Short Story (Cerpen)

Zombie Age

Category: Fiction Fantasy Short stories

Title: Zombie Age

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He was still breathlessly running, with his breath like that he might soon fall and faint. He took a look back, and it turned out that the one chasing him had gone somewhere. He sat with watchful eyes, he kept his eye on the banyan trees on the sides of the road. He breathed as much as he could, swiping his palm. He was astonished when he wore a thick coat, but he was still cold. The rain these few days seemed to never stop, he felt his palm shrinking.

There were more footsteps, and this time more 'Sial' murmured. He put on his gloves again and rushed off, as the rain was no longer falling, he threw away his coat hoping he could find it again. Some of the houses he noticed showed no signs of life, he was getting disappointed. His breath was breathless again, naturally, he had just rested for a while. He headed for the station wagon parked in front of a house, hoping that there would be a key, when he got something pulling him into the bushes. He tried to thrash but his grip was very strong, 'Sst, you better shut up' said a woman, she then covered her own mouth.

'You who? I'm Karen' said the woman

'I'm Percy, greetings know'

'Where were you being chased?'

'Forest. I was hoping to take refuge there, but they found me'

'They're zombies, remember? They can track our whereabouts by sensing body heat'

'Why are we hiding here'

'This bush is cold, because it's raining all the time, we'll be safe, trust me'

Then the footsteps got closer, they ran across a bush that turned out to have two humans inside. Without knowing they are running further and further. This is an age where zombies are already expanding. If you live in this age, you know why you should not go out without a weapon, any weapon that is important can kill or make someone's head destroyed.

Karen walked up to the station wagon and opened the door, she gave percy a magnum gun 'Here, take care of me. I'll try to start the car'

Percy's eyes were vigilantly watching around, 'Karen, do you understand cars?' ask Percy, the car then growls.

'Does that answer your question? Come on in' Karen's holding the steering wheel smoothly, according to Percy she must be a mechanic or a racer. He felt very grateful, because Percy could not drive let alone fix the car. But with Karen, Percy believes it will be up to 'Jakarta Fortress'.

'Hemm so, you're from…?

'I'm bekasi, you?'

'I am from Bandung, we were five, but my friends died on the way to this place' Karen closed the car glass 'your glass is also closed'

'Yes' percy closed the glass

'So, you're here, then why haven't you reached 'Jakarta Fort'. You're left with your family?' Karen frowned

'No' Percy stared intently at the street that was illuminated by the car lights 'Everything has died'

'I'm sorry'

'I also grieve for your friends'

'Our lives are so tested now. But I think it's better to die than be a zombie, right?'

'Yes' then they both laughed

'You know a lot about Fort Jakarta?'

'Not really, I just knew that place would give us shelter, shelter, food. Only that'

'Okay, I'm just that, I don't know much'

'We're going to find shelter, right?'

'Indeed why?'

'Do you want to drive all night?'

'Of course not' he was silent for a moment 'Oh my goodness Percy, you can't drive?'

'I'm still in school, High School' Percy said

'Indeed I look old, I'm only twenty years old, only a few years different from you, okay'

'I didn't mean to insinuate'

'Karen' shouted Percy while pointing at the street, the car hit something, and Karen suddenly pressed the brakes. They hit a safety pillow, after trying to wake up, Percy immediately got out of the car.

Someone had been lying under the car, and only his legs were visible, percy pulling his legs. It felt strange when Percy held his leg, very soft like foam, with percy astonished to realize it was just a doll. 'Hands up' the tip of the gun is right behind Percy's back, 'Drop your gun', percy dropped the gun. From the back of the car, Karen shows up with someone also pointing at her.

'We want your car, where's the key?' said percy's back man

'We didn't use the keys, we, we.' Percy was very scared at the time.

'We stole this car, I can outsmart the starter, so we can drive' Karen said

'OK, now this car belongs to us' he picks up a magnum percy gun and then walks in the car, the guy who's holding Karen goes in the cleavage, keeping an eye on Percy and Karen. They walked away. Percy was lying limp, he was more afraid of dying than a zombie, 'Realously' he muttered. Karen is still sitting in disappointment, now the hope of survival back to almost zero. Percy got up and looked at the surroundings, he saw there was a house not far from where he was standing.

—

He made a temporary fort, stuck up the whole door with heavy objects, fortunately, the owner of this level house had a stockpile of firearms. There's a Shotgun and some Pistols, he's taking them all upstairs.

'So your friends died why? If you don't want to answer, that's fine'

'Diverse' Karen sighed, 'One thing I wanted to tell you, Edri, she sacrificed herself for me, when we were surrounded by zombies, she told me to run, and we were alone. Edri insisted I run, otherwise he would shoot me'

'Then, what are you doing?'

'I left it' Karen sobbed

'Edri was being right, and he felt he had to protect you. Is she your lover?'

'I don't have a lover' she shuts up for a moment 'If you?'

'Huh, I, can't be' Percy bowed 'I'm too cowardly, I'm not as brave as most men'

Karen stared at the window, 'You're brave, brave enough to be able to live on'

'thank you. You'd better get some sleep'

Karen pulled out her blanket and fell asleep a few minutes later. Percy would stay up all night, he looked through the window, for some reason today zombies are not so much wandering around.

—

Karen was fast asleep, as Percy watched from the window of the upper room, a swarm of zombies coming, they started trying to get in. Percy wakes Karen up and tells her they have to run. In a big bag, Percy put some food, and didn't forget the gun. They went down the stairs, and planning to go through the back, the entrance had not been successfully broken into. Percy opens the back door, a few zombies immediately run around twisting, they quickly exit. Percy tells Karen to walk first, while Percy shoots some pursuing zombies.

Percy paused for a moment, he shot at the pursuing zombie, the sound of the shotgun pounding many times. Suddenly Karen screamed, as Percy looked, Karen was already surrounded by several zombies, percy fired his shotgun many times.

'You're okay' cried Percy

'Yes, thank you'

'Sama-sama' muttered percy, he turned around and was startled when some zombies were already close to him. He stuck a knife in his head, because the zombie managed to make Percy fall on his back. Percy gets up and runs, he sees Karen who has found the vehicle. 'Come away' cried Percy, some more zombies came from nearby housing, they climbed over the fence. Percy looked right and left, and if Karen came here it was certain they might get stuck. 'Run, there's a T-junction near here, which leads to the fly over. From there you will be able to escape' cried Percy again, while continuing to shoot with his shotgun, fortunately the bullets in the bag are still quite a lot. The car drove towards percy, 'female base' murmured percy.

'Need a ride?' then he laughed. Irritatedly percy entered, he kept shooting at the pursuing zombies, they came from any direction. The car then forwards crashed into the zombies, retreating while crashing into the zombies, advancing again, retreating, advancing again and the car speeding by.

'It's not like 'Grinkle', I think I'm nauseous' Percy then shows where Karen should go.

'Honestly, I didn't hear your screams, haha. So I told you to come in' she smiled sumringah

Karen drove the car quickly. Almost to the border of the city of Bekasi and Jakarta, they found a fly over road that turned out to be destroyed. As Karen turned around the vehicle, in front of her, the zombies with their broken faces, had gathered, a lot. Percy was just stunned, 'We're down, come on' he held Karen's hand, 'Trust me'. The two of them came out and ran towards the shattered fly over earlier. Then suddenly from under the fly over appeared something that made Karen shocked and amazed afterwards. Helicopter 'come in' percy said

'Percy, why do you know there's an army helicopter here'

'I'm sorry if I didn't tell you before. Last night I found a room in the house, it was suspicious so I guess the workspace. The owner of the house was a soldier, Karen, and he had a radio room. I'm calling the Air Force on the radio'

'Smart kid' Karen smiled

'Enter, quickly!'

They both managed to escape and found the 'Jakarta Fortress' which was in fact a refuge for human survivors.

They both survived, either the other. Many of them are confined to their homes because they are too afraid to die or become zombies. Is not the choice there are two 'Death or Become Zombies', if we survive a disaster, one day we must also die.