“Cut ‘em down!” #zombie

"I want to start this blog off by thanking everyone who has supported me on this.  A big thanks to David A. Martinez and One Night Dead.  As I do not want to give too much away, this will be the last post with material from the first book.  We are putting the finishing touches on the editing and hopefully "DESOLATION" is in print soon.  I will be releasing a chapter in its entirety from book two next Wednesday. 

Thank you again
Jeremy E. Cherry

Duke begins growling as a couple more of the dormant zombies start to reanimate.  Luke begins to put them down with his bow as Deacon chops at them with his machete.  In Deacon’s mind he continues to try to make sense of the fact that if the scavengers had been successful, the soldiers’ weapons should be gone, but they are not.  Greg and a couple of the others begin to pick up the abandoned weapons.

They continue on to another Suburban, Deacon looks through the shot out windows.  Every ounce of color drains from his face.  Crissy asks him what is wrong.  Deacon tells her that on his niece’s last birthday, Katelynn and her mom had made a doll for her.  He goes on to tell her that both Katelynn and he had signed the doll’s butt.  Deacon reaches in and pulls out the doll, lifting the dolls dress to reveal, “Love Katelynn and Deacon”. Deacon sinks, sliding his back down the side of the Suburban.  Duke attempts to wedge his head into Deacon’s lap, beneath his elbows.

Deacon sits crouched on the ground, his head is resting in his hands and the doll on his lap. 

“They are gone!”   

Deacon sits there while Greg, Lana, try to comfort him.  He continues to stare at the doll.  Luke takes the others out to gather what guns and ammo they can find.  Deacon stands back up and wipes the tears from his cheek.  Lana embraces him.  He buries his head in the crook of her neck.  With tears still running down his face, he whispers to her

“Before, I had hoped that they had made it somewhere safe.  Now, I know they never made it out.”  He stands up straight. 

“BURN IT, ALL OF IT!”  Deacon yells as he walks away from the decimated convoy, still carrying the doll. 

Jason begins ripping off strips of fabric, twisting it, and shoving it in the gas tank.  Andy takes what paper he can find and sets the interior of the vehicles on fire.  They move from one car to the next working their way back to their vehicles. 

They all return to their vehicles to watch.  Deacon leaves obviously upset, changing the entire mood of the group.  They stand watching the cars smoke, then become engulfed in flames. 

“What the hell?”  Greg says confused. 

The group watches as all of the other corpses start to reanimate.  They shoulder their weapons to prepare for battle, but all of the zombies slowly make their way towards the burning vehicles.  They pay no attention to the survivors, confusing the entire group. 

Greg looks at Deacon and asks, “What do we do with this?” 

Deacon still upset orders, “Cut ‘em down!”