Firsts and Reunions

January 31st, 2010, 9:18pm

It's been 97 days since my last entry. I can't tell you these winter storms have been easy; tree branches knocking on the windows, creating alertness in the cabin every moment it happens, howling winds which some of us swear are moans, ice cold floors and rooms, and shadows of previous unbelievable things. We've stocked up on blankets and anything else we could find to keep warm and gathered wood for fires. Our attention has mostly been focused on the children. They are our next generation; it's imperative they keep warm.

There are much too many stories to be told all at once. Some good, some terrifying. Or a terrifying story which ends well.

Our first snowfall happened on November 3oth, 10:00pm. Don't get me wrong, snow is good. It keeps...them away, or Zack, as my husband calls them. I've always been a big fan of snow...the cold, beautiful white layers of purity. To me it's a new beginning. The earth is being cleansed, preparing for a new year, a new life with new goals. However, being boarded up in the cabin to get away from man-eating brain-dead zombies isn't exactly what you'd call the exciting and adventurous start of things.

I found my husband, sitting in the entryway, his back against the wall. He had his eyes closed, a shotgun next to him on the floor. Just a little shuteye, I knew. My husband was always the heavy sleeper. The moment his head would hit the pillow he was out. I was the one who tossed and turned, sitting up every few minutes to stretch. Clearly, things have changed. I can see it in his once bright blue eyes; sleep was no longer his best friend. Months of playing guarding duty and protecting husband had caught up in his features. His face has experience now; the look of a survivor. He knew I was standing there.

"It's snowing." He told me, his eyes still closed. "We'll get through this night then begin preparing for the winter ahead." I watched him, nodding my head. It was quiet that night. The others were upstairs, probably asleep by now. "Go get warm in bed, I'll be there in a bit. Tomorrow we send out a team to investigate the nearby cabins. I love you."

I slept in that morning, completely unexpected. I was surprised to find myself so refreshed. I sat up in bed, hearing commotion and people, coming from the living room and kitchen. Arguing, for that matter.

"Listen, Baby, I'm going out there. We'll be back before the sun goes down. We have weapons, we'll be fine." I heard a man say.

"Just because you have weapons, doesn't mean you'll be fine!" I heard a female voice argue back. I heard crying in her voice.

I stepped out of bed, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. The heater rattled on the wall, and I immediately switched it off. It was day now, no need. I didn't know how much longer it was going to last anyway. I was upstairs, on the fourth level. The room with the door on the second floor was given to Laura, her husband John, and their little girl, Anna. I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. It was my husband.

"What's going on?" I asked. "I hear arguing."

"We're leaving in twenty minutes," he told me. "It's Elana. She doesn't want Brayden to leave. You're not going to try and talk me out of this, are you? Those two are driving me crazy. They've been arguing since sunrise." I studied him for a moment. "No," I said, "But I will tell you to please be careful. Please."

I helped zipped up his jacket, then a coat on top of that. "I might as well teach the girl how to aim a gun while you're gone; this way she can be of some help." I looked up into his blues. We had already exchanged some sort of goodbye last night, while in bed. He was always a different man in that way, but a man nonetheless. Although this wasn't goodbye. It was a "see you soon."

Twenty minutes later, the three men left. Elana sat crying on the sofa. I've never been good with people. I was nervous just thinking about approaching her. Luckily, Laura beat me to it. Although relieved, I felt a small hint of jealousy. Laura's always good with people, and even better with words. In her mid-thirties, she was elegant. Although she didn't exactly hold you and stroke your hair, she always knew the right thing to say. Instead, I found Anna sitting next to the fire, staring off into it. The 8-year old girl seemed more tired these days than enthusiastic. I sat with her and stared off into the fire myself.

The idea of heavy snow terrified me at this point. I had heard nothing from my family. They hadn't been here yet. What's worse, is their home is an hour away. Just an hour, downhill. Gary's family was a different story. They were two hours away. He was only able to get in a short phone call before we left for the cabin. He told them where we were headed, I love yous were exchanged, then nothing.

I took Elana outside anyway to practice, to teach her how to at least use the darn weapons. No, they weren't even loaded; we had to save ammo. However, I always kept a loaded pistol on my waist, just in case. She was 18, her Brayden 19. Gary and I are near the same age; me being 24, him 25. Elana said Brayden was a high school sweetheart. They had met at a dance. All it took were many nights of sneaking out and getting into trouble to draw them together, she said. She ran away from home the moment she was 18 after fighting with her parents about Brayden. They hated him, she said. They were too protective. While unable to admit regret for leaving her parents, I could see the pain in her eyes when she spoke of them. All she was able to stumble out of her lips was "infected". I had decided at that point to turn the subject on her future plans with Brayden. This kept her occupied. Mostly.

We heard the first moan. Instinctively, I grabbed the loaded pistol I had kept on me. Then handed it to Elana. A look of shook swept across her face, and she shook her head. "You have to learn sometime, Elana. You need to do this." Elana looked paralyzed with fear.

"But Bray always did this. I can't. What if he's out there? I need to save him." she said, clear panic rising in her voice. Before I could give her any words, she let out a horrified scream, her shaky finger pointing to the female Zack about 70 feet in front of us. I quickly muffled her scream by throwing my hand over her mouth. "That's enough!" I ordered silently. "Do you want to get us killed?" Elana choked back a sob. "Now, shoot her in the head. We've practiced this. Line up your crosshairs."

Elana shook her head again, yet at the same time, held the gun up, her hands shaking. "We don't have time to waste, do it now." I ordered her again. "Now!" The first shot rang out as Elana pulled the trigger. She missed, however, lowering the gun. "I can't..." she sobbed. The Zack drew nearer, moaning even louder. "You can, Elana. Imagine how proud of you Bray would be." I consoled. This time Elana nodded her head and raised the gun again. She took a deep breath, like we had practiced, and fired again. The bullet released ripped through the female Zack's head, and she collapsed to the ground. We both stood still even then, listening intently for more. Footsteps were heard this time, yet we remained still. Elana still had the gun raised. A figure soon appeared, and startled, Elana fired again.

"Whoa!" a voice cried out. Elana screamed, dropping the gun. It clattered loudly on the wooden deck. Bray's face became more clear as he approached nearer. He stopped at the headless female Zack, then glanced back up at Elana. "Did you do this?" he asked. Elana let out a sob, nodding her head. "That was a wicked awesome shot." he said again. Elana made her way to him and he embraced her, whispering words into her ear I was too far away to hear. My attention fell to Gary and John, who weren't far behind Bray.

"We heard a scream and gun fire," John began, "we hurried over here. Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." I said. "Elana killed her first. Right through the head." The two men also stopped to notice the dead female Zack lying in the leaves. I noticed quickly both men had their guns drawn, just to be safe.

"Our next goal is to create weapons that don't make such a loud noise. Guns are ridiculous to use in this situation." Gary said. He was right. Guns were nice to keep with us, but they were too loud. We had to find a new way to kill these Zack.

Two weeks had passed since the incident. Elana's night terrors and crying had finally calmed down since killing her first Zack. We all had been there, even now don't know if we can ever completely heal. A Zack was once a person, and pulling a trigger to kill such a thing often feels like murder itself.

December 15th had approached. We had all been sitting around the fire around noon, eating our lunches, when we heard the doorknob to the front door being fidgeted with. All three men drew their guns, ordering us women to stay back. Cute, but wasn't going to happen. I also had drawn my gun. We listened silently until the door clicked open, a figure appearing.

"Dad!" I cried out. The men lowered their guns as I rushed to him, hugging him tightly. My dad had also lowered his gun, putting it away as he hugged me back. My mom too was behind him, as well as my younger sister, younger brother, and older brother with his wife and two boys. While I was happy to see most of my family, an aching in my heart took place when I glanced back at Gary. His dad was sick with cancer before the breakout, his mother refusing to leave his side. Gary knew they weren't going to show up. He did look relieved, though, and shook my dad's hand, inviting everyone in. Introductions were exchanged, before we sat down to hear their story.

I must go now. There will be much updating later.