Read Online Machines of the Dead by David Bernstein - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: David Bernstein
Ads: Link
grabbed the doorknob and turned it. Taking a deep breath, bat in hand, he pushed. The door opened.
Chapter 10
Zaun’s place was dark; the apartment was set up similar to Jack’s. An acrid odor, like wet-canine fur and rotten eggs filled his nose. Unable to see much as he walked down the hallway, Jack took the flashlight from his belt, and clicked it on. With his other hand, he let the bat slide through his fingers a bit, choking up on the weapon.
“Zaun?” he called out. “You here, buddy?”
No reply.
Jack entered the kitchen. The place seemed clean, save a few empty open cans of food resting on the counter. His eyes lit up upon the flashlight’s beam hitting two cases of water resting on the floor. He was suddenly very thirsty. He went over and bent down, tearing open the plastic, he pulled out a bottle, twisted off the cap and gulped the contents. Next to the water were a couple of twelve packs of Coke, and two six packs of orange Gatorade. Putting the bottle down on the counter, he scanned more of the darkened room.
The cabinet doors were closed.
“Zaun, it’s Jack. I don’t want you jumping out and slicing me up. You in here?” With no answer, Jack opened one of the cabinets. Cans of food, including string beans, corn, carrots, chickpeas, hearts of palm, and baked beans lined the shelves. It looked like Zaun was doing okay; and was maybe the person who had raided his apartment, although the building had hundreds of people in it.
Jack couldn’t help feeling a little giddy inside. Quite possibly, his friend was alive.
Leaving the kitchen, he entered the living room. The odor of unwashed dog worsened. It was too dark to see well, so he kept the flashlight on. Empty cans of food sat on the coffee table in front of the couch.
“Zaun,” Jack called again, but received no answer. Maybe the guy was out somewhere in the building looking for more supplies?
Not wanting to startle Zaun if he came back to his apartment, Jack went over to the windows and raised the blinds, flooding the room with glorious sunlight.
Dust particles like tiny alien sea creatures floated in the air. Jack coughed, then saw that the living room flat screen was cracked, as if something had been thrown at it.
Next, he checked the bathroom. Boxes of soap and containers of shampoo lay on the floor under the sink. Tubes of toothpaste sat on the shelves above the toilet where normally towels were kept.
Jack felt conflicting emotions as he went through the apartment. He was happy, but nervous, hopeful, yet discouraged that he hadn’t come upon his friend dead or undead. But with each room being empty of Zaun’s presence, Jack’s heart sank a little further. It was looking like his friend had survived for a while , but might have eventually died or left the apartment at some point. But then , why leave all the food?
The only place left to look was the bedroom. Upon reaching it, Jack saw that it was closed. He knocked on the door, calling out Zaun’s name. “You in there, buddy?” He waited for an answer, listening for any sounds of movement or worse, scratching at the door.
After a few minutes , Jack’s pulse racing with anticipation , he took hold of the doorknob, turned it, and threw the door open.
He readied the bat, cocking his arm back, ready to swing, as he scanned the room. The place was gloomy like the rest of the apartment had been. Jack clicked on the flashlight. The blinds on the window were down . Jack was beginning to wonder if his friend had become a different member of the undead, a vampire.
Facing away, a figure lay on the floor next to the bed, as if it had fallen there and didn’t bother getting up. On the person’s left arm was the tattoo of a yin and yang symbol with a dragon around it. Jack knew immediately it was Zaun , his friend looking deader than dead.
Shining the flashlight over his body, he saw gashes and cuts, but one in particular caught his attention. It was on Zaun’s forearm and it
Chapter 10
Zaun’s place was dark; the apartment was set up similar to Jack’s. An acrid odor, like wet-canine fur and rotten eggs filled his nose. Unable to see much as he walked down the hallway, Jack took the flashlight from his belt, and clicked it on. With his other hand, he let the bat slide through his fingers a bit, choking up on the weapon.
“Zaun?” he called out. “You here, buddy?”
No reply.
Jack entered the kitchen. The place seemed clean, save a few empty open cans of food resting on the counter. His eyes lit up upon the flashlight’s beam hitting two cases of water resting on the floor. He was suddenly very thirsty. He went over and bent down, tearing open the plastic, he pulled out a bottle, twisted off the cap and gulped the contents. Next to the water were a couple of twelve packs of Coke, and two six packs of orange Gatorade. Putting the bottle down on the counter, he scanned more of the darkened room.
The cabinet doors were closed.
“Zaun, it’s Jack. I don’t want you jumping out and slicing me up. You in here?” With no answer, Jack opened one of the cabinets. Cans of food, including string beans, corn, carrots, chickpeas, hearts of palm, and baked beans lined the shelves. It looked like Zaun was doing okay; and was maybe the person who had raided his apartment, although the building had hundreds of people in it.
Jack couldn’t help feeling a little giddy inside. Quite possibly, his friend was alive.
Leaving the kitchen, he entered the living room. The odor of unwashed dog worsened. It was too dark to see well, so he kept the flashlight on. Empty cans of food sat on the coffee table in front of the couch.
“Zaun,” Jack called again, but received no answer. Maybe the guy was out somewhere in the building looking for more supplies?
Not wanting to startle Zaun if he came back to his apartment, Jack went over to the windows and raised the blinds, flooding the room with glorious sunlight.
Dust particles like tiny alien sea creatures floated in the air. Jack coughed, then saw that the living room flat screen was cracked, as if something had been thrown at it.
Next, he checked the bathroom. Boxes of soap and containers of shampoo lay on the floor under the sink. Tubes of toothpaste sat on the shelves above the toilet where normally towels were kept.
Jack felt conflicting emotions as he went through the apartment. He was happy, but nervous, hopeful, yet discouraged that he hadn’t come upon his friend dead or undead. But with each room being empty of Zaun’s presence, Jack’s heart sank a little further. It was looking like his friend had survived for a while , but might have eventually died or left the apartment at some point. But then , why leave all the food?
The only place left to look was the bedroom. Upon reaching it, Jack saw that it was closed. He knocked on the door, calling out Zaun’s name. “You in there, buddy?” He waited for an answer, listening for any sounds of movement or worse, scratching at the door.
After a few minutes , Jack’s pulse racing with anticipation , he took hold of the doorknob, turned it, and threw the door open.
He readied the bat, cocking his arm back, ready to swing, as he scanned the room. The place was gloomy like the rest of the apartment had been. Jack clicked on the flashlight. The blinds on the window were down . Jack was beginning to wonder if his friend had become a different member of the undead, a vampire.
Facing away, a figure lay on the floor next to the bed, as if it had fallen there and didn’t bother getting up. On the person’s left arm was the tattoo of a yin and yang symbol with a dragon around it. Jack knew immediately it was Zaun , his friend looking deader than dead.
Shining the flashlight over his body, he saw gashes and cuts, but one in particular caught his attention. It was on Zaun’s forearm and it
Similar Books
