A Zombie Story

Chapter 5: Rock n’ Roll X Zombies

The smell of peanut butter and coffee wafted into his nostrils which reminded him of his hunger.

“Oh, you’re awake. You want some?” Offered Dr. Martinez. He was on the floor preparing the MRE (meal ready to eat). He only had three packs remaining.

“I’d greatly appreciate it.”

A single cracker smeared with peanut butter in one corner and half a cup of sugarless coffee was all Dr. Martinez gave him but he was grateful enough for these. He had been starving for who knows how long already.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how’d you get locked in there?” Asked Finn.

Dr. Martinez just laughed—a helpless one. “T’was my daughter. I got bitten by a dog and she locked me in there in case I turned into a zombie and… that’s it. She said she wouldn't want to fight me if it came down to it and the dog wasn’t even infected, I swear. Just a normal dog. I know because it was three days ago when that happened and I’m still human. What about you? Why are you here? You never separate from your brother.”

Finn sighed. “Well, talk about bad luck, man. I was out there backpacking and then boom! The whole freaking apocalypse started and crazy stuff happened.”

“I was on my way to Lucena, you know. Just took a quick breather here, but seriously, have you noticed how those things are getting smarter?” He added. “I thought I was being sneaky, but they still figured out I wasn't one of them. Busted! Man, I still kick myself for leaving that apartment. If I had just stayed, none of this would’ve happened.”

He downed the coffee before he continued. “I’m as good as dead in a few hours. Honestly, I’d rather be dead than eat someone, you know? But still, all I really want is to see Sam one last time.”

Then suddenly, a heavy silence settled over the place, creating an awkward pause.

‘Ah, crap! I must’ve overshared. Not having to talk to anyone for a long time must've made me lonely, huh.’

“Why don’t you see him then?” Asked Dr. Martinez, breaking the awkwardness. “Sam, I mean.”

Finn just stared at him like he had gone crazy. “Ha! I gotta admit I’m clueless about what’s going on in your head, but hey, Doc, you okay?”

“I’m totally fine, Finnegan.”

“Gotcha! Well, that’s good to hear. But hey, in case you don’t know, getting to Lucena is like chasing a dream, you know? It’s a solid ten-hour drive from here. I mean, I do have a car but Lucena is pretty huge. Honestly, I’m kinda nervous about what I might do when I see him. Might just take a tasty chomp out of him, hahaha.”

It was a fake laugh and Dr. Martinez was painfully aware of this.

‘I wanna be selfish but damn, I’m only human.’

“Say, Finnegan. Didn’t you say your brother’s in Lucena? How about, well, you still have a couple hours remaining and, I don’t know, uh…”

“You want me to come with you?”

“That’s what I’m trying to say.”

Finn burst into laughter which he immediately regretted. Despite the anesthetics and opioids, his wounds still hurt a bit.

“Whoa, Doc. I got to be honest, your words are chiming some serious worry bells in my head. It’s like you’re out here treating it like grabbing chips right before doomsday hits. You do hear what you’re saying, right?”

“Sadly yes, Finnegan. I do hear what I’m saying. And I mean it. Well, call it my last act of kindness before I go solo. Just call it my own sort of closure. Cheers!” Said Dr. Martinez as he raised his own cup of coffee and downed it as well.

***

August 6th, Sunday, 1:32 p.m., Cedar Avenue.

“Tsk! Why aren’t they here yet? Shouldn’t have taken them five hours to get here back and forth. Did something happen?” Franklin muttered.

“Oi, Jimmy. I don’t think that’s our brother at all.” Whispered Adara, covering her mouth with a paperback.

“People change in tougher times.”

“That, I won’t refute. But who the heck changes a 180° in a day? He’s been acting weird since yesterday.”

“Hmm… So you’re suggesting he ain’t our brother? He looked like Franklin no matter how I looked. Though, sure. He does act suspiciously.”

“Ugh! I can't with you, Jimmy. You’re hopeless.” She irritably said before she went back to reading a novel.

Then it was at that moment that Franklin finally said to them, “Ah! They're here. Ready your gun, Jimmy. And Adara, I entrust this to you.”

He handed Adara a syringe with blue liquid inside.

“Wha—What is this for?” 

“You went to med school, didn’t you? So you should know what that's for.” Franklin simply told her and shrugged.

***

August 6th, Sunday, 1:32 p.m., Cedar Avenue.

A sleek, black, solar-powered car drove down the highway as the loud rock n’ roll music played from the stereo. Finn and Dr. Martinez didn’t really care how many zombies they had hit at this point, they just kept on driving. They knew well enough zombies were attracted to sounds but they didn’t mind either way. The two admit it was a somewhat reckless decision—utterly stupid and kinda su*cidal—but music was all they had at that time. They needed to keep themselves sane, though a really good bath might have a better effect.

At the back of the car was a backpack full of medicines and first aid kits, three MREs, and a gallon of water. That was all.

A stethoscope hung on Dr. Martinez’ neck. “A great device for hearing zombies on the other side of the wall,” he said.

Everything was going fine when all of a sudden, Finn just started convulsing.

Dr. Martinez slammed his foot on the brake pedal and turned to Finn. “Oi, Finnegan. You okay?”

In a sudden turn of event, the peaceful highway ride took a terrifying twist when Finn just started convulsing on the passenger seat. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and saliva dripped from his mouth, his limbs jerked uncontrollably.

Dr. Martinez could only purse his lips. “You’d have to forgive me, Finnegan. I am so sorry. I truly am but you’d have to go.” He said as he kicked Finn out of the car. “Goodbye, my last patient. And I hope we don’t see each other again.”

He then drove off to Lucena alone. He changed the rock n’ roll music into a melancholic jazz saxophone, turned the volume down, took the last cigarette he had been saving in his breast pocket and lit it. On that day, he became a changed person.