Love poem

Love

What is love?

Is it real?

Can it be found?

What is love?

A feeling?

A thought?

A reaction?

What is love?

Care?

Admiration?

Liking?

Is there really love?

Or is it fake?

I may never know.

Titleless Zombie story

                It had all started that day in January of 2017. That was the day the world was brought to its knees. But the world hadn’t ended, and it won’t as long as we live. We are the thin line between life and extinction. We are what remains of humanity.

                “Come on move it get that loaded now!” ”Oh come on man it’s not like their still following us.” A tall brown haired man holding a box muttered aloud. We had just finished clearing out the small town of Elwitch of zombies only to be chased of by a large band of looters. “Everyone listen up, tomorrow we’re heading to a town called Hope ok so be ready and alert” I call out silencing the banters. This was followed by a bunch of groans some sarcastic some not. “Ok stop that last anyone heard was that some survivors had holed up in the high school’s gym” a woman in blue said coming up next to me reading off a report. “But their last radio report said that they were surrounded by hundreds of zombies” I say taking the report and reading the rest of it. “Why would anyone just stay there and call for help it just makes no sense why not make a run for it” The brown haired man called out. “Who knows anyway everyone you know where to go its getting dark out.”

Early the next morning

“Okay everyone you know the drill get your weapons ready, we’re almost there” The brown haired man called out slapping a handgun into his holster. “Ok Mr. Myles but can you tell me what to expect this time?” A blonde haired man with a bat on his shoulder replied with a snide grin. “Well not to much just some strange woman who’ll reward you for saving her life with a kiss” Myles said with a bit of annoyance in his voice. “Hey why don’t we all just shut up and concentrate on what we’re about to do” The man in the seat next to me shouted. Louis was his name I thought to myself. “Ok we’re here!” The drive yelled over all the conversations. With that there was a sudden lurch and a Hispanic man opened the back door of the armored truck. As he hopped out a second man closed the door behind him. It was about a minute before there was a double knock on the door. The second man opened the door and we all began to hop out. “Just skeletons out here poor guys didn’t even turn musta been shot early on” the Hispanic man said. We soon knew that the area was clear and approached the doors. “Ok I’ll go on but don’t let anyone in until I come back got it?” I say and it was quickly answered by nods. Two men opened the door and held it open for men. As soon as I was in the doors quietly closed behind me. The first thing that hit me was the smell it was the awful stench of rot, death, and decay. Then I looked down and was welcomed by the sight of teens missing limbs and other body parts covered in mold and maggots. I barely managed to hold my stomach in even after seeing so much death it was still hard for me to look at it. I walked down the hallway passing a pair bathrooms which were splattered in blood and had a large pile of bodies at the doors. I reached another pair of glass doors riddled with bullet holes and blood. At this door I stopped to listen but was only welcomed by the sound of my own breathing. Pleased with this I hurried back to the entrance and knocked immediately the doors flung open and other men rushed in in pairs. They quickly moved around me and down to the blood splattered doors. The first pair flung open these doors then hopped back letting the second pair through. Once beyond my sight I rushed after the last pair of men quickly catching them. There was no sound as each of the rooms was cleared out. We had nearly made it to the gym when the moans began. My heart began beating even faster and faster as the moans rose in volume. They began to sound closer and closer until gunshots erupted at the end of the hallway in front of me. The zombies turned the corner not in a mob but in a pile pushing each other and walking over each other to get to the men first. The rest of the men began walking back shooting at the group most bothering not to aim. Shots tore into the zombies to pieces tearing whole limbs off but still they persisted. I turned and held a door we had just passed through open for some of the men to run through so they could cover others. I quickly followed the last two in as the zombies got less than 15 feet away. A few of the men paused to tie zip-ties around the doors before running down the hallway after the rest of us. We had nearly rounded down the hallway that led to the exit when more zombies appeared out of an adjourning hallway. They pounced on one of the first men who fell screaming at the top of his lungs. They quickly fell on him and tore him to shreds with flesh and blood splashing the floor where he had fallen. This mad me run faster as my adrenaline began to drive me harder. I quickly took the lead but as I rounded the last corner I heard another scream. I didn’t turn but lowered my shoulder and rammed the entrance way doors. Outside I turned and braced to shoot at anything coming out the doors.

. Quickly men and women rushed out the door without turning back a few stopped and turned to do the same as me. But most continued on to the trucks without even noticing me and the few others. For a moment I just stood there motionless as nothing came from the door which had closed. Suddenly the doors then opened and I tensed up as the moaning from within grew loud. I pulled the trigger and felt it begin kicking my shoulder repeatedly as it shot bullet after bullet at the oncoming zombies. Again they were shot to shreds but continued to coming without any regard to themselves. Only a zombie could come to death with that mindless caring. I held the trigger until there was no more kicking with this I dropped the gun and let it hang on the strap. In the same motion I grabbed my side arm and began to shot the zombies again taking out the ones in the front first. Soon that ran out of bullets and I was forced to re-holster it. I glanced around and was shocked to see all but one other man had fled back to the trucks. I caught him looking over at me and nodded my head back towards the trucks. He quickly gave me a thumbs up and began to walk back still shooting. I nearly fell forward in surprise when I bumped into one of the trucks. It hadn’t been the one I came in but it would have to do. I knocked on the door as hard and fast as I could. It almost immediately opened and I was pulled in. Before the door shut I motioned towards the man outside who was still fighting. “He’s as good as gone there’s no chance he’s going to come back its how he wanted to go with a big bang” one of the men seated said. Almost as in a reply the man fell and soon an explosion went off we he had fallen. The door quickly slammed and the truck was in motion joining the convoy as it swept back to one of the roads. “Well reports coming from the other trucks are putting us at a loss of 5 men” reported the man near the trucks radio. “So we came out here and got whipped for nothing at all” one of the men cried out. “Pretty much man” one of the men across the truck replied. With all this I couldn’t stop thinking of the man who had blown himself up in the face of death. I somehow found myself a seat and was listening to the murmurs all around me. I soon found myself asleep relaxed as the murmurs had grown into conversations. It seemed as if hearing people talk was a miracle that was comforting to all.

                I don’t know how long I had slept but I awoke to the whining of the engine. I could hear cursing all around me some in anger some in fear. “What is it?” I asked the man who was quietly talking to himself more likely he was praying. “The engine it’s done, no good, fried we’re stuck out here the convoy’s gone man they left us to die” He replied back in a vaguely Hispanic accent. Suddenly there came a slam on the back door and silence fell upon the cabin.  Not even a minute had passed before another slam was heard followed by what seemed to be a hurried barrage of hits. I jumped from my seat and hurried to the front where the only windows were. Oddly even as the Zoms hammered at the back there were none at the front nor could any moaning be heard. Suddenly I realized that’s because those aren’t zoms their humans trying to get help. As I looked to the back men were cocking guns, sharpening knives, and even unsheathing swords in some cases. “Stop those aren’t zoms those’re other people!” “Oh yeah and how do you know that eh?” One of the men closest to the door replied. “Because there’s no moaning and we’re not surrounded” I replied cooling my emotions. With that there came silence with the exception of breathing. “Well you may be right but just because their human don’t mean they don’t want to kill us” the man replied again this time almost in a tone of respect. “That’s true but it doesn’t mean you have to go out guns a blazing and all” I replied as if on command some of the men lowered weapons or put them away. “Okay since we understand each other you can go on out I’ll catch up” I say with a tinge of nervousness rising up through my body. The door opened but no zoms came pouring in and no shots were fired. Instead a crowd of people stood there with just a few weapons among them. Well crowd was a gross exaggeration it was more like seven or eight. They all looked ragged and tired and most wore simple clothes that could be scavenged anywhere. The closest armed man spoke first “We saw y’all break down and would like to know if we could help you” “Well not really” the driver and co-driver both said simultaneously walking from the front. “Engines done no way you can fix it we’re gonna have to hoof it from here. Well least we happened to find locals who may know the area. “So since you offered help are any of y’all locals or know the area?” I asked.

“Well umm we’re all from somewhere ‘round here” One of the armed men spoke up. “Well can any of y’all get us to Norwich on foot?” the guy that had opened the door asked. “Norwich yeah that’s one of the biggest places ‘round here” the first man replied. “Good well it’s starting to get late so unless you all have somewhere close by your welcome to stay with us in the truck it’s big enough” I replied back. “You sure there’s enough room for all of us?” another man near the back asked anxiously. “Plenty enough we’ll get started in the morning at first light” I replied feeling a grin. It was mere minutes before everyone had their spots, but hours before everyone settled to actually sleep. Most just talk some played cards in the fading daylight others sharpened blades but few slept. Once it was completely dark though everyone began to drift off to sleep even me. My sleep was not easy though I continually woke up from nightmares sweating scaring some of the guys then and again. These nightmares mostly consisted of being eaten alive ripped to shreds but still breathing. But one was of my wife who’d died in the first days. She kept calling for me when I finally went everyone I had known was dead and my wife was dying it was like an unending dread that she was going to die because I hadn’t been fast enough. It was my fault a whisper had said in my ear. I turned to see my own parents who quickly murmured something sounding like ‘he’s turned kill him’ before I was swiftly hit over the head with a shovel which woke me up.

                After it finally became morning I was covered in sweat. I looked around and I was not the only one that had a rough night. I found my kit with my battle gear in it and grabbed it before heading outside. By the time I got there many of the people were already out there in various states of getting ready. I opened my kit again and pulled out my Kevlar vest and the rest of my armor. It wasn’t long before I was ready but I also had the lightest set of armor. Some of the guys helped each other into what looked like a knight’s armor.  Others were putting on shark suits. It was all kind of funny to look at. All the random armored figures most looking completely different. But it was all necessary in these days death was only a touch away. It was about half an hour or so I figured before everyone would be ready. So I used this time to clean my gun and blade. I looked my gun over it was an M-14 with a wooden stock. To me it was an artwork to a lot of other guys it was a status symbol. Then there was my blade I was proud of it I had made it myself it was more of a sword though at three feet. It was the last thing id made by myself before the end. I had always kept it cared for it was one of my most prized possessions my only link to my old self. I was admiring the blade when one of the men who’d come yesterday came over. “I take it you’re the man in charge here?” he asked sitting down next to me. “Not really I don’t know any of the guys here except Monroe” I replied pointing at one of the ‘nights’ with my blade. “Oh well they all listen to you so im going to pin you for chief.” “Well that’s because I outrank them” I say indicating the crossed guns which had come to symbol the rank of lieutenant. “Oh well me and my buddies want to get moving soon with or without y’all.  With that I simply stood up and loudly announced “We’re leaving in five get your stuff or leave it your in charge of your own supplies so take that into consideration.” Men quickly jumped to their feet and jogged to the truck carrying rucksacks and other types of bags. Some came out quickly with looks of relief others took longer coming out with a less than satisfied expression. It was soon that everyone was ready so I turned to the man that had come over “We need to get to Elwitch its where our forward base is.” He quickly turned and waved one of his group up “you’re from there you’re going to lead us that way ok Mary?” She nodded and began walking down the highway what I assumed was northeastward. All she said was “follow me” and waved her arm for us to come. I jogged and quickly caught up. “You sure you know the way” I asked catching my breath. “Yes” was all she said. We walked for hours and I felt my energy draining away like water drying under the sun. It was about noon before we finally paused for a break. Many men including myself were tired and needed it. I gulped down most of my water before my mind got the better of me to save it. I also ate one of my daily rations to get some calories so I could keep going at our grueling pace. Many men around me were doing similar. It was about twenty minutes before we got ready to go. There were many complaints but everyone eventually came the thought of being alone caused that. It was a dangerous world to be alone in and being alone could lead to craziness. What a cruel world we live in I thought to myself. Why do we chose to fight it to live on I ask myself. Its because we're human we cant just die another part of me answered. In my inner arguing one of the 'knights' walked up to me. It was Monroe. "Hey you ok man you look well exhausted" he says shrugging. "Yeah I'm ok I'm just I don't really know tired, worried, at a loss you know what I mean?" I ask looking him in the eye. He shrugs adding a yeah before walking ahead.

More Of Vicyims of Circumstance

I could feel many face turn and begin to stare at me even as I got over the initial shock. I started walking towards the stage staring down at the ground to avoid the threatening stares. As I reached the steps I glance up to see the principal waiting on the stage grinning. I start up the steps I nearly trip on the second step but manage to catch myself but not without my face getting even redder if that was possible. I manage to make it to the top of the steps without any more trouble. I look out at the crowd with a grin only to see a few smiles from those I knew but even more threatening faces from those I didn’t know. “Well Maren congratulations on becoming this year’s queen now what do you have to say?” the principal says shoving the microphone into my face surprising me even more. “Ummm I uhhh t-thank you everyb-body it’s an honor to be queen thank you I-I just don’t know what to say” I say feeling my face and whole body tense as everyone started clapping out of politeness.“ She then took the microphone back. “Ok sorry we must get on you must be anxious to learn who your prom king is ok here we are” the principal said flourishing the white envelope. She then torn it slowly to making me worry about who it would be.  She pulled it out and smiled as she announced “This year’s prom king is” she says pausing again to allow for suspense. “Come on up Aaron (LAST NAME)” again the crowd was hushed. Very slowly one of the guys in the crowd began to move towards the stage and the sweeping gazes all locked on him.

AARON’S POV->

            As I made it onto the stage I grew even more nervous the more my gaze caught the crowd. But that wasn’t what made me the most nervous. That was the girl standing there in a beautiful blue dress watching me walk across the stage. She was beautiful and not only that she was the girl id meet a few weeks ago and had been oddly attracted to. Even as nervous as I was I found myself grinning at her. Before I could get close to her the principal rushed to me holding the mic to my face like a reporter. She pulled back the microphone back for a few seconds to quickly speak in a few words “Aaron what’re you thinking now that you’ve won this award?” “I uhh I’m shocked, amazed, and excited about this” I say with a renewed confidence. “That’s great Aaron so now you two you know what’s next the customary dance.” She added with a smile. “Oh wait what am I doing were forgetting the crowns” she practically yelled before quickly rushing off the stage. She reappeared within a minute holding two crowns. “One for our dear queen and then the other for our king” she said placing the crowns on us in turn.                    

Introduction to Powerless

It just figures. You take water away and we'll find more. You take food away we'll make our own. you take shelter away from us and we build our own. But you take power and we lose control. So naturally someone did just that, and brought the world crashing down. The only flaw in their plan was they couldn't turn the power back on. Though around the same time someone messed with chemicals and caused guns to fail to. No one could explain why or how. It just seemed to happen...