aware that the work The Sin Preacher has set him to do is priority number one. She won’t like him having to comeback and drop off this survivor in the midst of his preordained task. “And the King will answer” Gustavo looks the soaked shivering man in his eyes as he speaks. “And say to them assuredly I say to you inasmuch as you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Matthew chapter twenty five verse forty.” The man flip s his hair back over his head his face showing fear and a hint of confusion. Gustavo knows the nature of man is to do anything to save himself. It is then the man clasps a hand onto the bumper in an effort to pull himself up to safety. There is a length of soggy white gauze hanging around his wrist. Gustavo grows concerned halfway up the man’s arm is a nasty wound. It’s shaped like a human mouth black flesh outlines where the teeth would’ve made contact. Stepping down Gustavo places his huge foot painfully on top of White Magic’s fingers. Magic cries out in pain as the undead are close enough to hear. Magic looks back in a panic “Come on man please.” He pleads. Gustavo doesn’t budge. He lays out the way things will be with White Magic. “Listen boy I have work to do ... do you understand? You will not interfere with my work nor will you deter me understand? You will hold your profane tongue on this vessel and in my presence.” A low howl erupts from behind them. “Yes …. Yes …please.” Magic pleads squirming under Gustavo’s now blood covered shoe. “I only help you as it is God will that I do for you not my own.” Gustavo lifts his foot grabbing the thin young man by his wet collar. White Magic is yanked into the truck as dead fingers catch the bottom of his shoe. He snatches his foot free of the feeble hands scampering further into the truck panting.

    Gustavo walks to White Magic standing over him pointing down a condemning finger inches from his nose. “I say to you heed my words. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo they ….” The ice cream man stabs a finger back at the living corpses clamoring at the open door. “ …. Lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; …..” Gustavo shouts drowning out the zombies. “Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.” The finger becomes a helping hand spread wide offered to White Magic. “Psalms Chapter fifty nine versus two and three my name is Brother Gustavo.” Magic takes the man’s hand and is lifted to his feet coming up eye level to the man’s breast bone. They stand before each other White Magic is laughing awkwardly. “Thanks a lot Lurch.” White Magic insults the man who‘d just saved his life. “I‘ve been in that river all day freezing man.” Gustavo sizes the young frumpy looking stoner up. “How‘d you get there?” He asks. Magic stands up off the side of the truck. “Some people came to my house yesterday. So I lets them in and it turns out they was missing like two o they kids. This morning we left some of them at my crib and went looking for them big man and we found them. There was a little girl and a muscular dude in a wheelchair.” Brother Gustavo’s ears perk up. “A kid in wheelchair and a little girl you say?” He pokes a finger in Magic chest. “Their father was he a husky large black gentleman and did they have some soldiers with them?” Magic frowns at his savior “yeah how’d you know?” Brother Gustavo grins. “My Pastor found them and took them to our church over in the next county.” White Magic rolls his eyes. “Well I‘m all warm and fuzzy to know they‘s safe and all specially after the blew up my ride back. The rest of their group‘s at my house waitin‘.” Gustavo pulls his golden cross from under his shirt gently he kisses it. ”Where abouts do you live my young brother?” Gustavo knows the Sin Preacher will be pleased if he completes his mission and reunites the family as well. “I stay a few miles up the way off of Bereman Road.” Magic hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “The Olmsted Farm?” Gustavo knows the area. “Yeah Lurch the Olmsteads are my granparents yo. They hiding out upstairs in my place.” Gustavo steps back clapping his hands together. “This is God’s will my fiend don’t you see? I can take you there and we can all make it back to the Church before dusk Amen!” He’d still be able to finish his work and save the day Gustavo bubbles with joy. “Yeah Yeah I get it bro …” He looks down to his left at the zombies. “You got yo’self a mean zombie killing ice cream truck for Jesus.” Magic’s attention is in the wrong place he doesn’t see the anger storm across Gustavo’s pockmarked face.

   The large man’s solid fist catches Magic squarely across the right cheek. The pain hits Magic as suddenly as he collides with the stainless steel floor. Magic’s world is hazy his vision cloudy like water in a dirty fish tank. Brother Gustavo stands over him dropping the heavy silver revolver absently to the floor. “Why do this man thus speak such blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God?” Gustavo drops down on White Magic straddling his chest. “Mark Chapter two verse seven.” Gustavo unleashes a second punishing blow to Magic’s unprotected face. The blow is followed by two more in rapid succession. Gustavo is seething with rage his paper hat wafts down from atop his meticulously combed hair. Gustavo wraps both of his cold clammy hands around Magic’s neck. He begins to slowly choke the life from the foul mouth boy. He draws his face down to Magic’s. “You ….. Will ….. Not …. Blaspheme.” He slams White Magic’s head against the floor before standing winded. Magic if left writhing in agony on the floor his face battered and bloodied. Gustavo is not finished he reaches for Magic tugging him by his shirt. Magic is dropped inches from the open doors coughing up blood. Gustavo places his foot on the boy’s chest pinning him to the floor. The dead go wild with anticipation. One corpse standing on its toes manages to grab a hold of a stray blond dreadlock. The zombie rips the hair free taking a small piece of scalp with it. Greedily the big undead soldier devours the piece of bleeding scalp flesh hair and all. “Do I make myself clear fool?” Gustavo asks impatiently flipping his thick greasy black hair up. He runs his fingers through his locks attempting to regain his lost composure. “Yes” Magic wheezes out barely audible. Gustavo leans over pulling both doors close from the top. The doors with their steel edges cleanly sever the zombie soldiers arm above the elbow. Ending the undead’s attempt to seek another morsel of flesh. Gustavo steps over White Magic as an after thought. He looks down at the boy in disgust “What is your name boy? Your given name not this foolishness you go by disrespecting yourself and those who have raised you.” White Magic chooses not to answer the man who’d just thrashed him spitting a wad of blood on the floor. Brother Gustavo pivots a foot bringing it down onto Magic’s hand. The crunch of bone lifts up from the truck’s rear. “Humphrey ……. Humphrey.” Magic screams in agony. Gustavo uncoils a kick to Magic’s unprotected gut. “From this point on in my presence, in the presence of everyone and in the presence of God you will answer to your given name. You will be known once again as Humphrey.” Gustavo strides boldly back to the driver’s seat. He doesn’t even cast a glance back at the heap on the floor. He shows no fear sitting down and starting the truck up. Even as the boy lies mere inches from a wall lined with guns. For Brother Gustavo knows his life is in God’s hands not the insignificant whelp he punished for his blasphemous tongue. Gustavo sets the truck in motion taking a note of where he was geographically.

   Giving Clow Oaks a wide birth Gustavo navigates the off road equipped ice cream truck. He churns up dirt as he tears across overgrown farm fields making his own path to the Olmsted Farm. They approach from the rear pulling up alongside the quiet house. There are no perusing zombies in sight but Gustavo knows they are around a permanent fixture in this new world. Gustavo can see a battered white paneled van stopped out on the road “James and Sons Construction.” Looks like the James family had done there fair share of surviving based on the condition of the van. “What a blessing …” Gustavo murmurs softly. “This man has managed to keep his family intact through the chaos of the end times.” He leaves the truck idling next to the front porch of the big house. Gustavo makes his way back to the rear doors once more. White Magic flinches as he reaches down to scoop up the revolver on the floor. Gustavo ignores his passenger on the floor. Opening the door gazing up at the Sun he guesses the hour to be early afternoon. He lowers down the ladder then climbs down “Come now Brother Humphrey.” White Magic looks at the man standing on the ground through his bloodshot right eye. White Magic’s left eye has doubled in size and almost swollen shut. He sees his hand extended once again offering him assistance. The streaks of blood on the man’s powerful but skinny hands belong to him recall. In spite of himself he takes the man’s hand. Gustavo drags White Magic forward carefully lifting him of the truck. He sets the injured young man down and scans the area. No problems appear to be of an immediate threat to them. “I want you to understand something Brother Humphrey.” Gustavo keeps his hands on White Magic to steady him. “What happened between us was not personal my brother. Nor is the fact that I will not be taking you back with us.” Magic looks shocked. “The wound on your arm marks you as unclean my friend.” Brother Gustavo points to the bite on White Magic’s forearm. White Magic does not protest he had no plans of leaving with this lunatic anyway. Gustavo pulls Magic in close hugging him tightly. “I forgive you Brother Humphrey and I will pray for your soul. Now make haste and bring the remainder of the James family unto me. For Brother Humphrey I have much work to do before the Sun sets this day.” Gustavo releases Magic from his embrace. He watches the beaten young man sway on his feet. Soon White Magic finds the strength to walk. He staggers up the porch leaning heavily upon the weathered banister. “Remember God Loves you Brother Humphrey.” Gustavo calls up from the besides the truck as White Magic staggers into the house.





   Weeeeee're baaaaack! Well it seems out good buddy White Magic has resurfaced. He's run into no other than Brother Gustavo the demented ice cream man. From all appearances it didn't work our for good ole White Magic as well as it could have. What happens now that Brother Gustavo has escorted White Magic home to retrieve the rest of the survivors from the James group?




  We return next week the week of May 12th for a Mother's Day Chapter of The Living Dark. See you then.




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Chapter 30: Deserving of Suspicion?

Chapter 30: Deserving of Suspicion?

   The adults riding in the rear of the Sin Preacher’s camper covered pickup truck are fidgety. Currently they are driving further away from where the rest of the group is camped out. They squirm as they sit wearing damp clothes from their trek across the river in advance of the undead. Ben and his group have found themselves in a shiny blue pickup truck covered with a white camper. Bouncing along dirt farm roads courtesy of a woman who'd emerged quietly from the woods telling them she was a Sin Preacher. He kept his eyes glued to his two rescued children Chip and Belinda sitting in the cab with Miriam. Meanwhile he, Jamal, Sara and Cody Carson slide about the trucks spotless bed. "Now remember our goal is to get back to our people." Ben whispers as every head nods in agreement. Lockett looks suspiciously at the woman driving the truck before she speaks. "We need to lay some ground rules." She tells the men then proceeds to count of her points on her fingers. "We don't give away our exact number of people. We don't surrender our weapons or at the very least don't give up everything. We also don't tell exactly where we are from or heading to." Jamal sheepishly raises his hand. "Where are we headed to no one told me anything?" Carson palm plants his hand up to his face grinning. "She means where we are headed back to bro." Jamal's smile brightens considerably. "Ok good." He remarks. "Why are we being so secretive I don't see the problem?" Ben challenges his young charge. "Look Mr. James the apocalypse tends to bring out the worst in people. This chick just strolls out the woods all creepy and shit like it's just any other day why is that? What was she doing out here alone?" Private Lockett offers in her defense firing off the mostly rhetorical questions in rapid succession. "How many religious folks have you seen in movies and read about in books that go nuts during the end times. One minute they are friendly the next minute you‘re picking out matching jumpsuits." The men simply stare in disbelief as the truck hits a rut in the clay road. "What books have you been reading Private?" Ben asks snorting. "All I care about is getting back to my family. We have all seen things that defy movies in the last few days. I suggest we all stop equating real life to the movies. We are making this up as we go along." Private Lockett scoots in closer. "I agree with you a hundred and ten percent Mr. James. Therefore I say we thank her for the ride then ask to borrow some mode of transport and get while the getting’s good." Ben’s head bobs up and down with a grin. Finally Lockett is seeing things from his perspective. "Deal." He sticks his hand out and Sara shakes it vigorously.

    A tap on the window startles the conspiring troop of survivors from their semi circle. Miriam slides the window open "Welcome to The First New Faith Baptist Church ladies and gentlemen." Out the right side of the truck's camper a pristine white steeple stands majestically. Atop the spire sits a glistening chrome cross it seems to sparkle in the early day sunlight. The church sits out front of two smaller separate utility buildings. One of the buildings is actually nothing more than a shed. "Miriam you don't seem to have much in the way of fortifications." Private Carson crab walks his large body forward to the window. "We don't need anything more than we have. With things the way they are now out of sight and out of mind is the best defense." She talks smiling up into the rearview mirror. They drive up to a tall razor wire topped fence a short squat man wobbles out of the church's side door and begins to work thick chains off the fence. Fencing wraps the back half of the church's property encompassing the larger of the two utility structures a large tin roofed storage building. "Why the fence then?" Carson continues to probe. "It was up before the Rapture came to pass young man as I said we haven’t done much.” She hunches her shoulders dismissively. Carson sighs looking back to Lockett. "Ma'am I'm sorry." He apologizes red blush spreading up his cheeks. "It's just that given what we've seen in the last few days. It is extremely hard to believe you have survived in this unassuming church." They pull through the gate and to the rear of the property moving for the larger utility building. "Young man we haven't survived here we have simply benefited from the grace of God. He has protected us and allowed use to continue his work in these difficult times." The truck idles out front of the building’s metal doors for several minuets. A brief look of frustration crosses the Sin Preacher's face. The doors roll back from inside she pulls forward slowly entering the dimly lantern lit structure. There are dozens of cars parked inside they are no more than barely visible dark silhouettes. "We hide all the cars trying to lessen our presence." With that she steps from the light weight truck. "All the survivors who choose to stay with us we store their transpiration for them.” She drops the lift gate opening the camper’s Plexiglas door upwards. "There are others?" Ben asks pushing Chip's wheelchair out. He looks up getting his answer two men now flank the Preacher each stands silently holding up flickering lanterns. Ben stands from the truck bed unfolding the chair. "Yes Sir Mr. James we have found others and others have found us as well." Ben excuses himself as the others climb from the truck’s rear.

    He makes his way up to the front of the pickup his son is waiting with the door open. "Hop off B." Chip instructs his sister then he hefts himself out of his seat dropping down into the seat of his wheelchair. Ben holds his arms out anxious to hug his baby again. "Daddy." She squeals leaping from the truck’s cab narrowly missing hitting her head on the roof. He spins about on the dirt floor the small girl on his hip. Chip rolls on his father's heels back to the rear of the truck. The portly man who rolled back the fence has now joined the group. As Chip comes into view all three men noticeably drop their eyes to his chair. "This kids in a wheelchair." The chubby man with the round belly reports as if no one has yet noticed scratching his head in confusion. "What? What!?" Chip shouts nudging the chair forward in the dirt. "So nobody in the world has ever seen a person in a wheelchair before?" Ben reaches down placing a reassuring hand on his son's chest. "Calm down Junior." He says using that old parental trick of talking softer to an agitated child. It doesn't work with Chip as the stress and strain have merged with the unwanted pity everyone seems to have for him. "No Dad I won't." He says defiantly shrugging Ben's hand down with one of his own. "Last night I rolled down a hill through a car wreck fighting off zombies then jumped in a truck drove down the block. I found a house that had a zombie living in it. She let us in at some point I had a seizure and when I woke up killed and the zombie. Then I held off an army of zombies til my dad and his friends came along all while keeping my little sister safe. What did you do last night Captain Chubby?" Chip swipes his damp hair back from his eyes. The husky man not taking too kindly to being insulted moves for Chip then freezes in place. Now Ben makes his presence felt depositing Belinda into Chip's lap. "Do we have a problem here?" Ben inquires puffing his wide chest up stepping between the man and his eldest son. The aggressor says nothing he's more focused on the cool sensation of metal pressed against the back of his head. Private Lockett sports a sly grin on her face the lantern light dancing off her flawless brown skin. She doesn't say a word to anyone. It is in this moment that Benjamin James knows he can trust his family to the juvenile soldiers and that they are now a part of his team. "Yes we do have a few problems." The Preacher steps up cleaning her glasses. "First and foremost Silas Proctor apologize for as God proclaimed to Moses.” Who made the deaf, the mute, the seeing and the blind was it not I?'" The Sin Preacher slowly raises her hand gently placing it atop Sara Lockett's. With subtle pressure she convinces Sara that they mean no harm as the weapon is lowered by both women. "Brother Proctor you have shown disrespect to this man and his family make you apologies this instant. You and I both know this boy can move better than you even in a wheelchair." Silas exhales feeling the pressure of the gun against his skull abate. He takes his hat from his head refusing to make eye contact with anyone except Benjamin. He extends a hand in a gesture of genuine good will. "I'm sorry buddy aint mean no harm just aint seen nobody around who's disabled. If this kid done did all them things like yawls saying then my hats off to ya." Ben and Silas shake hands the tensions eases from the room. Miriam interrupts "Now we still have one other issue to resolve Mr. James." She leans in closer to Chip before she speaks. "Here in our church children must respect their elders at all times young Mr. James. The Bible says 'Honor thy mother and father and here we take the letter of the Bible seriously son." Ben doesn't understand where Miriam is going initially before he weighs in. "Trust me Pastor my children are well aware of their behavior and the word of God." The Sin Preacher raises her gaze to the father towering over her. "You are strong in the word of God Mr. James this is good." Ben's mouth hangs agape "Umm No Ma'am my wife is far stronger in the word than I am." Ben admits to the preacher who responds in turn. "Well I can't wait to meet her then." Miriam stands looking about. "Where are my manners?" She claps one of the men standing besides her on the back. "James family and friends these gentlemen are members of my humble little house of worship." Miriam introduces the tall burly man in blue jeans and flannel holding a lantern to her left first. "Pardon his grey hair it comes from years of Earthly knowledge. This is Jim Hosstrum one of the best men I know." The man smiles and passes handshakes all around even managing to include little Belinda James. Miriam doesn't stop moving to the man on her right. "Now this is Ben Culverson we call him BC and please don't mind the disgusting wad of chaw in his mouth." She rolls her eyes at the man condemning him with just a look. With a move only a seasoned veteran of chewing tobacco would attempt. He swallows the lump of wadded tobacco in much the same manner a kid does when busted chewing gum by their teacher in class. Private Carson feels his stomach churn having grown up on a farm and realizing the septic brew the man had just "gutted." "You fine folks have already met Mr. Silas Proctor here." The preacher motions to the chubby farmer. After a rousing round of handshakes the dimly lit building falls silent. All present seem to be waiting for the preacher to speak. "Brother Proctor anything to report this morning?" She asks. "No Ma'am nuttin at’ all been as quite as kept round here." He says slapping his hat atop his balding head. "Good … good." She scans the building. "We should be able to go this way." She points to a door near where they had pulled into the large shed. "This will lead us into the church then we can go to my office." Private Lockett raises her hand having holstered her pistol. "Private ... Lockett" Miriam reads the name stitched on the girls uniform. "As long as what you say is not blasphemous please feel free to speak." Sara Lockett looks mildly agitated for a second attempting to gauge if the woman is serious or not. "Oh I only did that to get everyone's attention. Unless you have more Stars and Bars on your uniform than me I pretty much say what I please." She glances dismissively at their host. "Where are all the people who these cars belong to?" The men all appear to bluster at the tone the young female soldier has used with the pastor. Miriam raises a hands palm up calming the men instantly without a word. "They are all in the church of course my child as I have said we offer the same thing as we did before the Rapture." Lockett teeters inward waiting on the answer "annnnd that would be?" Miriam glides across the grouping to Belinda tussling the girl’s wild locks of curly sandy hair. "Shelter." Miriam gives a one words response her face goes blank.

    "Where is he?" She asks flatly as the men a take turns looking to each other unsure of who should answer. Jim clears his throat and hitches up his pants. "Pastor he doesn't tell us where he is going or what he's doing and quite frankly Ma'am that's fine with me." Miriam's eyes narrow her displeasure is immediately clear. "I'm here." A voice calls back from deep in unseen black shadows. Every head pivots towards the sound of the voice. The Sin Preacher stares into the darkness unmoving. In the thick stillness of pitch black solitude she can see a faint glow. His "one flaw" she thinks to herself watching the cherry orange of a cigarette intensify the fade. "Brother Gustavo what have we spoken about as it relates to cleanness in the Lord’s temple?" The glow trails to the earthen floor then vanishes. "Excellent Brother Gustavo now have you thought about our discussion this morning? How feasible is it that we can be successful?" The man in the rear makes no attempt to move up and be apart of the group. His deep emotionless voice is enough to send Belinda James crawling from her beloved brother's lap into the safety of her father's arms. Ben is keenly aware of his baby girl shivering in his arms he doesn't know if the sensation comes from fear or the fact that she's chilled. "It depends on the size of the opposing force Pastor." Miriam cuts her eyes at Ben then replies to the shrouded apparition. "These nice folk here were hunted by somewhere in the neighborhood of two to three hundred lost souls. They are flocking this way out of the Clow Falls, Clow Oaks area. I beseech you Brother Gustavo have faith. For it was Judges 15:15 that Sampson did slay a thousand men with the jawbone of ass." Silence drapes the claustrophobic improvised carport. His words boom back. "If I use the lay of the land to my advantage I believe the Lord will grant me success in this endeavor." The weight casting a pall over Miriam's face lifts. "Excellent Brother Gustavo I pray for your safe return we shall convene in my office once you are done." The Sin Preacher falls to her knees. The three men with her see the woman prostrate on the ground and follow suit without question. She begins to pray aloud. "Dear Lord we humbly beg you grant our Brother Gustavo safe passage as he seeks to do you will. Keep your hands around him as you did Daniel in the lions den." The men surrounding the Preacher mumble in fervent prayers under their collective breath. The new group of survivors stand befuddled at what they are witnessing. Private Lockett turns to Carson making the international hand gesture for crazy. Circling her index finger around her temple while crossing her eyes and sticking out her tongue Sara Lockett mocks the people praying. Belinda James giggles slapping her hands over her mouth her father shooting her a disapproving stare he shifts her from one hip to the other. "Amen." With that the thin woman in hunter's attire rises back to her feet. Jim and BC follow suit with relative ease. The group stands about watching Silas Proctor comically struggle to get to his feet with all of the grace of a two legged turtle. Miriam cocks her head at the rotund little man. Jim and BC both set about helping Silas to a standing position. "Go forth Brother Gustavo and bring us the victory. Now let us go become acquainted with the others in the church and plan on how we can get you back to your family." Ben and the Preacher lead the others out of the front door into the warm sun. The shadow at in the rear of the building is briefly visible he exits through a rickety door closing it quietly behind himself.

    Gustavo plods across the dense overgrown grass from the building to the shed the Sin Preacher had given him to conduct his pre ordained tasks in. He walks slightly hunched over but at almost seven feet tall most people wouldn't notice. His dusty tattered overalls ride up over his gnarly brown work boots. The wind blows at his thick unmoving black hair styled in a decidedly Elvis like pompadour. His meticulously combed hair sways but manages stay in place. Gustavo stops at the red pad locked doors of the smaller shed. He fishes the keys out of his pockets using his long thin spider like fingers. Waiting for the others to enter the front of the church before unlocking the padlock on the end of a heavy rusted steel cross bar. Gustavo pushes the bar up then sliding his rail thin body in the slight opening in the door. Once inside he's greeted by dark and unmoving air Gustavo grabs a steel identical bar on the opposite and lowers it. He snaps the padlocks through a ring securing the bar in place. Assured he's alone the quirky loner fires up his lighter placing a cigarette in his mouth. Smoking was his lone vice in pious life of servitude to the New Faith Baptist church from handyman to gardener he did it all for the church. Now with the Rapture upon them he has been called to do his greatest work for the church in the name of the Lord. Reaching down in the darkness he feels around for the small generator then pulls the handle back. After several choking sputters it burps to life powering eight small light bulbs strung four each alongside the cramped structure. Beat up tools benches line the walls but each is neat and orderly. He takes a long step over the metal bomb shelter hatch at his feet that leads to an underground passage. This gives him direct unseen accesses into the belly of New Faith. A large misshapen vehicle sits under a white tarp only it's massive off road tires are visible. His mind wanders as it has the tendency to do. Thinking to himself he smiles "My greatest creation ever my Frankenstein’s Monster." Walking in long odd strides he squeezes past the truck headed for the rear door. The doors were a patch work of reinforced welded steel plates that rolled pack on well oiled tracks. These doors run flush with the exterior fence. Gustavo directs his eyes above the door following the thick insulated cable that he's used to complete circuit when he electrified the fence running around the church. With one flip of the long black handled switch on the right side of the doors electricity would surge through the metal encircling them. In the corner sits the most out of place thing in the room a simple small brown dresser with a chipped oval mirror nailed to the wall above it. Inside the top drawer he has pulled open is a uniform from his second job the only one he could get. Gustavo is the lone ice cream man in the entire sparsely populated county. Today the Sin Preacher would allow him to marry the two things he loved the most into one.

    Minuets later Gustavo stands dressed head to toe in white wearing a set of highly polished black shoes. Looking in the mirror he straightens his black bow tow placing the paper triangle hat slightly off to the left atop his thick bristly black hair. Today there would be no delivering of ice cream treats to the waiting mouths of children. He would be instead delivering the Lord's vengeance to the lost souls wandering aimlessly about. He grabs the corner of the cloak hiding his work and tugs. The white tarp falls away to reveal a highly modified pristine white ice cream truck sitting four feet off the ground on those thick black tires with the deep treads. His eyes trace the right side of the truck the window where he'd once sold cool ice cream treats was replace with thick metal grates. He’d done the same procedure to the window on the left side as well. His front windshield was protected by the same mesh steel grate. Gustavo cranes his long neck to catch a glimpse of the roof to which he took time to affix a chrome overhang. It hung over the edges of the ice cream truck and there were winches attached to each side. Collapsible hydraulic legs at the corners to keep his creation from being tipped over. The only thing that remains untouched on the roof is a twirling two foot tall illuminated ice cream cone. As it slowly rotated on the trucks roof the words "Cool Treats" spiraled around and around… With his hunched Sasquatch gait he makes his way to the generator shutting it off casting the building in darkness once more. Gustavo lifts a ladder from the floor placing it against the rear bumper he climbs into the truck heaving the ladder in behind him. He places the ladder on hooks welded to the wall. Then slams the rear door of the malformed ice cream truck a pair of cabin lights gives off a small measure of light. Half a dozen thick bolts later the rear of the truck is secure. He turns about checking his work making his way to the driver’s set. The long deep freezer remained along left side beneath the window. Above freezer on the wall he had half a dozen hunting rifles on hooks below them sat boxes of ammunition. Neatly welded to the side of each window is a metal box containing dozens of spiral metal spears each with a finger loop bent into the end. Each spear had its end flattened out and ground to a razor sharp edge. Gustavo squeezes his way past all of his self made implements to his seat. Where a passenger seat would have been stands a control panel which had had installed to utilize all of his upgrades with ease. He sits on the worn black leather seat which bounces under his weight. Gustavo leans forward pulling the key from under his shirt it dangles on a silver chain around his neck. Taking great care not to muss his hair he takes the key off its chain. Sticking it into the ignition He reaches over his head to the visor pressing a white button on a small black rectangular box. The metal doors he's facing pop open with a metallic clank much like a bank vault door. Sunlight floods the utility shed as the doors part. Gustavo can see miles of hilly green rolling pastures the sun is shinning while birds chirp in the trees. He rubs his clean shaved chin thinking "This one section of the world has yet to see the festering filth of the apocalypse." Turning the key the engine catches smoothly throwing the truck into gear he rolls the beast out into the sun for the first time. "Thy Will Be Done" he mumbles under his breath. Depressing the button on the visor again he waits for the doors to close securely before heading of on his mission.

    Gustavo is enjoying a drive through the desolate countryside as the minuets and miles tick by. He knows the route the Sin Preacher had taken along the back roads into Clow Oaks. If he didn't all he needed to do was follow the massive black cloud of smoke fouling the beautiful blue sky as the sub division burned. He spots the first zombies wandering aimlessly in a field coming over a steep hill. Gustavo wishes he had the mental acuity to figure out how the dead tracked their victims. They never gave up they never slowed down they just kept coming. The only thing he was sure of is what he had told the Sin Preacher. They are attracted to sound as their eyes are clouded over their vision must be terrible. He had gone out on his usual run the morning after the power had gone out trying to sell off his treats as they were melting in the sweltering heat. He almost didn't make it back to the church alive but the Lord had given him a vision an idea. He stops the truck letting it idle reaching to his right he flips a switch. Overhead a low whine starts the hydraulic legs deploy out in sections. The mounted motor driving them deep into the soft earth until the Ice Cream truck is braced. He wants a smoke so bad his lips are dry but he won't foul his vessel while he works. He shuts the engine off taking the key and hanging it back on its hook. Now came his favorite part flipping the switch on the dashboard. "Pop goes the weasel" begins to blare from the speakers. That song from every one's childhood that signaled the ice cream man was coming. For the undead lost souls of the apocalypse it was no different. The dead pivot in unison making for the wailing truck. They shuffle falling over tumbling down the hill like happy children. There one was difference however these forms beating their way blindly towards the ice cream man wanted a treat of a different kind. It was warm and had to be pulled fresh from the bone it was human flesh. Gustavo waited rising from his seat he takes a black leather apron from a hook on the wall pulling it over his head deftly tying it around his waist. Next came two elbow length cauterized rubber gloves he fits onto his hands. The Ice Cream Man was open for business as "Pop goes the weasel" play in its tantalizing repetitive cycle.

 

 

    We find half of our group of survivors guest at the New Faith Baptist church this week. Where as they plot on a way to get back to the others. They find themselves suspect of the woman who has lent them a helping hand saving their lives. What makes them even uneasier is the voice of the man they can not see. Who is Brother Gustavo and why is he driving a souped up ice cream truck into a horde of zombies anyway?

Come back and find out the week of  Sunday May 5th for Chapter 31 of The Living Dark.

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Sincerely:
 

The Living Dark