Action Adventure Fiction

[note: Sorry about the lateness of this one. Today has been crazy. If you are new to Oasis, start with Chapter 1.]

Help And Red Shoes

The yelling got louder.

I knew they had to be close, so I slowed down and kept moving toward the sound. I still wasn’t sure why I was going or what I was going to do when I got there.

Three flares shot up into the air in rapid succession. They came from close by, probably just around to the other side of the block.

I hugged the brick wall of the insurance office on the corner and peeked around.

There was a row of stores, mostly antique dealerships and oriental rug shops, all of whose windows had been smashed. Nestled toward the center was a two-story apartment building.

Gathered around the front door of the apartment building was a mob of perhaps ten deads. They were pounding tirelessly at what was left of the front door.

I couldn’t be certain, but it appeared that there was at least one survivor on the other side trying to sure up the door with a table.

Two teenage girls and one middle aged man were at the windows on the second floor, calling for help.

I recoiled, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

What am I doing here?

I felt a sudden rush of guilt for attacking Carl and his son. I wasn’t a violent person. I had already spent a good portion of my life saving others. Now I seemed to be thrust into situation after situation where I had no other choice but to hurt.

No, I had a choice.

That alone was enough to make me feel sick inside.

Maybe I was trying to make up for my mistakes by helping out here. But what could I do?

Only one thing to do.

I tightened the straps of my backpack, held the bat so I could swing it hard, and stepped around the corner.

One of the girls caught site of me and screamed all the louder.

I took a few steps and looked up. “Get back inside! I’ll try to lead them away!”

What am I doing?

I pushed away the doubt and listened to my gut. I had to do something.

Even with the yelling, the deads didn’t seem to notice me.

I would have to do something more drastic.

The yellers disappeared into the building.

It was up to me.

I set my jaw and clenched the bat.

“Hey! Come get me!”

They still didn’t notice. At least, none of them turned my way.

I marched up to just a few feet behind them and froze.

I caught a glimpse of frightened eyes as the table shifted and survivors struggled to get it back in place.

“Listen to me!” I took a step and I took a swing.

Right in the back of the head. Just like with Beth’s infected uncle.

The infected body crumpled to the ground.

The three closest deads turned and grabbed out at me.

I scrambled back. “Come on!”

The closest dead missed me by at least a couple of inches.

I took another two steps back. “You want some of this?”

Two deads stepped toward me. The closest one crouched as if to dive.

I shuffled back and held the bat high.

The dead man pounced.

I brought down the bat.

I caught him mid-air.

Right on top of the head.

The bat made a satisfying “clonk” sound and shook in my hands.

His hands brushed my arms on his quick trip down.

No time to celebrate.

The second dead crouched.

I stumbled backwards, hoping to get out of range.

It was enough, but I lost my balance and fell onto my butt. The bat slipped out of my hand and flew somewhere behind me.

The second dead hit the ground at the same time I did, groping out for my leg. The third just kept walking. The other six still pressed on the door.

I rolled over and pushed to my feet like a sprinter.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement down the street.

The second dead raised up on her hands and the third pressed forward.

I ran for the fallen bat and took another glance at the movement down the street.

Several blocks down and running toward me was a man carried by two red shoes. Shoes I had seen before.

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What does the red-shoed man want? Continue on to “Chapter 34: Rescue Operation“I am just sure Oasis could work as a musical. You want proof? Go listen to “RE: Your Brains” by Johnathan Coulton. (Its the link that says “Re Your Brains” on his post…)

That being said, I’d be happy with a scifi network miniseries. So go talk to your people and see what you can do for me.

Or at least tell someone about Oasis. What, do I have to beg?