For an explanation of what this is and the background, please see After the Flesh - Pith - 001.
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(Previously, from After the Flesh - Pith - 002)
You finally get Roger to the car, and he stands with his hand on the back door, about to get in. Then you hear an approaching voice that sends ice down your spine.
“Roger, please help me.”
You both turn and see Eve, covered in blood and entrails, walking towards you both, reaching for Roger. She’s about 30 feet away and moving at a walking pace. Roger reaches towards her, “Eve, my love…”
(and now...)
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After the Flesh - Pith - 003
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You see this unfold in the pouring rain and realize that Roger is not in his right mind. Damned if you are going to let him die here to the monstrosity walking down towards your car. Without any further hesitation, you knee Roger in the balls. It isn’t pretty, but it works. He looks at you with dawning comprehension a second before the pain forces him to double over. You push him, hard, into the back seat of your car.
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You turn to close his door and slip in the wet grass, only getting it partially closed. You scramble to get into the front seat, and you look up in fear to see how close Eve has gotten. She has stopped about 20 feet away and is staring at you. In a more sinister sounding tone, she says, “Roger, please help me,” and raises her arm towards you.
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“I’m pretty sure zombies aren’t supposed to talk…EVE,” you find yourself stating sarcastically. You stand looking at each other for a moment, and you are about to tell Sharon to run Eve over with the car, when you see a flicker of motion from up the hill. Startled, you see the man that was opening the casket lid … the one that Eve tore the throat out of… running down the hill towards your car. You flinch hard and dive into the car, yelling “Drive, Sharon! Drive!”
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“And I am fucking certain that zombies aren’t supposed to RUN,” you scream as Sharon stomps on the gas and the car lurches forward, accelerating like you were in NASCAR. The throatless runner adjusts course, slipping slightly, to chase your car.
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“Sharon, that thing is chasing us!”
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“Yeah, I get that!” Sharon yells back as she is concentrating on the road.
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The throatless runner closes the distance and grabs the back passenger’s door, reaching for Roger. It is hanging on, and now dragging its feet, as it reaches to grab Roger’s leg. Without even thinking, you snatch the tire iron from Sharon and climb out the passenger’s window in the rain. You start hammering on the Runner with the tire iron, hitting its hand, arm, and head as you shout with each swing. “I! Said! Zom! bies! Are! Not! Sup! Posed! To! Fuck! Ing! Run!”
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The Runner starts to lose its grip and turns its attention towards you now. You can see that it is trying to talk, but no sound is coming out. It reaches for you, and you take the moment to slam on its other hand with the tire iron in desperation. Its wet hold finally breaks, and it falls to the street. It rolls and immediately gets back up and starts running for you again. But your car is going too fast now, and you can see it fading in the distance.
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You manage to close the back door and sit back in the car, listening to Roger sobbing and lamenting in the back seat, holding his groin. “My Eve is still alive. My poor Eve…”
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You hear Sharon softly mutter “Roger, you’re a moron and your house knows it.” She looks sideways at you and you both laugh a little too hard.
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You drive past Emergency vehicles that are heading to the cemetery you just escaped. You notice a group of people under an awning at a bar standing there smoking and watching where the sirens were heading.
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What is your next step?
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Many thanks to everyone who kept my energy and interest up by commenting or carrying the story forward. I am very grateful for you all. @headshot for the inspiration and support, and @cerebus666 from diving in right from minute 1. @helainked for supporting me wholeheartedly and also for telling me to go to sleep. Also, in order of appearance, @adam_bovary, @ajsul, @belladonna, @littlejohn22, @capsblazem, @melina, @mirameow, @iwasagain.
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@missy, @penny, @eirenne, @lust
Check out the next part: After the Flesh - Pith - 004
