Read Online Rising: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction by Norman Christof - Free Book Online

as any drugged-out zombie would.  They all shuffled back to their cells and closed the door.  The cell block was at least a hundred yards long, so by the time they were all settled in their cells, the screams diminished to a manageable level in Leekasha’s head.
     
    “That’s better,” Leekasha whispered.  “Finally they’re quieter.  I can hear myself think a little.”
    Christa helped her to her feet.  “This is better.  At least they’ll all be locked in their cells when you revive them.  At least that way if things go bad they can only hurt themselves.”
    “Yeah, that’s true.  Should have thought of that in the first place.”
    “It’s not like we’ve done this before.  No reason to think this would go perfectly smoothly.”
     
    They walked past a number of cells. Leekasha moved slowly and gingerly, like every step was on broken glass.  Most zombies didn’t behave much differently now that they were locked up.  They paced their cells, some just stared into the corners, while others lay in their bunks rocking back and forth.  A few violently threw their belongings around their cells and screamed.  Those cells didn’t have much in them to start with.  Just a small pillow and some blankets on the ground.  Apparently, there was a reason they didn’t have much in their cells.
     
    “Can you tell which is which?” Christa asked.  “Can you tell which ones are like us?”
    Leekasha leaned against Christa.  “Not really.  There are too many of them.  Too much noise.”
    “I guess we’ll just have to try one and see.  What’s the worst that could happen?” She stopped in front of one cell with the zombie lying on his bunk with his back turned towards them.  “This one looks like he might be OK.  At least he’s not raving like a maniac.  Try taking your focus off me, and put it on him.  Focus on his cries.  He’s just one zombie.  You should be able to handle that.”
    “OK, help me get closer to him.”
     
    Christa helped Leekasha over to the zombie’s cell.  Leekasha placed both her hands on the bars of his door, steadying herself.  “It’s OK, Christa.  Just back away from me a bit so I can focus on him.”  Leekasha stared intently at the zombie on the bunk.  The zombie stopped rocking, but his cries increased.  It was like he could sense her now, watching him through a crowded room.  Get up, she urged.  You need to get up and look at me. I need to see your face.   Stop screaming, and show me your face.  Now.  The zombie slowly rolled over and sat up in his bunk.  He walked to Leekasha and reached through the bars and took hold of her forearms.  Not tight or rough, just gently holding on.  Leekasha looked at his hard, angular face with a sharp chin and hollowed-out cheeks.  I can help you reconnect if you’ll let me.  Show me where it hurts the most.  Show me where you can’t go.  Where you’re afraid.  His green eyes blinked and closed.  She could see in his mind where he was, and she followed him till she got to a bridge he wouldn’t cross.  She went ahead, and halfway across the planks leading to the other side were falling out of the bridge into the canyon below.  Leekasha knelt down, and waved her hands where the missing planks used to be.  Everywhere she waved, the planks reappeared.  She moved across the bridge to the other side, creating new planks and healing the bridge as she went. 
     
    Eventually she reached the other side, and beckoned for him to cross.  The zombie opened his eyes and smiled.  He squeezed her arms through the bars and managed a hoarse “Thank you.”
    Leekasha, overjoyed with her success, and for just a moment not hearing the other zombie screams, turned to share her excitement with Christa.  Christa however couldn’t reciprocate.  Instead she lay on the floor, eyes closed, while a small trickle of blood poured out of her ear then down her cheek.
    “Christa!”  Leekasha yelled, turning away from the