Yesterday's Gone: Season Three (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER)

eleventy.”
    Die Hard said, “That’s not possible,” while Wimpy Dick shook his head.
    “Anyone want a ticket to see shit themselves?” Boricio asked.
    Without another word, Boricio rose from the table, shoved his gun back into his pants, then said, “Hey you, Wimpy Dick.”
    The guy standing beside Die Hard turned.
    Boricio laughed. “You always turn when you hear those four words together? How about cum-catching cocksucker?” Boricio frowned, then laughed louder and said, “I guess you could probably count them words as three.”
    Wimpy Dick said, “My name’s Brent.”
    Boricio laughed. “Okay, Brent . I want you to walk in front of me while we head up the stairs and I lead you all to my ugly half’s ancient little brother. But I don’t like the idea of all you guys walking behind me. Seems like I’m leaving myself vulnerable, and not just for a reach around. Take the lead so we can get the party started.”
    Wimpy Dick looked back at The Captain. He nodded, then Wimpy Dick said, “Where do I go?”
    “Over there,” Boricio pointed toward the stairs. “We’re going up, then down the hallway to the second door on the right.”
    Brent went up the stairs, then down the hallway to the second door on the right as Boricio followed behind. Callie and Die Hard went next. Fugly Boricio took the rear.
    At the top of the stairs Boricio called, “It’s okay, Miss Mary, we’re about to come into the bedroom, but I swear on my you know what that shit is peachy. But keep your guns ready just in case some shit goes down, eh?”
    Wimpy Dick looked back at Boricio, then opened the door when he nodded.
    Mary and Paola were sitting protectively on either side of Luca, who was still lying on his bed, barely breathing and looking a million years old while doing it. The Captain approached the bed, then stared at Luca for a long while before shaking his head.
    “That’s not my brother.”
    Boricio said, “I told you he wasn’t from your world.”
    “No,” he said. “That’s not what I mean. I felt him, my Luca, here. Here with you. But now I can’t feel him at all.”
    “Is that why you look like you just ate shit pie from the serving spoon?”
    The Captain stared at old Luca on the bed and said, “I can’t feel my brother anymore, not on that bed or anywhere else. I’m starting to wonder if he’s dead.”
    Boricio had a battery of questions to ask Fugly Boricio about that shit, but he never got a chance since the second he said the word dead , Boricio heard the screeching of tires and the death of an engine outside.
    “You expecting anyone?” Boricio said to the room.
    Die Hard looked bothered, and Wimpy Dick upset. Callie shuffled her feet.
    The Captain shook his head as both Boricios went to the window.
    Boricio peeled the curtain back and saw a face he never thought he’d see again.
    Boricio whooped and hollered and screamed a high-pitched hallelujah which ended in a whistle when he saw Charlie hopping from the driver’s side of another black van.
    He turned to Callie. “Looks like your sugar must be extra sweet, seeing as how Charlie came all this way to play the slots.” He turned to The Captain. “Don’t feel bad. She wouldn’t let me taste, neither.”
    Boricio whooped and hollered again, then left the group, not worrying if anyone was walking behind him, but hearing the whole crowd of them anyway.
    He tore through the hallway, then down the stairs and to the front door, swinging it open as Charlie’s feet hit the front porch.
    “Well, hell’s bells, Charlie Cheese Dick,” Boricio said. “Welcome the fuck home!”

    * * * *

CHAPTER 10 — Ryan Olson Part 2

    Black Mountain, Georgia
    March 31, 2012
    FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE EVENT…

    “Please, kill me,” Ryan begged Lisa as she aimed the shotgun at his face. “Please. I don’t want to be one of them.”
    The shotgun shook in Lisa’s hands, and Ryan could see the emotions spinning like pinwheels in her eyes. She wanted to do it. Wanted to kill him. But a part of her still saw him as human and not one of the monsters that had just butchered the woman and her unborn child.
    She pulled the gun away, then sharply spun so she wouldn’t have to look at him.
    “Kill me!” Ryan repeated, now shouting.
    “No!” Lisa said, shaking her head and turning back to face him. “You’re not one of them! Boricio said you were different and I believe him. We need to get out of here and save him. And I need your help.”
    “No,” Ryan