There was a nasty bite on her shoulder and her undead condition explained her fate. She was trying to growl and was thrashing about.
What looked like a tongue lay on the floor nearby. Travis had a feeling it was hers.
She had been brutally raped over and over again. That much was too clear. He grabbed a sheet off the floor and threw it over the zombie’s body. It was too much to bear to see her like that.
“Why do I have a feeling the rapes took place before and after her death?” Katie's expression was grim.
Travis raised his gun and put the woman out of her misery. He then called downstairs to explain the shot and told the others to keep working.
Katie moved cautiously into the kitchen and looked around in shock. It was a mess. “They built their own meth lab. ”
Travis shook his head. “Damn. These guys are fucked up. ”
“Running around, strung out on meth, while zombies eat the living…what a nightmare. ”
Together, Travis and Katie swept the rest of the apartment, finding it in utter shambles. The bandits had used photos as toilet paper and thrown them against the bathroom wall. It looked like they had squatted here for some time before moving on.
In silence, they pushed open the ajar bedroom door. Ralph’s remains lay in a jumble in a corner. It looked like someone had just ripped off the quilt with him in it and tossed it aside. To make matters even more disgusting, it appeared the bed had been used. Cigarettes, drug paraphernalia, and beer bottles littered the bed. But it was a relief to see that Ralph was still very truly dead. Travis moved to the body’s side and drew the blanket over its decomposing features.
“I hate these guys. Maybe even more than the zombies,” Katie gasped. Tears filled her eyes, but she fought not to spill them.
“Let's go,” Travis said in a tortured voice. “Let's get these bastards. ”
Together they moved back downstairs and began to help load the rest of the boxes into the van.
“We’re being watched,” Lenore said after around twenty minutes of packing. “I saw the glint of glass through those trees over there. I’ve seen it three times now. I’m sure it's binoculars. ”
“Nerit was right,” Travis said, working as though they didn’t know they were being watched. “Call it in, Ken. ”
The younger man nodded. He calmly climbed into the van and pretended to do something other than call the fort.
Lenore raised her hunting bow and let another arrow rip. A zombie just coming around a far corner dropped. “So I guess this is it. ”
“Can’t be sure yet, but my money is on yes,” Travis answered.
Katie shoved more ammunition boxes into the back of the Hummer.
“I say we go now. ”
Felix heaved a huge box in. “I'm with her. Let's roll. ”
Ken slid back out of the van. Walking calmly to pick up a box, he said, “The scary old woman says we keep to the plan. No deviations. ”
“How many do you think there are?” Travis asked Lenore.
“I’ve seen at least one set of binoculars. I’m guessing one vehicle.
Otherwise more guys would be staring at us. ”
“Good point,” Katie said, lifting another box into the Hummer.
“Are we done?”
“Last box here,” Bob answered.
“Then we go,” Travis said, and moved to the passenger door of the Hummer. “Felix, keep to the plan and don't panic. ”
“Dude, I have more experience out here than you do,” Felix griped.