Call Me Martin

Both Sherman and Charlene continued to sob. The last ember died, leaving the group in total darkness. A single, gray building was to their right. A set of large windows reflected the starlight.

“It’s a gas station,” Wilson said. “Maybe they got a phone.”

The group converged on the gas station, passing pumps that seemed inert as tombstones. Ari bent over, coughing and wheezing. He grabbed a rescue inhaler and put it to his mouth.

“You’re asthmatic,” Charlene said, sniffling.

“Yeah,” Ari said. “Running and I don’t get along.”

Wilson pressed his face against the gas station window.

“Nothing much inside.”

“Door’s locked,” Sherman said, his voice raspy as a buzz saw. “I’ll get a rock and smash the window.”

“Won’t do you any good,” Ari said, glancing back at Martin, Little Amber and Charlene. “You’d be lucky to find a pencil in there.”

“Looks like there’s some other buildings a little ways down,” Wilson said.

Ari squinted.

“My night vision isn’t the best.”

“Man, you’re really fit for survival,” Wilson remarked.

“I didn’t see you tackling that thing that killed the boy,” Charlene quipped.

Wilson shook his head.

“That boy emptied a 9mm clip into that motherfucker and it didn’t do anything.” Wilson tossed the fence post aside. “We need something a lot more powerful.”

Sherman rubbed his eyes.

“My brothers’ dead and I don’t know what to tell our mama.”

Wilson walked towards the road.

“I don’t mean to be Debbie Downer, but I don’t know if any of us are getting out of this.”

Ari rubbed his hands.

“This isn’t a game, Wilson. Quitting is not an option. Right now, we need shelter. That sheriff referred to these creatures as ‘friends’ and ‘hunters’. That means there’s more of them. And they’ve obviously developed a taste for human flesh, meaning we’re on the menu.”

“Not me,” Wilson said. “I’m going to find a weapon or I’m going to make one.”

“You do that,” Ari said, taking a step towards Wilson. “But one thing all of you should know, in case you don’t. Hunters like moving targets. That creature stalked us but made its move only when we ran. I say we walk and we don’t panic.”

“Are they stalking us now?” Charlene asked, looking up at the dark sky.

Ari nodded.

“No doubt. Let’s go.”

There were only four buildings lining both sides of the road; a gutted hardware store, an empty church, a flower shop and what appeared to be a bed and breakfast. The latter was the best choice. The door was open and the remaining six bus passengers hurried in. Ari locked the door behind him and pulled down a shade.

“Anybody home?” Charlene yelled.

Ari looked at her.

“I truly doubt there is ANYONE here.”

A bright light made everyone squint. Sherman’s finger rested on a light switch.

“Thank God,” Charlene said. “I need a hot shower.”

Wilson lay down on a couch in the lobby while Ari, Sherman and Charlene carefully explored the rest of the inn. There were three small rooms on each floor as well as a kitchen, a pantry and a dining room on the first floor.

“This works for me,” Ari said.

Martin and Amber walked into the room, their footfalls loud on the wooden floor. Amber still held Martin’s hand.

Ari turned Martin.

“What do you do for a living, Mister…”

“Call me Martin. I do sanitation work.”

“Is that how you got hurt?” Ari asked.

“No.”

“You’re a man of few words,” Ari remarked.

“I used to talk a lot more. Now, there’s not much to say.”

Ari nodded.

“I’m going to try to get us out of this, Martin. Right now, we need to rest, think and hopefully we’ll find something that…”

“I don’t think you will”, Martin interrupted. “Those people at the barn, the police, the bus driver, they’re in league with those creatures out there. They got every base covered, everything figured out.”

Ari looked at the open doorway.

“And we’re not the first.”

“What do you mean?” Charlene asked.

“That mountain of shoes we saw on the way in. They’ve done this to hundreds of other people.”

Charlene cupped her mouth, her eyes filling with tears.

“We have to get help.”

“No phones,” Sherman announced.

Charlene opened her purse and grabbed a cell phone. She grimaced and tossed it on the couch. “No service.”

Martin nodded slowly.

“Like I said, they figured everything out.”

Ari’s eyes rose to the ceiling.

“Let’s get some rest.”

Sherman rubbed his eyes.

“I call the big bed upstairs.”

“Big Wilson already has the couch,” Ari said, motioning for Charlene to follow him out in the hall.

Martin took Amber by the hand.

“We’ll find a bed for you.”

“What about you?”

Martin nodded.

“I’m okay sitting in a chair.”