The World We Once Knew Read online

  Without taking her eyes off of him, she slowly began to slide the straps of her backpack of her shoulders and rested it on the ground. Wetting her lips, she used one dread to tie the others up and out of the way before she glanced back to make sure the roads were clear. Crawling around the bush and up the exit portion of pavement, Quinta kept her legs bent and low to the ground. With one arm wrapped around her back, the machete's blade gleamed in the sunlight over her shoulder. The other arm was held low beneath her body while she slowly approached him. One foot stepped in front of the other quietly against the pavement. Sweat trailed down both sides of her face from the temples, met at the chin, and dripped down. The closer she came to him, the more gurgles and whines she was able to hear; alike to ticking.

  The entire time the siblings watched Quinta's form creep nearer to the target, their breaths were held. Oddly, an air of concern showed on their faces with much of their anxiety subconsciously belonging to Quinta being within dangers reach.

  Just inches from his turned frame, Quinta slowly straightened her body and stared at the back of his rotting head. Rolling her wrist, her blade brushed against the concrete which caused that eye to stop moving. Before he had a chance to hone into his prey Quinta's arms shoved forward and both blades pierced through his neck. Clenching her jaw and with a little grunt, she turned the sharp edges outwards to decapitate him. Old, brown blood spurted across her face while his head rolled off, and onto the floor with a sickened thud. His body fell to the side not soon after which showed Quinta's short form. She stood over him and stared down at his body. Her knuckles her pressed to her lips before she glanced across the lot for a glimpse of Addie and Dane.

  Everything seemed to go in slow motion, both Dane and Addie knew they had to be quick and fast before that sad excuse of humanity let out a sound.

  Luckily, she was.

  Blowing out, she returned to get her bag before she met them in the middle of the lot, “Stab anyting dat’s restin’ on da ground or movin. We can't take chances.”

  Addie clenched her jaw as she stared at the shop in front of them. While listening to Quinta, Dane peered around and found by a bench, there were two still, suspicious figures slumped against a far wall. He wanted to get on with things since they still had quite the walk towards a possible sanctuary. Crossing over, he approached the bodies with his hand clenched against the handle of his bat. In sync with his jaw, he braced and armed himself before he collided the bottom of his foot with one’s head. Next the sound of his weapon cracked the skull open sounded. For a fraction of a second nerves jumped in Dane's body because he expected it to move. Only the body fell just as quickly as he pulled away from the barbaric action. He repeated on its partner only to find that, thankfully, he too was simply a corpse.

  Addie refused to watch her brother while he “took care of things”. Quinta's eyes slowly glanced over the younger girl's body before she coolly brought Addie into her body for a hug. Quinta watched Dane finish the necessary deed while her hand slowly ran down Addie's back for brief comfort.

  Dane headed right for the entrance to which Quinta whispered to his sister, “Come on.”

  She proceeded to pull Addie towards the shade of the overhang while Dane opened the doors for the both of them. There was no doubt about the walkers and the possibility of the advanced infected in this building. Dane was more than willing to make his way to the Pharmacy and rummage. As long as they stuck together he may as well try and pick himself up a new pair of shoes if permitted at this rate.

  Addie held onto her elbows between Quinta and her brother. The lights were dim and sporadically a few would flicker here and there. At least they had that instead of the dark. The Starbucks by the entrance was completely littered with trash and spoiled food. Carts were scattered and overturned throughout the store. Down the long aisle in front, by the ratty handbags, hats, and teen clothes, it was clear. So far, so good.

  Quinta's machete stayed at the ready as she traipsed further within silently and headed straight for the clothes. Addie was close behind her and it wasn't long before both girls were rummaging quickly through the shelves and racks. Dane eyed them carefully as they made their way into the woman's clothing section. He left his sister in Quinta's hands because they didn't have much time to kill and promptly left for the pharmacy. Addie watched her brother break off from them which only caused Quinta's eyebrows to tuck in concern. She wasn't able to breathe a word to which she forced her ill feelings aside and helped Addie scavenge.

  Addie found a pair of much needed shorts while Quinta nabbed herself a t-shirt and a tank top. She held the fabric up to her face before she saved the t-shirt in her back and promptly changed into the tank. Quinta hooked her elbows in the bottom of her ratty shirt, lifted it high over her head, and tossed it to the ground. In quick movements, she was changed into the tank top that felt smooth to her skin. Not riddled with sweat, muck, and grime that never seemed to wash out. Quinta’s eyes lingered in the lingerie section towards the back of the store but Addie already had her sights locked onto the jewelry and other trinkets she could possibly collect across the way. Quinta's desires would have to wait it seemed.

  Though she kept glancing back to look for Dane's tall shadow, Quinta picked through the broken glass and scattered, muddied surroundings. All in all, they gathered a few rings, a couple of necklaces, and a men's watch. Those would fetch Addie a pretty penny if she and her brother ever hit a rough patch. Once they were seemingly finished, Quinta brushed her hands against her shorts and purposefully skipped her brand-new top. While Addie fit her things in her bag, Quinta slowly glanced around their surroundings before she finally settled on where to go.

  Next were toiletries. Grabbing Addie's hand, she led her further down the aisle that lined the cash registers and did a quick scan for tampons, pads, and deodorants. Addie's grubby fingers couldn't stop pulling anything and everything she found off the shelves and into her bag. Quinta watched Addie quietly go from one end of the line to the other with a smile. That smile soon faltered and faded away. Dane had been gone for quite some time now and this was too quiet, too empty, and too easy. Those bastards had to be somewhere and could possibly be waiting for the right time to strike them. Quinta had every reason to be on guard given that this kind of situation happened to her no more than a week prior. Patting at Addie's shoulder, Quinta placed a finger to her mouth before she waved the girl to follow along to look for Dane and get the hell out of there.

  Dane was heading in the direction of the pharmacy when he caught sight of the electronics. He couldn't deny the importance people nowadays had to hold onto something that existed in a once beautiful humanity they'd taken advantage of. People were desperate to cling to a shred of human culture to cling to in such desperate times. They did so and paid a hefty price for some. Gathering a rack of batteries, he placed them into the back pouch of his pack, Dane went even further. A few DVDs here, CDs there, the games would've been a real prize in settlements because they were limited and locked away. He couldn't risk the noise of shattering glass just to reach them so the bargain bin games would have to do.

  With one case in particular in his hand, he sighed out and remember some of these movies before shit hit the fan. He reflected to memories of a happier time when he had his group of young, teen friends. They'd all meet up at the theater with Alex calling out to girls, Brandon pigging out on popcorn, and Jamal's constant sarcasm. A smirk formed on his face as he packed that last movie into the personal stash of his bag. He pulled out a cloth pouch he used to “pour” the rows of medication into from the shelf.

  Sneaking carefully through the cough syrups and ibuprofen tablets to make his way towards the real deal. He easily scooted himself over the counter to the other side to push some bottles and packets into his bag. Many of them were empty or damn near close. The locked door to the back room and cabinets were what he needed. He jiggled the door knob and tried to force it open before he had to fall back on Plan B: find the key.

  As qu
ietly as possible, Dane began to search the unlocked drawers immediately beneath the counter. His stomach was a tense ball of nerves because he hadn't seen nor heard a zombie yet. That couldn't be possible though, these places were called red zones for reasons and it would be miracle in this life for this to be clear.

  Miracles didn't exist anymore.

  While his hand pat along the fourth drawer, he spotted a ring of four keys and proceeded to reach out to grab it. He froze at the sound of a dull shuffle and was quick to lift his gaze and flick a glance to the right aisles. Clenching his jaw, Dane then caught sight of his sister and Quinta approach them from in front. This caused his stomach to drop because the sounds to the right stopped as they advanced.

  Crouching a bit, he peeked around the corner to make sure the coast was clear for now. He felt safe behind the counter and a potentially locked office in the case that it was needed. He motioned them closer with his breath held. If he heard a screech or gurgled cry he'd vault himself over in a heartbeat to protect them. He bounced slightly on the balls of his feet with every muscle tense and prepared to jolt into action.

  Addie kept close to Quinta's side as they advanced closer to Dane's position. Quinta's gaze broke with his and cut to her left when he looked over before she pushed on Addie's shoulder and urged her to pick up the pace. She waited for Addie to hop over the counter before she too followed suit and met with Dane on the other side. Dane felt a breath surge through him once Addie was near him again as he reached out to catch Quinta's hand. He helped pull her over just in time to hear another scurried and shifted movements.

  Addie crouched down as fear surged in her stomach. Her knuckles were white from the grip she had on the counter. Quinta cut a look at Dane's hand from the corner of her eye before she looked ahead to make sure it was still clear. Once another shuffle echoed from their side in the same position, the air between the three of then grew stiff. Addie lowered her head and clenched her eyes shut.

  Dipping his hand in the drawer and carefully removing the keys, Dane locked them in his fist to silence them. Quinta backed away and took a hold if Addie's hand to bring her along. Quinta's nostrils flared out and the grip on one machete was sweaty. Dane inserted each key and twisted the lock until finally the knob gave and they were in.

  He ushered Quinta and Addie inside before him before he shut the door behind them, “Did you guys get what you needed?” He asked in a low, breathy whisper.

  “Y-yeah...” Addie answered.

  Having been through this situation of sifting through medications before, Dane went straight for his prescription tabs to find two boxes. If there was a God, he was thankful. Motioning them to help him pack as much as they could of the rest, Addie and Quinta were quick to follow suit so they could get the hell out of there. Once full, Dane tied the bag at the top and looped it around the straps of his pack. He took one last look at Addie before he reached out, grabbed the doorknob, and eased it open.

  Without seeing any walkers in their immediate sights, it seemed clear and the sounds that once followed them had ceased. Once they went to hop the counter, there was a lone figure faced away from them in the aisle adjacent to them. Quinta stopped short behind Dane and instantly wrapped an arm behind her and tucked Addie further back. It swayed from side to side before it moved and crossed towards the main aisle to show six others that lingered behind her.

  Addie was fine until she saw that they were grossly outnumbered. This sent panic through her body and just as she was about to gasp out, Dane whipped around and clamped his hand over her mouth; thankfully so. Crouching down, he yanked his sister down with him, and Quinta followed suit with them. He stared at Quinta who stared back at them before he touched her shoulder. Quinta turned to face him as he nodded his head and jerked it to the right. His eyes then flicked in that direction quickly. He played facial charades with her before Addie took a hold of his wrist with a shaken grasp.

  Thoughts of death plagued Addie's thoughts which in turn caused terrified droplets to appear in the corners of her eyes before they slipped and hit against her brother's fingers. Quinta nodded to Dane to which he lifted his fingers and counted down from three. The signal of one being that of action as they all stood and made their way down a side aisle out of view with quick and quiet movements. For once he yearned for that blistering sun over this.

  Quinta kept Addie in close proximity while she kept looking back at the ones who would catch on sooner or later. She urged them to go faster while sweat from her nerves began to trail down the sides of her head. It was only a matter of time. Addie could see the sun's rays at the entrance of the building and she hated that she agreed to come here in the first place.

  The trio rushed with light steps which did sound like lively activity to those who did seek for it. The horde stopped behind the female and turned towards the sound. She lifted her hollow nasal cavity to the air before she hissed out, someone was there...something delicious. Just as she was about to release the shrill shriek of the hunt, their prey slipped out of the door, she lost their scent, and once again she was blind; lost.

  Once they had narrowly escaped certain death, they picked up their pace, did not stop until they were out of the strip mall, and further down the street before they slowed down. Once they were able to breathe in the odd safety of the open field, Addie exhaled a deep breath with Quinta and proceeded to wipe her face. Dane's heart pounded wildly in his chest and panted out a proper breath. A broad smile was plastered on his face because they were now out of immediate danger and accomplished what he intended. He bought himself more time and that was alone irreplaceable.

  Closing in on Quinta, Dane reached into her bag for the map, leaned in, and crouched down for her to see.

  Quinta looked over it with him, “So this way down International Speedway. Just a couple of more hours and we should be there.” He said as he tapped where they needed to be.

  Dane seemed to be in high spirits for he was more than ready to make it and really, truly relax his mind and body for once. A few more hours and they could possibly be safe. That was enough to hold onto and give them hope.

  Taking the map from Dane, Quinta folded it up and placed it back in her back, “Den let's go.” She muttered as she rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck.

  All they had to do was go straight and Quinta was a woman on a mission; determined. Passing by a few staples of Daytona, Quinta marveled at how large the Daytona 500 stadium was. It must have been a sight in its heyday. They passed beneath the sign that once welcome tourists to the little, big city. Though the journey there was rather uneventful, Quinta, even Addie, could help but stop in the middle of the road at a massive building that was in actuality a high school. There was a college tucked across the street but the size and glamour of the high school overshadowed it. That was weird to Quinta, odd and a bit of curiosity sparked within her that wondered just why it was like that.

  Continuing on, the sun wasn't beating on their shoulders and backs, in fact the weather had been kind today. They were making great time it seemed. That is until they came to a massive bridge with both sides surrounded by water.

  Addie paused for a moment and simply hung her head, “Fuck.” she muttered under her breath.

  Quinta wiped the sweat from her brow with a long huff while Dane readjusted his grip on the straps along his shoulders. If they were ambushed by a group, their choices of escape would be limited and that was a scary thought. Dane was the first one to step on and it wasn't long before the girls followed in pursuit. It was eerily quiet as they trekked up and over, Quinta completely on edge as she came to hate such linear trails. Leaning forward to put her body to work at this climb, Quinta couldn't help but glance back every so often to see that nothing was there. Though she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

  She wasn't far off.

  Once they finally made it to the peak Quinta stopped short. She was met with a faraway view of the ocean but it was severely overshadowed by the massive walls t
hat were covered in metal sheets. This barrier surrounded a portion of the city about a mile both ways. Her only questions were...how and when did they build it? Where did this thing come from? There was an elation and relief that Dane felt through his sweaty exhaustion.

  Armed officials stood their ground and watched the three of them approach. They'd gotten word that three unrecognizable individuals were approaching the sector from delegates near the bridge. So, this was the sanctuary she'd heard so much about? It didn't look as welcoming as they advertised.

  As they approached the steel double doors that allowed entrance to the South wing of the wall, a bullet whizzed by which in turn caused Quinta and Addie to flinch. A walker that had stumbled out into the open was handled with quick succession. Dane lifted his hand up and waved to show human sentience. The doors opened and they took the first step into safe, stress free environment, or so they thought.

  They were greeted with soldiers and a general official whom waited at a table to interrogate and screen anyone who seeked entrance before they were allowed in. The man appeared to be in his early forties with salt and peppered hair, and a critical gaze that looked them over.

  Looking down at a clip board, he went down the usual list and eyed them with each pause and question, “First off, have any of you been bitten within the last twenty-four hours? Have any of you been displaying signs of tremors, irritability, dizziness, vertigo or severe headache and weakness? What are your intentions in Sector number 816 formally known as Daytona....example: residency, supplies, business or personal matter? If you pass the first screening, there will be further questioning following a full body medical examination before entrance to the inner sanctuary. Do you agree to these procedures and understand our protocol? Please answer with a Yes or No.”

  The only relief Quinta felt in this long and narrow room was the shade. The older gentleman pounded them with question after question. Quinta glanced from one hardened stare to the other. These were much different than the little self-made villages and rest stops she had passed through. These men seemed cold and embittered towards outsiders. The small communities that thrived and dotted along the path she'd taken here were protected and ran by civilians who opted to work together. They talked about the large, government owned sectors they had come across and they preferred where they were and took their chances. She preferred them as well it seemed.