~ 6 ~ Respect Your Elders

The new recruits, Katie, and Alex, fit right in with the group. Katie was energetic, like Monica, and seemed to be a mood maker. Alex, the opposite of Katie, was very calm and quiet, like Desirae. Katie seemed to feel more comfortable around Sofia and Monica, while Alex was more comfortable with Sofia's mother and Desirae.

The drive was fun for the group, filled with laughter and questions. They approached Janesville, almost 100 miles from Alex and Katie's house. The streets were empty and there was no body, dead or alive, in site. The car pulled up to the Rock River, stopping in front of the bridge. Sofia looked at her mother, confused.

"What's the matter, Mother?" Sofia asked. She looked in front of the car to see that the roads were blocked off by a couple of roadblocks. Across the bridge were roaming zombies, moaning, and limping. Sofia's mother sighed at the site.

Jennifer sat up from her seat and tapped Sofia's arm. "How come we can't just go across?"

Alex squinted her eyes, watching a zombie limp its way across the bridge. "Hold on…" Everyone watched as the zombie looked up at the car, sensing the group of women. It growled and limped faster. It stepped on a barely noticeable land mine and-

BOOM! The bridge exploded, causing the group to flinch and cover their heads. The bridge divided and crumbled into the river, dividing the group from the other side of town. The group looked at each other, confused.

"Is everyone alright?" Sofia's mother asked everyone, earning nods. "Alright." She took a deep breathe and looked to her left. "There's another bridge over there. Maybe we can check it out." She put the car in reverse, made a U-turn, and headed for the other bridge a block away.

Katie looked at the collapsed bridge. "I wonder who did that." She grinned at the rest of the ladies in the back seat. "And I wonder why."

"Probably," Desirae chimed in as she munched on some chips, "the person wanted to separate the living from the dead in the town." Sofia nodded.

"Yeah." Alex mumbled. "Maybe." Her face was clouded with doubt.

The group arrived at the next bridge. It was narrower than the last, but it would be able to fit the car. Sofia's mother climbed out of the car and looked around. "Stay here." She instructed the group before walking towards the bridge. This bridge also had roadblocks, but barbed wire covered the spaces in between the roadblocks. Sofia's mother approached the roadblocks and poked it lightly. "What is going on here?" She looked at the bridge, seeing more land mines. "Who did all of this?" She looked around, frowning.

In the car, Monica played with Sofia's hair. "You know, Sofia, you shouldn't cut your hair anymore. I wanna see what it's like when it's long!" Monica smiled warmly at her friend, who smiled back in return.

Katie nudged Alex, noticing that her high school friend was quiet. "Something wrong?" Alex looked at Katie.

"I don't understand what's going on. Does this mean that someone is still alive in this town?"

Desirae looked at Alex, intrigued. "Please explain."

"Well," Alex started, "the mines. There's no way these were here before the apocalypse. How else did people go in between the town. So that means that it happened after the apocalypse." Alex sat up, everyone listening to her. "My questions are how long ago were these mines placed, why were they placed and…" She trailed off.

Sofia blinked. "And what?"

Alex looked at Sofia. "Are they still here, watching us?" Silence engulfed the car. Katie couldn't help but look outside her window, curious.

Sofia's mother walked back to the car, sighing. She opened the door and entered the car, frowning. "It's the same as the other bridge. We can't get across." She scratched her head. "Let me just think of another way."

Suddenly, a knock on a window caused everyone to snap their necks. Standing outside was an old man, around 70 years-old, with an umbrella over his head. He had shaved gray hair, down-turned gray eyes, and wrinkly pale skin. He wore a thin black jacket, some gray work pants, and black work shoes. He had a small smile plastered on his face.

"Hello young ladies." He spoke through the closed window. Sofia's mother hesitantly cracked the window open. "Were you the ones who tripped my mines? Although if you were, you wouldn't be here right now." He laughed heartily, caused Katie and Alex to look around, cautious.

Sofia's mother cleared her throat. "So you put those land mines there? Impressive."

"Yeah," he sniffled, looking at the bridge in front of the group, "a few decades in the army will teach you about that." He said, almost bragging. He suddenly looked concerned, as if just remembering something. "Hey, can you guys help me out? My wife hasn't been feel well since this whole thing started and I would appreciate you looking into her."

Everyone looked at each other, suspicious. Desirae adjusted herself in her seat. "What's the matter?"

The old man fumbled in his pocket and pulled out an old photograph, slipping it through the crack of the window. "Please, she's the love of my life."

Sofia's mother frowned. "Can you spare some food in exchange for us helping you?"

The old man nodded excitedly. "My wife is making some dinner now. She always makes too much, so there should be enough for you all." The old man turned around and started walking slow. "Follow me!" He shouted at the group. They all looked at each other before driving behind the man. He led them past the eerily abandoned stores and gas stations. He turned to the car, which came to a complete stop. Around them was a small residential area, and behind the man was a 2 story house.

"I'm scared." Jennifer mumbled. Sofia held the twin girls in her arms.

Sofia's mother rolled down her window. "Where are we, mister?"

The old man grinned. "My house, of course. Please, come in." He opened the door with a key he pulled out of his pocket and disappeared into the house.

The group looked at each other. "What do we do?" Desirae wondered.

Sofia's mother opened her door and exited the car. "We see what the problem is."

"Hm." Alex nodded and exited the car too. "I don't have a good feeling about this, but I guess we can get some food out of this."

Katie followed Alex. "Maybe take a nice shower too!" The pair walked into the house.

Sofia and Monica exited the car together. Sofia looked at Monica and asked, "Oh, how's your arm?"

"It's alright." Monica pointed at Sofia. "How's your back?"

Sofia nodded and smiled. "It still hurts but it feels better. I hope they have some medicine or something."

Desirae emerged from the car with the twins and looked at her friends. "Come on, let's go inside." The rest of the group entered the house.

The inside was wooden with floral wallpaper. The entrance led into the living room, kitchen and stairs leading to the second floor. The living room had a white floral rug, a long black couch and a couple of gray armchairs. The large windows were covered with a thin silk curtain and held a few house plants on the window sill. There was a small wooden coffee table in the middle of the chairs that held a television remote, another house plant, and a book of word search. There were a couple of paints on the walls, as if handmade, and a frame with a collage of pictures. Sofia assumed it was of the couple and their family. The room was small, but cozy.

The kitchen was a bit bigger than the living room. It had cream wallpaper and light brown tiled floors. It had a fridge, an stove, pans on the stove, a microwave, a coffee maker, a toaster, and other valuable items. In the kitchen, the old man was hugging his wife, an old woman. She looked at the group. She had a cane to support her, a big build, white hair in a small bun, brown eyes, and a small smile on her face.

"Welcome, young ladies." Her voice was raspy, as if it was dried out. She took a step then stumbled and fell. Everyone rushed to help her up.

"Dear!" The old man exclaimed, distraught.

She panted softly, struggling to get up, even with help. "I'm alright, James. I just lost my footing, that's all."

Alex held onto the lady. "Let me take you to the couch so you can rest." The old woman nodded and limped to the living room with Alex and Sofia's mother on either side.

Katie looked at the old man. "So, what do you both need help with?"

"Oh right!" The old man snapped his fingers and huddled closer to the group. "In the mist of all the chaos from these walking monsters, my wife got bitten by one." Everyone's eyes went wide. "I'm not sure what I can do to save her. I called the cops, the ambulance, anything I could think of." The old man sniffled, holding back his tears. "Seeing her in pain hurts me."

Desirae looked confused. "Wait, how long ago was she bitten?"

The old man looked at Desirae, wiping his tears. "It's been a few hours. When the neighborhood saw, they ran out of town as quickly as they could, or at least away from here." The group looked at each other, unsure of what to do. "I don't understand why no one helped. I've been looking through my medicine cabinet, but nothing seemed to help her." The old man glanced at his wife, who was out of breath on the couch. "Please…" He looked at the group. "You have to help me."

Monica looked away, uncomfortable. Katie looked back at the wife. "I don't really know how to say this but-"

Alex ran in, pale. "She's been bitten on the leg. We have to do something."

"Is something going on?" The old man asked immediately. Alex looked at him, confused.

"She's going to turn into a zombie. Did you know about this?"

The old man blinked, not understanding. "What? A zombie?" He looked down. "No." The old man looked at Alex, shaking. "So… My wife is going to die? And there's nothing I can do about it?"

Alex hesitantly looked at the old wife. "I-I don't know. We know nothing about these zombies."

The wife coughed violently. "James…" She summoned, causing her husband to quickly go to his wife.

"Yes dear?" He held her hand, shaking.

"Don't hide anything from me." She demanded, her eyes barely open. "Will I be okay?" The old man reluctantly shook her head and broke into tears. "Oh, James." She weakly stroke his hair. "I wasn't going to be alive forever." She chuckled softly and coughed.

"This is no time to be joking, sweetie!" He exclaimed. He sobbed loudly.

The old lady looked at the group of girls. "You." She shivered as she pointed at Alex. "Can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?" Alex questioned.

The old lady pointed at the window. "Please, take my husband and I to the bridge. Any bridge. It doesn't matter." She violently coughed, this time spitting out blood.

The husband flinched at the coughing and wiped his tears. "Why, Laura?"

The old lady smiled at her husband. "For our final goodbyes." Silence fell upon the group. Sofia thought to herself, 'What do we do?'

"Alright." Alex agreed. She looked at the rest of the group. "Let's go on foot." Alex helped the old lady up and looked at her group members. The members nodded and quickly helped the elderly couple walk over to the bridge. A cool spring breeze flowed throughout the empty town as the group traveled at a slow pace to the bridge. Once they arrived, the old man took his wife's hand and sat her down on the grass next to the river.

"Thank you, dears." The old lady smiled at the group of women. "I know it must be hard for you all to help us strangers."

Sofia sat next to the old lady and held her hand. "Not at all. We're happy to help." She looked at her group, who held sad smiles on their faces. Monica had no expression on her face. Sofia looked back at the elderly couple. "We'll stay here until the end."

Melanie and Jennifer ran down to the shore and picked up smooth pebbles and a few daisies in the grass. They ran to the couple and shyly handed them the presents. "This is for you!" Jennifer presented.

The old man sniffled, trying to hold back tears. "Thank you, girls." He sobbed softly, covering his eyes with his arm.

"You remind us of our daughter, Stephanie." The old woman sighed softly, looking at the daisy. The group watched on confused. "She-" the lady coughed roughly, vomiting a bit a blood. Everyone rubbed her back, worried. "Excuse me." Her breath was labored and she blinked slowly. "She just recently visited us, but left before the chaos started."

The old man pulled out the same photograph from before, and handed it to Sofia. "Here. Her name is Stephanie. If you ever come across her, you or anyone in your group," he took a moment to compose himself. "Tell her that her parents love her dearly."

The old lady nodded, taking a deep breath. "Please." She looked at her husband and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too! So much!!" He shouted, holding her hand tightly. She relaxed on his shoulder, passing away. Deathly silence consumed everyone, no one moving. Sofia slowly stood up, releasing the old lady's hand. "Please." He looked at the group, softly. "Take care of our house, will you? Don't let anyone dirty come steal things from it." He stroked his wife's hair. "And take care of yourselves."

Monica pulled Sofia away from the couple, nodding. "We'll try. Thank you." Desirae glanced at Monica.

Sofia's mother looked at the group. "Come on, let's go back to the house for now." She rushed Melanie and Jennifer back to the 2 story house. Katie looked at Alex, who knelt next to the old man.

"Listen," she started, "your wife will turn into a zombie soon. Will you stay here and be consumed by her, or will you come with us, and live to possibly seeing your daughter again?" Alex asked in a stern tone, hoping to convince the man to join them.

The old man shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "Something I was taught was to respect your elders." He looked at Alex. "Respect yours, and let me die happily with my wife. I beg of you." Alex stared at him, not moving.

Katie placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Let's go. He wants to stay." Alex reluctantly stood up.

"I'll carry you and your wife on our shoulders until the very end. I promise you that." Alex declared. The old man smiled warmly and hugged his wife tightly. Alex and Katie walked back to the house, stealing one last look at the couple.

Sofia, Desirae and Monica looked at each other, hesitant to leave as well. "We have to go." Desirae spoke softly. "Let's leave them to themselves. It's the right thing to do." Desirae started to walk back to the house.

"Hey," Monica called out to Sofia, who turned to her friend. "I don't want you to end up that way." Sofia blinked, confused, as Monica continued to talk. "I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe." Monica said sternly.

"What are you talking about, Monica?" Sofia asked.

Monica glanced at the house, sighing. "I'll protect you with my life. Don't worry, okay?" Monica smiled at Sofia.

"I'll do the same for you too," Sofia shrugged it off. She ruffled Monica's curly hair and retreated back to the house, Monica closely following her.

At the house, the group sat around in silence, not wanting to move around; not even the twins. Sofia's mother finished the dinner the old lady prepared and called everyone to eat, however they barely ate.

"We need to go." Alex sighed. "We can't stay in one place. Especially with those loud land mines on the bridge. They'll attract all the zombies if even one explodes.

Sofia's mother nodded. "I agree. We need to keep going to Virginia to find that safe house." She stood up. "Let's hit the road and push this behind us." The group quickly agreed. Sofia's mother grabbed a map and headed back to the car with the group. As they took another route, they passed by the elderly couple, now walking around as zombies.

Alex looked at Katie, who smiled at her. Sofia took a glance at Monica, who stared at the couple deeply.