The Real Night of the Living Dead Read online

  Me and Antonio led the way back to the first floor ward. The professor was in the rear.

  The trip back down was quiet. We didn’t encounter any of the creatures.

  Standing near the entrance of the first floor ward, I held Clara’s hand and kissed her face. “Once you lock this door,” I said, “keep it locked and stay out of sight. If any come inside and see movement through the window, they’re going to try and break in.”

  “All right,” she said. “Just stay safe.”

  I kissed her hand and took a few steps, standing outside the ward now with the cop beside me and watching as Clara shut and locked the door. I hated to leave her again, after having spent hours just to reach her, but I had to help secure the camp.

  I winked at her through the square foot window in the door.

  She mouthed the words, I love you.

  I nodded and followed the cop out of S-3, making sure the door was closed shut behind me.

  We were greeted by a naked infected woman patient. She was walking beside the Plymouth, looking through the broken windows. The bites covering her moving corpse numbered in the hundreds. I would say only twenty percent of her body had any skin intact. It was a tough sight to be an eyewitness to.

  She saw the cop first and began to approach him.

  Officer Antonio pushed her back. She surprised him by darting like a wild dog.

  I ran over and fired a bullet through the side of her head. Her brains made a splat sound as they hit the ground. “Don’t even give them a chance,” I said. “Get them before they get you.” I felt like a goddamn professional creature killer.

  We got in the Plymouth, Antonio resting the satchel between us as he started the engine.

  “How many buildings are we talking about here?” he said.

  “Seven. Two rows of three, that’s where the kids are kept, in those six. There’s a small building in the center, the kitchen, but it should be empty now.”

  “All right, I’ll drive you to each one. I’ll wait in the car. You run in, do what you gotta do, and get back outside. And be careful. If those guys didn’t answer the phone, then we have to suspect the worse, but I’m not getting out unless you need me to. No point in shutting her off if we’re getting right back in.” I nodded. “Once they’re set, you take the car back here. I’ll stay at those buildings in case they need me.”

  I shook my head, “No, you stick with me.”

  “Unh-uh, someone stays with those buildings. We can’t abandon them after having warning them of what’s coming. It’s either you or me, and I know you want to get back to that doll of yours.” I didn’t say a word. “I’ll be fine. I’ll keep the ammo and climb up on the roof. That way, I get a better view of what’s down the road.”

  “All right then,” I said. “Let’s go.”

  Antonio turned the Plymouth around and drove out of the parking lot. As we crossed over the road, I peeked out Antonio’s window, looking for the walking dead, but I saw nothing, they still hadn’t reached the bridge.

  Entering the grounds of the children’s camp, I saw that it was empty, peaceful. The six buildings were more like single floor cottages. Inside, they were lined with beds for the patients and had broken toys kept in a corner for them to play with. Also, there was a playground near the kitchen building, but it, like the cottages, was in bad shape.

  I checked my revolver for ammo. Fully loaded.

  The cop stopped in front of the first cottage.

  I hopped out, ran to the entrance, and threw open the door to see the kids were all sleeping. The attendant, Norm, had also been sleeping, his head resting on a table by the entrance, but he was awoken when I busted in.

  He came over in a hurry, looking upset. “You crazy? What’s the meaning of slamming that door, you trying to wake these little retards up?”

  I wanted to punch him right in his teeth. It was apparent the guy had no idea what was going on tonight, however insane that may sound. “How about instead of sleeping you do your damn job, answer the stinking phone when it rings, then I wouldn’t have to barge in here.”

  His gaze noticed my horrible appearance; I was covered in dirt and blood. I had a black eye and cuts and bruises on my face from scuffles with Hank. I was a mess.

  “What happened to you? You look like King Kong chewed you up and shitted you out…”

  “Listen, bub, we’re in the middle of a patient escape,” not wanting to try and even explain to this guy what was going on, I didn’t have the time or the patience right now, “and we need this door locked shut. Don’t open it for anybody, get me? Cops are on the way.”

  “Christ, how many patients escaped?”

  “Plenty. Now keep this door locked. All right?”

  His eyes studied me from head to toe. I knew from the look on his face that he understood this was serious business. “I hear ya. I’ll lock it right now.”

  “You have the keys to the other cottages?”

  “Yeah?” he said, raising his eyebrows at me.

  “Hand it over.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” I said, growing impatient. “Because I’m going to lock up the rest of them. Unless you want to risk your ass out there?”

  “Jesus,” said Norm, trying to look over my shoulder at the darkness outside. “It really is bad out there, huh?”

  I grabbed his shirt and pulled him to my face, saying, “Give me the damn keys, screw, before I put your nose through your hallow skull.”

  He gave me the key ring.

  “Now lock this door.” And I ran out, back inside the Plymouth.

  Officer Antonio drove me to the two other cottages that Norm was assigned to, numbers three and five. They were both quiet. The kids were all sleeping. I locked the doors on both and moved on. We didn’t have to worry about the windows as they were covered from the inside with thick metal screens, so they could withstand some pressure if the infected showed up and tried getting through them. I just hoped the cops would show soon, because, overall, the cottages were weak. They could withstand some abuse from the creatures, but not too much, or for too long.

  Heading to Cottage Six, we saw a naked infected woman dragging her stiff body around the side of the small building. Antonio slowed down enough for me to fire a shot into her head.

  She didn’t see it coming.

  This cottage was like the others, quiet. I locked it up and got back in the car. That’s when we began to hear sirens in the distance. Our faces lit up with joy and relief.

  “Thank God,” I said.

  Officer Antonio cracked a slim smile. “We’ll get this under control now.”

  The Plymouth pulled to the front of number four. I hopped out, getting this down like a routine, opened the door and Bobby the attendant and five other creatures reached out and grabbed me.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  I screamed, so did they, as they pulled me toward their drooling mouths.

  Pulling as hard as I could, I fell back, running backwards down the path, with the creatures holding onto me.

  I fell on the hood of the Plymouth, my eyes on the creatures as they followed, intending to devour me.

  The cop threw the car in Reverse as I pulled up my revolver, screaming the whole time ― I was scared as hell ―and fired a shot at one of the creatures, killing him.

  Two of them lost their grip on me as the cop sped back. There were still two, including Bobby, on the hood with me, doing their best to keep their balance while trying to bite me.

  Antonio spun the car around, and the three of us flew off.

  I was on the ground, my face in the mud. I felt one of the creatures grab my shirt and shriek. Then I heard a gunshot, and the attacker fell dead beside me.

  I rushed to my feet, saw Officer Antonio pointing his smoking revolver from inside the Plymouth, then turned to see Bobby, on the ground, about to grab my foot.

  The cop’s gun went off again. Bobby was gone.

  Then I ran in the Plymouth as the two that fell back were
running toward us. Behind them came a wave of infected children, they were screaming and running out of Cottage Four.

  The Plymouth drove toward Cottage Two.

  I turned back in my seat, looked out the window, and saw the screaming maniacal creatures running behind us. My eyes were wide. I was shocked as I watched their glaring dead eyes moving, strutting in the dark.

  Antonio said, in a panic, “I’ll stay in this next cottage. You take the car back…”

  “Are you crazy?” I said, turning now to the cop. “Did you see what came out of there? It may not be safe.”

  “If it is, I’m staying. I already told you, someone needs to stay and protect them.”

  Stopped now in front of Cottage Two, we both ran out of the Plymouth, the engine still running, about fifteen creatures not far behind and getting closer by the second. With our guns prepared to fire, I opened the door, the cop beside me, and it was like the other cottages, peaceful and quiet, the thirty or so kids were sleeping.

  The cop pushed past me, entered the cottage, turned back, saying, “Go. Hurry!”

  I stared at him for a second, hearing gunfire mixing now with the sirens in the distance, I pulled the satchel from over my shoulder, “Here.” He grabbed it. “Good luck.”

  He nodded and that was the last time I ever saw Officer Antonio. He shut the door and began stacking stuff in front of it. I turned and ran back, hopping in the Plymouth as the creatures came running from the corner of the cottage.

  Their deafening screams sent a sharp pain to my eardrums as they pounded on the trunk, while I drove out of the camp.

  The Plymouth picked up speed, and the distance, between me in the car and the running creatures from the cottage, grew. My eyes glanced into the rearview mirror, and I could see them moving further and further away.

  As I crossed the road, I stole a quick glance to my right and saw the army from the women’s group had finally arrived; they had just crossed the creek and were heading my way.

  I stopped the Plymouth in front of the entrance, grabbed the other satchel of ammo, exited the car, heard the moans of the creatures approaching from the road and the screams of the ones running from the camp, and I saw a few infected patients at the entrance, the door was open and they were heading inside.

  With all of this going on, I didn’t have time to be scared, only time to survive.

  There were two infected standing at the open door, about to walk in.

  As I ran to the entrance, they turned to me and were met with my revolver sending bullets into their skulls. I headed inside, ran down the hall, saw another creature with no arms ― they had been eaten off and all that was left was mangled pieces of flesh and tissue hanging from stumps near the torso ― walking slow in the direction of the ward.

  While running, I aimed at the back of the creature’s head and killed him.

  I continued running to the ward.

  Then I saw a familiar figure in front of me, their back facing me. I stopped when I reached the creature and gazed. He turned to face me, Billy the Kid.

  I didn’t want to shoot him. I’m not sure if he recognized me, ‘cause he just looked at me for a moment, like he knew. But then he grabbed my hand and showed me his teeth. I wrapped my hand around his skinny neck and pinned him against the wall as he snarled, scratching at me. I put the revolver against his forehead, turned my eyes away, and fired a shot.

  He stopped fighting.

  I didn’t look at him again. I couldn’t. I liked Billy. I didn’t want to see him like that.

  Turning the corner now, I saw the entrance to the ward. The door was open, and my sweet Clara was standing there waiting for me. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders and wanted to cry, I was so happy. I dropped the revolver and the satchel and threw my arms around her.

  And she tried to bite me.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  I quickly pushed her away. I looked at her, her uniform was torn near the top, and there were a few bites on her shoulder and arm which I didn’t notice at first ― I was just so anxious to be back with her. But there was something else I noticed, a bullet hole in her chest.

  As she let out her haunting scream, I looked into those familiar dead yellow eyes. I screamed her name as tears ran down my face. “No! God no! Not Clara!!! Not my Clara!!!”

  She ran at me again.

  I pushed her away. The revolver was on the floor, but I couldn’t shoot her anyway, even if the gun was loaded and my finger on the trigger. I dropped my head and cried, my legs feeling like they wanted to give up.

  She attacked again.

  I grabbed her by the neck, as her jaw kept biting, trying to get a piece of me, I kissed her forehead and rubbed my cheek against hers. “I love you.” My cry getting harder. “I’m sorry I bailed on you, angel. Sorry…Don’t forgive this dumb kid…This dumb stupid kid…I’m sorry.”

  I screamed as I pushed her away from the entrance. I stumbled in the ward and locked the door. My wet suffering eyes shot right to the nurses’ station, where I saw the professor, with the two girls, barricaded inside, staring at me.

  I ran over, screaming, “What happened? How’d they get in? The door was locked, goddamn it.”

  The professor said in a calm voice, with the girls on either side of him, “I shot her.”

  “What?” I said, my eyes squinting.

  “I shot her. And as she was gasping for air through her wounded lungs, I pushed her out of the ward.”

  “Why?” I screamed, pounding on the glass, wanting to get my hands on this old man and rip him to pieces. “I trusted you!”

  “My boy, I did it so she could join my wife. I wanted you to understand the pain that I am forced to live through for the rest of my life. I wanted someone to share that with. I saw the love you have for her resembles the love I have for my beautiful lost wife. Please understand, I didn’t want to lose Sharon. She was taken away from me. And now, you can feel the initial pain that I felt when I discovered she was lost, and you can feel the pain for the rest of your days, as I will.” He paused. “I am not crazy, Mr. Veimer. I am heartbroken.”

  I shook my head, not wanting to accept it, my hands running through my hair as I screamed her name and cried. I screamed until my voice faded, then I stumbled to the door and stared at Clara through the small window.

  She saw me and banged away, trying to get inside. I just gazed, tears running down my face, clearing any dirt in their paths.

  As the minutes passed, I could hear the creatures, they had surrounded the building and were banging away, trying to get in, and the gunfire was getting closer too, but none of it mattered to me anymore.

  The professor exited the nurses’ station and approached. I could feel the heat from his body standing behind me. “You must have really loved her?”

  I shook my head, my eyes on Clara, saying, “Please…just kill me. Please, do me that favor.”

  “I can’t, my boy,” he said. “I am not a murderer.”

  But I was. I was responsible for many of those who lost their lives tonight, and now it was time for me to pay. That was the way I saw it.

  I gazed hard into Clara’s eyes as she attacked the door. I wanted to see the hazel in them again. I squeezed mine shut and prayed for her to be normal, for her eyes to go back to the beautiful hazel. I squeezed so hard, the darkness under my eyelids turned white. I opened them again, hoping to see Clara Daniels smiling at me with her beautiful hazel eyes, full of life.

  And…nothing changed.

  My Long Goodbye...

  My eyes stayed on Clara, watching her screaming rotting corpse beat on the door, until I collapsed, passed out from exhaustion.

  When the creatures made it in S-3, the professor and the two girls dragged me inside the nurses’ station. I was in and out over the course of the next two hours or so. I would hear the banging of the creatures, desperate to get inside our ward, gunshots erupting closer than before, and the screams of the infected creatures, but I kept shutting my eyes, trying to drif
t away, to force myself to die. But it never happened. Soon I would be awakened by medics in the back of an ambulance, on my way to the hospital.

  What started out as a simple medical experiment turned into a night of hell on earth, a night of the living dead spreading death and destruction throughout the grounds of Philadelphia State Hospital.

  For the police, it was too much to handle. Local military units were called in, a perimeter was set up, enclosing the entire hospital campus, and by sunrise, things were under control. By noon Thursday, the last remaining creatures were terminated.

  They managed to travel across Roosevelt Boulevard to the men’s group, but, by that time, the buildings were locked down. Clara had done her part in warning the rest of the campus of the disastrous breakout. If not for the warning, the infection would’ve spread across the men’s group and the creatures’ numbers would have increased by the thousands and, no doubt, reached into the neighboring communities.

  Only a handful of doctors, nurses and attendants lost their lives that night, but almost a thousand patients died and no one even noticed. They were disregarded. No one cared about the patients living in a mental hospital with one of the worst reputations in the country. The families of the staff members who never came home were paid to forget, to never utter a word or question what happened, about what they believed was a mass patient escape gone awry.

  The cleanup took weeks. The bodies of staff members were given proper burials, but the piles of patient corpses were transported and buried in mass graves at the local Potter’s Field, which still exist to this day ― it is located in the section of the city now known as Greater Northeast Philadelphia.

  As for getting back to normal, the few staff members who experienced first-hand the horrors of that night, like myself, the nurse Pearl and Buster the attendant, were paid, by the government, twenty thousand each ― a lot of money in those days ― to never mention again what we witnessed. Also, my record was wiped clean, and I was able to walk out of Byberry a free man. Others, like Buster and Pearl, were offered jobs in other hospitals across the state. I’m not sure what became of Pearl, but Buster tracked me down in the early sixties, he called me, he was drunk and wanted to talk to someone who would listen and not think he was some nutty lush telling wild tales about the undead. He was the one who told me what happened once the cops and military arrived, and where the bodies were buried. He had taken a job offer at a hospital in western Pennsylvania after the Night ― as we came to call it ― and was still living there, but the memories haunted him, and he’d do his best to wash it away with alcohol. We’d call each other every few months over the next several years, but eventually I lost contact with him.