Days of Love and Blood

away from Johnson and Tasha. One of them tried to extend his garden rake to make up the distance but it only scraped my back. Seeing my chance when the heavy part of the rake fell to the ground from his outstretched hand, I flipped around and ran him through. Dark blood spurted from his mouth and his arms dropped to his sides. He looked down in confusion at the sword protruding from his chest and wrapped his hands around the blade as if he was trying to figure out how to disengage himself. I unleashed my second sword while the first was still embedded in the homicidal’s chest and struck downward with the edge of the blade facing the ground as if I was wielding an axe. In that motion I managed to mutilate, but not fully remove, the arm of my next attacker who was about to smash me with what looked like a railroad spike. I kicked the dying homicidal off my sword and finished the maimed one with a clean slice lengthwise down his abdomen. I watched as he fell to his knees and briefly tried to collect his spilled innards with his one working hand before collapsing. The other two were brought down by blasts from a gun and when they fell I saw Cooper standing breathless behind them.
    “I ran ‘ round to try and find the back of the pack,” he said. “It’s not a big herd. Maybe ten more. Slower ones comin’.”
    “Shit, I can’t hear anything.”
    “Johnson,” Cooper yelled. “Take care o’ those dogs.” Several shots later there was silence.
    “Is it over?” The voice came from the picnic table.
    “Who the fuck is that?” Cooper asked.
    “Ben?” I shouted. “Ben, is that you?” He cr awled out from underneath the table.
    “Yeah, it’s me.”
    “Why didn’t you go inside?” I asked.
    “I don’t know. I - I panicked.”
    “Fucking dumbass,” Cooper muttered.
    “What’s going on?” asked Solomon.
    “About ten more or so on the way,” I replied. “Slow ones”
    A shriek erupted from the tree line and three homicidals stepped into the yard. Five more emerged behind them. Cooper, Solomon and Johnson stood side-by-side and took aim. Minutes later the homicidals rested together in a giant heap on the lawn.
    “Think that was it?” asked Solomon.
    “There might be a few more behind them,” said Cooper. “Everyone should stay inside until morning. Carson and I will stay out tonight. Keep watch.”
    “Is it always like this?” asked Ben.
    “No, son,” said Brigham. “It isn’t. But it happens from time to time. Can someone tell me what the heck happened with the dogs?”
    “I’ve seen dogs with packs of homicidals before,” I explained. “It looks like they created a hunting party together. The dogs lead them to the uninfected and feed off the fresh kill. It’s how they survive. Like they formed a symbiotic relationship or something. When I heard the dogs barking, I thought it could be one of those hunting parties.”
    “What the heck is that there boy doing?” asked Cooper and pointed to Ben who had walked toward, and was now bent over, one of the dead homicidals.
    “I don’t know,” I said. “Let’s get the bodies cleared and then you guys go in the house. Like Cooper said, we’ll stay out tonight. We can handle it.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw something rise behind Ben who was still hunched over one of the bodies. I pushed Cooper aside and ran to him.
    “Ben, m ove! Ben!” Ben looked up at me from his bent over position. The wounded homicidal behind him lifted an axe to strike but broke his stealth with a gurgling scream. Ben turned around and crouched, covering his face with his arm to deflect the blow. With Ben on the ground I had the room to strike. I threw a small dagger from my belt and it landed firmly into the homicidal’s chest, distracting him from his task. It allowed me just enough time to get there and finish the job with my sword. I jumped on Ben’s back, using him as a springboard with one foot while the other kicked forward, catching the homicidal directly under the chin. He landed flat on his back while I landed practically on top of him, straddling the vile disease bearer with my knees on either side. With both hands wrapped around the hilt of my sword, I pushed it downward, through his heart, and kept it there until his eyes glazed over in the familiar, unfocused recognition of death.
    “Jesus,” I breathed. “Are you alright?” I took off my hel met and reached out my hand. Ben didn’t respond but accepted my hand and I pulled him up.