This. World. Sucks. That's the truth, and you couldn't convince me otherwise. I bet you would want to tell me to 'Count my blessings, and be positive'? Gross. Just hearing it makes me wanna gag. Who could count being alive in this God forsaken world a blessing? Sure I'm alive, despite the canned mystery meat. All my limbs work which is a plus, but how could someone be positive while we were in a literal Apocalypse?

I snatched a piece of jerky out of my bag, and I chomped on it. It was tough, and also sweet. It had definitely perked up my mood. It was so good! I couldn't think of a time I had some real meat. I had a couple more, while walking through the barren wasteland that can barely be recognized as New Mexico. I was surrounded by empty streets, and houses long abandoned, allowing the sand to get into everything.

An engine revved angrily in my direction. Oh great. Apparently I didn't get away Scot-free after all, and now I had to run for my life.

I didn't really need the Jerky, but can you blame me? I know you would do it too. Maybe I've gone insane. I blame the mystery meat. Was it worth it? Yes. Yes it was one hundred percent. They can carve that on my gravestone.

I ran as far as I could before my lungs gave out. You would think that I'd be in better shape, with all this exercise. I turned around, and the truck screeched to a halt. Why couldn't they just run me over? Am I lucky they didn't?

The men Jumped out of the back of the truck pulling out their impressive hunting knives. This might be the end for me. I did not want to imagine the death that was about to happen. They must have seen my expression, because they laughed at my misery.

“Who do you think you are, kid?” he said in a harsh tone.

“It's Wes, and who are you?”

He pointed his knife at me. We want our food back thief.”

That was a little uncalled for. I mean we are all in the same boat here, and I'm pretty sure it takes one to know one. “Wes is fine. I think you got me mixed up with some other guy,” I said.

He rolled his eyes, chuckling along with the others, Like I just told a good joke, “You think we're idiots?”

My toxic trait wanted to answer that, but I held my tongue. He took another step forward, and he was looking crazy, “Alright, alright, you wouldn't hurt a kid would you? I'm sure there is a nice, non violent way to settle this.”

His face twisted into a wicked smile, “I really would, and I am going to enjoy it. You shouldn't have messed with me.”

Well, that's the end of it I guess. Survived this long, and I mean the suffering will finally end. It couldn't get any worse than this?

Just when I'm about to be brutally beaten, the hairs on my neck stood on end. Something was happening. “Do you hear that?” said the guy on the left. We all listened intently. “I hear it too.” said the other guy. A faint sound like trickling sand. To the naive, you wouldn't think much of it, but to people who knew, it's a sound you never wanted to hear in the wasteland.

They looked at each other, and decided that they needed to get out of there, “Sandcrawler,” he said, turning tail, forgetting about me, running to their truck like roaches in light.

Out of the frying pan into the fire, by the time my brain kicked in it was too late. I was going to die.

The sound tickled my ear drums, until it faded into silence. I didn't dare move a muscle, because the moment I move it was going to get me, and the only reason I'm not dead yet is because it's playing with me, waiting for me to think it's safe, and then snap! Sandcrawler food! Well, I wasn't going to let it have fun. I'd stay still as a statue, and hang onto this pitiful existence just a little longer.

“Wes, You ok?” said a voice.

“Chance?” I said incredulously

Chance's head popped out of half a house, and I couldn't believe it, “Don't move– Sandcrawler,” I mouthed, motioning my hands frantically.

He had the biggest grin on his face. “What are you talking about bro?” he said way too loud for my comfort. “It's just me and the rain.” He waved a stick over his head. Actually It was a rain stick. He turned the rod upside down, and the trickling sand started again. “Had them fooled.” He said

The air trapped in my lungs escaped in a puff, “You're not suppose to be here,” I used my big brother voice.

“Neither are you. If I wasn't, you'd be dead.”

“What ever, You are suppose to stay safe so I can take care of you.”

“Won't be able to do that if you're dead.” He said. “Anyways what did you get?”

I pulled the pack off, and reached in it, and out came the thickly seasoned, pork Jerky, baked in a sweet honey glaze. Chance's eyes said it all. A treasure more valuable then any jewel. I hand it to him, and smugly he chomped on the sticky morsel. I bit into another one, and oh ho, the sweet embrace my mouth had sucking on that Jerky.

“A Rain stick huh?” I mumbled while chewing, “Why do you have that?”

He looked so glum when he responded “Most animals are scared of the sound. Works on people too apparently.”

“You're too smart for your own good.” I said

“One of us needs to be.”

I jabbed him in the shoulder, “Shut up.”

After eating a few more pieces, I threw the pack on my back, “Well we better get going in case those guys try to come back.”

He chuckles, and held his shaking belly, “Not likely. Did you see them? I think one of 'em pissed his pants!”

“Yeah! We can only hope, But I would rather not be here in case a real Sandcrawler shows up.”

***

 

In a walled suburb Russell sat on the tail gate of his truck, and watched the sun pass overhead, feeling every second burning away, the daylight wasted on that dang kid. It added a notch in his anger. He wanted to drive off, but what would that prove? The boy needed to learn some responsibility, and somebody aught to do it.

“You look like you drank some sour milk,” he heard her caramel voice, and looked up at Sherry. She was beautiful today, well, she is beautiful everyday, like sweet tea in the dessert, wearing a flannel button up, and her red hair tied up in a pony tail. It wasn't her real color though. Her dark brown roots could be seen on the crown of her head. She was the kind of girl who dyed her hair often, but in these times, she used her products sparingly.

Her smile became wider, and he realized that he was smiling too. Dang that's embarrassing, he almost forgot that he was mad. “Just aggravated is all,” he frowned again, thinking about why he wasn't working.

“Haven't done my chores yet, because somebody decided to leave to who knows where, and he is suppose to do his part, like everybody else.”

“Look at you playin daddy,” she said teasingly

“Well somebody aughta. Those kids ain't got nobody.”

“I think that's the thing I like most about you,” She said. “Your back must hurt, though. Holding the world on your shoulders.”

He wasn't sure how to respond to that. She sat on the tail gate with him, and grabbed his hand,
“You try so hard to do everythin, helpin anywhere you can, that you run yourself into the ground. You should take a breath before you pop a vein.”

He chuckled, “Ain't got no time to breath. We're trying to dig ourselves out of a hole that we didn't even put ourselves in.”

She looked into his eyes,“Everythin will be fine. And those boys are lucky to have you.”

He squeezed her hand, and rubbed his thumb on her labor worn skin, admiring the sheen of her finger nails. “Look at you playin mama,” he said.

She nudged him, and leaned on his shoulder, while they sat in the hot sun listening to the noises of a surviving village.

***

 

Me and Chance walked into New New El Paso. That's what it's called 'New New El Paso'. I don't know why. I think it was a joke that got stuck. I don't even know what it was called before, just some suburbia before it got completely wiped out. A few survivors built a wall around some houses, and the rest is history. people spend most their days pounding raw materials into wall material, or what have you, while others go out to find supplies. It's– “Ow!”

My thought burst with a swift pain in my rear. I turned around rubbing the sore area. Did he really kick me?

Russell's shadow encompassed me completely even with the sun past noon. “Where you been?!” he said angrily

I square off with him, “No where impor–.”

“It doesn't matter,” he cut me off, pointing a finger at me. “You're suppose to help with the Garden. I waited for you, and we burned a lot a day light. Now come on lets get going.” he walked away before I could say anything else and Chance followed behind.

Now why didn't he yell at chance? He stomped off like I'm the problem, and I wasn't the only one. I try to forget it. What ever It doesn't matter.

Russell slid into his truck, slamming the door shut, and I reluctantly slid into the passenger seat, Folding my arms, because I could, keeping to myself, while Chance rocked to the imaginary music of his mind. The vehicle picked up speed, and, Russell honked the horn as he drove through the gates, getting a wave from the volunteer guardsman. A few miles away sat our field surrounded by a cattle fence wrapped in chicken wire. It was a Frankenstein fence of chicken wire, and what ever wire we could find, even metal paneling from rusty roofs.

The garden had been Russell's project. He has some kind of plant degree or something, and he figured he could get some food going, and the town had given him any resource he needed.

So far it hasn't been great. Something to do with the minerals. I don't know half the time what he's talking about, only that I have to keep shoveling Sh– my shovel hit a rock. I gave it a couple of taps, and I tossed the rock as far as I could. The dang thing didn't make it to the fence. I didn't want to bother with it, so I just kept weeding.

Chance was weeding too, but he did it with a chip on his shoulder. He was annoying trying to enjoy any task he was given.

Russell's footsteps come up behind me, and he pressed his boot into his shovel to dig up a root. He made it look so easy. He grunt's as he tossed the huge dirt clog and root aside.

“How's the patch?” I said.

“It's fair,” he said. I know he didn't want to say it's good, because that would be a false, but he also was hopeful that it would work. I can hear the contempt in his voice.

“I don't want to tell you what to do. You're not my kid,” he stopped talking there like that was a complete thought. I waited for the 'but', but he appeared to be lost for words. The silence was deafening.

“...ok?” I said confused. It's true I'm not his kid.

“Even if you're living under my roof. I let you be your own man.”

“We have established that before,” I said.

He stepped on his shovel again, and it sunk into the dirt, “You agreed to gettin this farm goin, and everybody has a part to play for our survival.”

“You mad about this morning?” I said.

He thumped the shovel in the ground repeatedly. He second guessed what he wanted to say, “uhh– a little. I realize I over reacted, I need to remind myself its not my place, but It's just...” he paused again thinking his words carefully. “We all need to have discipline. You know? If were gonna make it out of this mess.”

“Alright sounds fair. Sorry,” I said. He started to sound like a dad. I hoped it was the end of the conversation.

he leaned on his shovel, “So are you going to tell me about that Jerky? Did you piss anybody off?”

I guessed I shouldn't be surprised. Hard to hide the smell in a small pick up,“I uh– yeah”

“If I was your dad I would tell you that's stupid.”

“Yeah, but your not.”

He grunted a laugh, digging up more dirt, “Yeah, well it's stupid.”

Back at town a repurposed tornado Alarm sounded, and our hearts jumped. It was an emergency, “Chance!” I yelled, but he was already running towards us, while Russell started the engine. He jumped in, and slammed the door. “What is it?” he said leaning up against the passenger seat, right by my ear. I was too distracted to answer.

“Seat belts,” said Russell. He eased into a fast pace down the road leaving a dust cloud behind him. The men on top of the walls waved at him to hurry, yelling at people to move out of the way. He honked the horn, rolling into the gates. He didn't bother parking, just left it in the middle of the road. Russell stepped out looking around frantically. He knew she would be waiting.

“Russell!” Sherry yelled. As predicted she was at there, holding her rifle. He held his breath

“Zombies,” she said.

“Damn,” he opened the door to his truck, and from the back he grabbed his Two-Seventy Winchester from the Rack. “Wes, Chance, go home, lock it up,” I was still stuck on the zombies frozen in place.

“Go on!” he said.

Me and Chance went straight home. The streets were busy with chaos as children were taken to their houses, while anyone with a weapon got up on the wall to play defense. Once we finally reached our little slice of life, we clicked the lock shut, and got busy. I pushed the couch into the way of the entrance, and the leg broke off in the attempt, “Great! Piece of garbage couch.” I hit it for good measure.

Chance closed the metal paneling that worked as our shutters, and no barricades for this occasion. Its great to be prepared. Too bad all we had to tie them down was rope. Over all it's not the greatest defense, but it will slow enemies down, and if you think about it, the first entrance a zombie gets into is a broken window. Problem solved!

Once everything was put into place Me and Chance sat in the corner, waiting and ready for the invasion.

Just so everyone knows. I am not a coward. I would have been on those walls too, but I had no weapon. I had to trust Russell, and the others to do the dirty work.

***

Russell, and Jerr rested on the wall, with their rifles leaning by them, waiting for the doom to come. Sherry joined them. “They said they found a group heading our way. it's like fifty or so.” she said

“Fifty's not too bad,” Jerr said “At least it isn't big city numbers. Some people came here after leaving a swarm of hundreds. It makes me shudder.” He shuddered to prove his point.

“Damn,” Russell said, “fifty is more than I want to deal with. It might be fine, but just in case. It was nice knowing you, even if you're a pain in my rear.”

Jerr gave him a playful jab on the shoulder, “We're safe behind these walls, right? It'll be like shooting fish in a Barrel.”

Sherry rolled her eyes smacking his arm with the back of her hand, “In this Scenario we are the fish in a barrel.”

“Do we know what kind?” Russell said “I hope they aren't fast ones.”

“No details. The scavengers saw Zombies, and came runnin,” Sherry said.

Russell saw the mayor hop onto the wall, and smacked Jerr's arm, “Ow! Would you two quit smackin me?” He noticed who they were not looking at. The Mayor of the town, Berlin, a crazy guy on all accounts brought everyone's attention on him with a shout that carried all to well on the wall. “Here they come! Don't waist ammo. I'm sure you are all confident in your aim, but wait till they hit the five hundred line, then light them up!”

On the wall, people of all kinds stood at the ready, none of them warriors by choice. Russell chuckled to himself. Things had changed a lot. Before he was just a small time farmer hunting deer, and now he raised his rifle on monsters.

The mob of walking corpses crept closer, and closer like some horror film. Russell pulled up his rifle, sighting them in the scope. There was something off about these, “Bugs?” he said. Sherry and Jerr looked at him puzzled.

On the ground men and women of all ages limped their way towards the wall. It looked just like you would imagine a zombie march, except giant ant like bugs sat on the back of their victims head. It was uncanny how they looked angry, marching towards the wall. And when the Angle was right, you could see a stinger stabbed the back of the neck like some kind of life-line.

Russell loaded the bolt-action, aimed, and in that moment he took a calm inhale. Berlin raised a rifle in the Air, “Ready your arms!” Everybody aimed, waiting for the signal. “Fire!” he yelled, the rifle fire echoed along the wall, and bodies hit the floor.

Among the fallen Corpses the Bugs detached from their hosts, and Crawled towards the keep. But crawled is not the right word, They were fast! “Shoot the bugs! The bugs!” Berlin cried. Russel aimed at the critters, but getting a hit was rare. Sherry didn't miss one, but there was just too many of them. A good number of them reached the wall, and started climbing. Everyone forgot how to aim, and weren't able to finish the ones, climbing to the top. Once they had sure footing on top they leaped onto anyone who was too close. For the unfortunate fighters who couldn't fend off the onslaught the bugs would creep to the back of their necks and stab.“Get it off! Get it off!” they Screamed. What ever the bugs did, it was almost instant, and quickly the zombified victims chased down the living. taking huge bites out of them. People pull out hand guns, or blunt weapons to try to kill the bugs close range. It was horrible defending yourself from someone you knew. Crazy Berlin didn't let it stop him. He took out his hunting knife, and bellowed a war cry. Sherry's quick shot killed bugs left, and right from their victims. The men and woman keeled over, never to rise again. Jerr, and Russel covered each others back, quite literally.

The bugs unable to find a host ran down the inside wall, “They're inside! Get them!” Berlin yelled, trying to keep order.

A Man yelled at the top of his lungs, “There's another Wave!”

Everyone's morale sunk. Chaos ensued, picking up rifles, and reloading, “We need to split up” Berlin yelled

Russel tagged Jerr “Come on” he said, then he yelled at Berlin “We'll take the ones inside”

Berlin nodded, and regrouped for the next wave. Sherry jumped down off the wall with them, firing shots at them, “Keep them away from the residents” she yelled

The bugs separated, heading down any path they could to escape the rifle fire.

“Damn it, We can't follow them together. We need to split.” said Russell. They all nodded, picking a path to follow.

“Don't die!” Jerr said

Sherry's group of bugs doubled back to attack her, but She was too quick for them, with a couple of clicks they were down, and she hit one of Jerr's for good measure before he disappeared after them.

***

I heard the barrage of fire muffled from our fortress of solitude. I hold onto an arm length crow bar like a security blanket while I wait for the possible onslaught. There is little chance those zombies are going to do anything right? If they are anything like the movies, we got nothing to worry about.

Chance held his bat, hiding in his corner fortress, “It's ok, we got nothing to worry about,” I said to him. He nodded wanting to believe me, but then we heard a window panel clack like something trying to get in. I looked in the living room, and back at Chance. Something moved out of my vision. And I was on high alert. What could have gotten in? It couldn't be a zombie, unless it was a cat Zombie, ugh I didn't want it to be that.

I got up and held my crow bar at the ready as I walked into the living room. Chance screamed. I turned around too see something scurrying on the ground towards me like a spider. I smacked down onto it with all the force I could muster, feeling a crunch as its head split in two. I hear another crunch, and the repeated ching ching of the metal bat. Chance was whacking away at another spider thing, as he screamed bloody murder. I guess he really didn't like spiders.

We heard a smash from the door, and the knob wiggled. “Damn,” They heard someone say from outside. Just seconds later a hand squeezes in the window, and cuts the rope, the window swinging open. I screamed, Chance screamed, Russell yelled at us, “Shut up!” and when he finally got a word in he said “Y'all ok?” We nod wide eyed. Russell noticed the bug remains. “They got through the windows?” we nod again. “It's not safe in here. Come with me.”

We ran out the door. The gun fire was louder outside. We stood on the main road, Russell holding his gun at the ready checking his six, and twelve, “Keep your eyes peeled.” he said. Jerr came around the corner surprising Russell. He raised his hands up surrendering, “Easy, it's just me. Did you kill any more?”

Russell lowered the rifle to his hip, still on the defensive, “Yeah, the boys got two. Do you know about Sher?”

“I herd her shots I think. I'm not too worried,” he holds a fist up for me. I don't leave anybody hanging so I gave him a bump, “Nice going boys,” he said.

“Stay alert,” said Russell, “Come on, keep up.” He led the way. We ran after him in military type fashion, Jerr kept the rear, watching our backs. Chance and me really couldn't do anything so I had my trusty Iron at the ready. Suddenly clacking came from all sides, Russell and Jerr swung their rifles in the direction of the sounds.

Three of those weird bugs charged out into the open, and they were little blurs on the ground scuttling so fast, I could barely track them. The shots were quick, but to my horror we didn't get one in time.

Chance screamed, I turned to see a bug climbing on him, “Chance!” the stinger stabbed his neck, “Chance! No!”

The bug's head exploded, before I even reached him. It fell to the ground. More gun fire, and a more bugs layed dead in the street. Sherry ran out of the shadows still on the look out, while Jerr's jaw dropped, “Damn Sher, what a shot!” he said.

Russell took Chance into his arms. He was unresponsive as Russell shook him “Chance? Chance!”

I kicked the dead bug aside. “Come on, wake up.”

Chance rolled his eyes back into focus, then Jerked in Russell's grasp, “Easy, easy. Let me look.” He twisted his head to get a look at the tiny hole in his neck. Chance winced from pain, the hole slowly bleeding, “Do you feel all right?” said Russell. Chance took a second to be honest. He nodded.

Jerr held his rifle at attention, “Was that an ambush? Or am I seeing things.”

“Never mind that,” said Russell,“Lets make sure no other bugs get in the wall.”

***

 

The wall rang with the sounds of victory, but the celebration was short, because the next part was hard. For those unfortunate souls they got the respect they deserved. It was a somber evening, as we gave them a funeral, and attempted to get back to normal. You could feel the mood across the town. I considered myself lucky. I'm not sure what I would do with out Chance.

We took Chance to the doctor's office for a check up. He waited on the table as the Doctor came in, “Hannah,” Russell said and shook her hand.

“Hey Russell,” She pulled a glove on. “Let me see what we have here,” she said.

Chance pointed to the back of his neck, and she took her time to examine it. “So what made the wound?” she said.

“One of those bugs! Sherry shot it, right off my neck!” Chance said.

“Wow, that's great,” she said. she swabbed the edges of the wound with a disinfectant.

“Why am I not dead?” Chance said.

Hannah smiled at the blunt question, “Lucky I guess. Rotate to the left.” She gestures him to twist his head, “And the right.” Once satisfied She puts a band aid on the wound, “It looks like there isn't any lasting damage. “I'd say Sherry saved you Just in time.” she said

Russell pats Chance on the back, and gave him a smile, “Good, I'd hate to lose a worker.” I had to roll my eyes.

“He should be right to work. Just be wary of infection,” she said.

“Is there anything I should need for him?”

“Just a couple of things.” she said, while writing down notes.

After that I didn't bother listening I was lost in my own thoughts.

This is the world we live in now. It's better than living out in the wild I guess, but you could ruff it out as long as you understood the rules. 'Survival of the fittest'? Well that will get you nowhere. You need to be smart, armed with a semi auto; otherwise, You are going to get killed. That goes with out saying, but in case you had any ideas I thought you should know. We are no where near fitter than any creature this horror show had birthed. Society had been boiled down to small civilizations just trying to survive the onslaught of strange new creatures. Nothing was like it used to be, once you thought we've reached some kind of normalcy, you'd find something else that will leave you scratching your head wondering if there really is a God, and what had he been smokin?

Some have said it's 'The Rapture' finally come, and they believe we got left behind, which is Hilarious! No I don't actually think it's the end of the world. That's ridiculous. All I know is that Mankind has been doing its best to fight off the impending doom. If this is hell, it's more like a slow burn.

Chance, and Russell started leaving me behind while I had been lost in my thought. I caught up with them passing the door just as a strange old man walked into the Office.

***

 

“Doctor,” An Old man walked into the room, waiting for Hannah to see him.

Hannah looked up at the man, and exaggerates her surprise, “Well, ain't this a surprise! Never thought I'd see the day. What brings you in this direction?” hurriedly she gave him a hug.

“Just enjoying retirement,” his voice was deep and cracked from thirst.

They held each other at arms length, and she took a good look at him. She could not help but stare at his eyes, Little glass mirrors that held so much wisdom and experience. “Oh, is that what you are calling it?” she said.

He looked at the room's contents, seeing old equipment, and subpar supplies.

“And what about you? Never thought you would be a family doctor.”

She responded warmly, “I knew where I was needed. Not much funding for research now anyways. Making lemonade and all that.”

He nodded, “So what happened to the town? Were you attacked?”

She rested against the table, crossing her arms, “Yeah, from Hacker Jackets.”

“What are those?” he said amused.

“It's what I'm calling them. Some kind of Parasitic wasps the size of a cat. Overrides brain function. Turns people into puppets. Its horrifying. Have you seen them before?” she said

“Heard of them,” he replied, “but they used to be smaller. Their evolving just like the rest of the world.”

She shifted her weight, “You think its evolution? in a matter of years?” she scoffed.

He pulled a little plastic vile from his coat pocket, and handed it to her.

“What's this?” she said

“I think it's an explanation. Take a look at the microscope.”

her curiosity got the best of her, and she opened the vile to find a flat piece of glass. She slid it unto the microscope, and adjusted the spindles, zooming in on the specimen. At first she looked puzzled, Then the gears in her head were turning as she looked through the lens, and then it clicked. Her eyes widened. She put her hand on her mouth, “My God. It really is the end of the world.”

He shakes his head. Putting a hand on her shoulder, squeezing tenderly, “No. Its not the end, but things are going to get weird.”