[junetide] [zompoc boys] Exodus West
Sep. 22nd, 2012 12:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
1stmateTitle: Exodus West
Genre/Length: science fiction, approx. 7500 words
Content Notes: Character death, lots of strong language, queer characters facing discrimination, pregnancy. Zombies and the resultant violence, most of which is not explicit - but some is! The occasional overall gross-ness and gore encountered in places the zombies have been.
Summary: Zombies happened, and they happened hard. Joe Bronwen didn't realize he was signing up to lead the Rainbow Brigade to safety, but there's a silver lining in every irritating cloud.
Notes: Written forfive_steps_back's 2012 ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
junetide gift. I was pretty sure, when I started writing, that this would only be 1500 words. I would like to think that, in this case, more is better. Also, I blame five_steps_back completely for having such an inspiring prompt. Thank you for that! Huge huge thanks to firesign10 for the beta!
Friday, December 20, 2030
Black Mountain, NC
Found this journal under a mattress in the house we're squatting in. Little girl used to live here, looks like. I ripped out all the pages about her crush on some kid named Timmy, but I couldn't bring myself to throw them out. Maybe she's still alive. Maybe Timmy kept her out of the town bonfire. She might want those pages back one day.
Yeah, right, Joe. Deluding yourself again. If the kid isn't dead, she's one of them. Or Timmy's already eaten her brains.
Happy fucking Hanukkah.
Tuesday, December 24, 2030
Black Mountain, NC
Snowstorm's trapped us in town. We ripped apart the house next door for firewood, but it's not enough. Rick and I are going to go get more tomorrow, tear up the other houses on the street. Not that there are a lot left standing at this point. Most of the town's already ash, or what's left isn't anything you can burn. I guess we have to be grateful for that, though. Torching everything killed a lot of those fucking zombies, even if they did take themselves out too. Least they left the Ingles standing. We aren't going to starve out here.
Sam wants to celebrate Christmas tomorrow. A bit of normalcy in the midst of all this, she says. Rick got on her case, of course. "I didn't know Da raised a fool."
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Fuck it all. Fuck everything.
Wednesday, December 25, 2030
Black Mountain, NC
Looks like Mom was infected after all. Sam put her down, but not before she'd bitten Rick. I wish we could figure out how this damn thing is transmitted, but I'm a computer tech, not a doctor. Sam and I are taking turns watching him for signs. If he's gonna turn, I hope he does it on my watch. I don't want my baby sister to have to kill anyone else in the family. She's just a kid. Or she was. I guess neither of them are, anymore. Not after this. Still, that's an older brother's job.
Saturday, January 25, 2031
Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC
Zombies came back to Black Mountain a couple days ago. We skipped out the back instead of fighting - too many for that - but had to leave the car behind. Headed towards the city. No signs of life yet - living life, that is - but we haven't gone very far. Walking along Highway 70 for now, because the interstate looks to be crawling with zombies.
The college is deserted. No bodies, no zombies, practically no cars, just ... empty. Rick reckons the students and teachers all left to go find their families before the quarantines went up. Still worth it to come up here, though. There's all kinds of food, industrial-size cans and everything. There'd be fresh stuff if it weren't the middle of the damn winter. Or if we'd come earlier. It's been a month since quarantine was broken in the city, and they held out a lot longer than the forces out by the farm.
We took the constant watch off Rick the day we moved. He's going to turn or he's not going to turn, nothing we can do about it by exhausting ourselves staying up all night to see.
Friday, January 31, 2031
Asheville, NC
Stumbled onto a big group of people in the city. They said it's not safe to use cars - zombies are drawn to any sign of humans, of food. I don't know why. Fucking zoms don't die if they don't eat. Nothing kills them but a shotgun to the face.
We're holed up in a hospital for now. It's not a long-term solution, but it's defensible while the snow's so bad for walking. This guy they've got in charge here, Jacob, has the three of us separated until our blood's done being analyzed. Apparently one of the docs found a way to tell who's infected - about damn time, really. Shouldn't be too much longer. In the meantime, he's starting us on some exercises. Gotta be strong when it's time to move. There's a rumor that the quarantine held in California, if we can just get there.
Wednesday, March 5, 2031
Candler, NC
We hit the road today. Walking I-40, heading out to California on no more than that rumor, but it's the best we've got. People seem to be doing better with somewhere to go, a goal to work towards. I hope it's for real, though. I'd hate to see what it's like if we get all the way to the Pacific and it's still just as bad as it is here.
Jacob's pushing a pretty hard pace for this many people. Some of them are older, and one's pregnant - no way she can keep this up all the way across the country. Still, there's a good number of older teens, younger adults. At least someone else can handle protection and supplies when the less fit have to rest in the evenings.
People are mostly sticking with their family or the friends they came into the hospital with. I guess it makes them feel safer, you know? And that's good - I'm more alert for zoms when it's Sam or Rick beside me than the annoying kid tagging along with us. The longer we can stay protected, the better. Somehow I doubt Jacob's into stopping to bury the dead.
Tuesday, March 11, 2031
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
RIP Jennifer Burgal. At least it was a heart attack and not the zombies.
Friday, March 21, 2031
Knoxville, TN
RIP James White. Wherever the fuck you went in the middle of the night, I hope it was worth it.
Tuesday, March 25, 2031
Kingston, TN
Sam's sick. Rick's bitching has pissed everyone off. Jacob says the three of us are slowing the rest of the group down. He wants to leave Sam behind and keep going. Leave us, really, because we're not abandoning her. For the good of the cause, he says. What fucking good is the cause if he's going to abandon someone at the first sign of trouble? It's just a fucking virus or something, she'll be fine in a day or two.
The kid that was hanging out with our family said he'd stay with us if we stopped for a bit, be an extra gun so we could focus on her health more. If she's no better by the time we stop tonight, I might have to take him up on his offer. He's annoying, but he knows how to shoot.
Thursday, March 27, 2031
Kingston, TN
A day off the road, and Sam's fine. The part of the group that stayed with us is packing up now, ready to move out in the morning. We'll try to catch up to the others, but judging by Jacob's face when they left? I don't think we'll be able to.
Friday, May 30, 2031
Memphis, TN
We've picked up several stragglers from Jacob's group along the way, those too old or weak to keep up with him any longer. We're not moving as quickly as we once were, but since we don't even know if we have a particular destination at this point, I can't really see how speed matters.
Everybody seems to have elected me the leader for some reason. I don't know the least thing about where we're going - a month ago, we were farther from the farm I grew up on than I'd ever been before. But I guess they want someone who isn't going to scoot out in the middle of the night. So long as my kid sister and that fool brother of ours are around, they've got that in me. I just thought they'd go for someone a little older, at least.
My informal second in command is that irritating kid that was following me around before. He's just 20. I know, I know, I'm all of two and a half years older, but still. Except for my siblings, he's the youngest in the group. But he was in ROTC and really knows his way around a gun, so he's been working on that with everyone. Rick's helping him, and so's Alice, a fantastic lady in her 40s. She had to kill her kids when they turned, leaving her this weird combination of mother to half the group and ruthless taskmaster to the other half.
Rob - the kid helping me - saw me writing in this journal the other day. He says I should keep a record of everything for the future, more than just my family. What future, I asked him, but he just shrugged. What the hell. Maybe we do survive, and maybe this becomes one of those things kids have to read in school to understand the distant past. God, I hope that's what happens. Still, I can't help but think this horrid little journal is going to end up lining a bird's nest. At best.
Maybe the zoms will develop brains - the kind they can think with, rather than the kind they eat. Maybe they'll read this one day and feel remorse for this whole fucking apocalypse. Well, here you go, zombie chums. Here's the list of people this expedition has:
Joseph Bronwen - that's me, you brain-guzzling fuckheads. The one who popped his own father before the radio admitted that the CDC didn't have a cure.
Richard Bronwen - my mad little brother who says he'd eat your brains right back if he didn't think it'd kill him
Samantha Bronwen - my baby sister. Fuckheads. You made her kill her own mother before her fourteenth birthday. And what a birthday it was, too - she killed two more of you.
Robert Johnson - bona fide Eagle Scout, saving our asses from here to California
Alice Sanders - you jackasses turned her kids three months after her husband left her
Dick and Jane Elkin, an older couple we rescued after Jacob abandoned them
Keith Black
Genevieve Aiken - we call her Gen
Alexander and Isaac Wells, brothers
Jackson Williams
Albert Carrow - you took an eye and an ear from him, but you couldn't infect him
Melinda Tobe and her unborn baby - God, I'm not looking forward to hiding for the birth, but we do need to start thinking about it soon
Barry James
Lee and Susan McAdams, also siblings
Amanda Smith - and we only know her name because she had her license on her. What the fuck did you do to her that she won't even talk now?
Eighteen of us, traveling by foot along the side of I-40, stealing from abandoned stores and houses, hiding every time we see more than a handful of zoms. But we're still alive, despite their best efforts. Fuck the zoms. This journal is for the future. Our future. Mel's kid - this journal is for him. He'll read this one day and giggle at how ridiculous it all seems to him. He'll grow up in a world without zombies.
Although the kid could be a girl. The doc's still with Jacob's group, so we don't know. Either way, he or she's going to have a hell of a lot of parents as we finish up this trek.
Tuesday, July 1, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Made it to another big city. Jackson and Barry found two more live people while they were on a food-and-ammo run. So hey, future readers, add two more names to that list. Samuel Benedict (sucks to have two Sams, let me tell you) and Ashley Jamison. Their wedding was supposed to be on Friday. Gen's pushing for us to have some sort of 4th of July celebration anyway, so we may as well put together some sort of wedding at the same time. Ashley and Susan are talking about finding a bridal shop and everything. As long as we don't call too much attention to ourselves, I don't see why we couldn't. The zoms seem to have mostly left the city in search of more live people. I don't know, maybe there are Livers out in the country. I thought they would have come to the cities, that we could pick up more people on our trip, but maybe they've gone to the country, hoping to set up homes somewhere zom-free. (God, I hope that works out for them.) Sam and Ashley hid in the sewer to escape, they said. I can see where that wouldn't be so popular.
We'll be in the city for another month or two at least. It's getting harder and harder for Melinda to walk all day. Ashley was a nurse, though, so at least we're not doing this whole birthing thing blind. Rob's taking her on raids to the hospitals and clinics in the city, trying to find the equipment she wants for the birth. No luck so far on an intact ultrasound, but we've at least got a ton of painkillers and antibiotics. We set up in a hospital hoping to make it easier, but Little Rock's in bad shape. Even if we could get the power back on, everything's smashed.
More bodies than usual laying around, too. Fuck, seeing my 14 year old sister step calmly over a dead toddler to see if the cabinet had any clean towels ... this is worse than a war zone.
Saturday, July 5, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Alex and Isaac set up the best wedding surprise possible. They found a nice hotel that seems to have escaped the more permanent effects of the zombiepocalypse, as Rick's starting to say. Damn fool thing to call it - like it's still that kinda cool thing people talked about in the past - but it's hardly worth fighting over. Anyway, the Wells brothers cleaned up the hotel, or most of it, and we had a wedding in the conference room followed by a pool party. They even got the power back on for most of the night. Hot tub, dinner cooked on a stove, honeymoon suite for the newlyweds.
Of course, I'm writing this by flashlight now, but it was amazing while it lasted.
Tuesday, July 8, 2031
Little Rock, AK
I have so much more time to write, but never anything to say. We're still in the city, living in the hotel. Most of us are training with good frame packs so we can carry more when we finally head out again. Ashley's teaching everyone some basic first aid, and Sam - my sister Sam, not Ashley's husband - is learning more than the basics. It'll be good to have so much medical knowledge.
Rob found a bookstore that didn't see too much slaughter and picked up some survival guides for us. Only a few of them have blood stains, and they're still readable - better than anything we looked at before! It's apparently offending Rob's bookish inclination, but Barry's been breaking the binding to pull out what we might need as a reference along the way. It's mostly pictures of poisonous snake and charts of which plants we can and can't eat. He's planning to go back later and find some first aid reference books, just in case something happens to Ashley and she can't help us with it.
Rob also got us some good frame packs and lightweight sleeping bags. We're making forays out in small groups to try on better hiking shoes so we can break them in before we leave the city. I'm thinking we ought to load up the packs and break those in - and build up our muscles - before we're on the road again. Really be ready this time.
Well, happy 23rd birthday to me. And happy belated 25th anniversary, Mom and Dad. I wish you were here.
Sunday, July 27, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Jane's sick. Ashley doesn't think she'll make it through the week. Even if she does, there's no way she could hit the road the way we have been.
Thursday, July 30, 2031
Little Rock, AK
RIP Jane Elkin. You are already missed. What are we going to do without your stories of growing up in the sixties as we sit around our campfire at night?
Funeral services performed by former A.M.E. minister Jackson Williams. Genevieve sang.
Monday, August 4, 2031
Little Rock, AK
It's twins! A girl and a boy. Jane and Eliot Tobe. El's got a set of lungs on him, let me tell you.
Isaac told us today is his birthday, too. 34 years old. Melinda asked him to be their godfather. Jackson's going to baptize the twins this weekend, and then if Mel's in good enough shape, we're going to hit the road again. Slowly, but better supplied than ever before. Most of us can carry 60 pounds for 8 or 9 miles a day, so we're more than ready for this.
Sunday, August 10, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Just a formal record of the baptism of Jane Elizabeth Tobe and Eliot Harold Tobe, performed by former minister Jackson Williams, assisted by Robert Johnson.
Leaving in the morning. Dick and Alex are visiting Jane's impromptu grave one last time. Rob and I are dividing baby supplies among the troop. Of all the things I never expected to do, apportioning diapers and burp cloths is pretty high on the list.
Monday, August 11, 2031
Little Rock, AK
They were attacked at the grave. Alex is okay, but Dick's already showing signs of turning.
Monday, August 11, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Oh Jesus, he shot himself. Fucking shit, shit, shit, is it bad that all I can think is how glad I am that Jane's already dead? I wouldn't want her to have to deal with this. Rob and Alex are the only other ones who know what happened. We're going to tell the others he died, but not how.
Rob won't let us leave today. Says we need another proper funeral first. Dick dealt with himself before he was a full zombie, we handle his death like we would that of any other Liver.
Fucking shit, I hate this job.
Saturday, August 30, 2031
Clarksville, AK
Oh god oh god oh god
Robert came out today. To whole group. No big deal, right? No big deal to most people.
Until that stupid brother of mine opened his big fat mouth and said, "Hey, Joe, looks like you're not the only queer in this gig."
Godfuckingdammit, Rick.
Monday, September 1, 2031
Alix, AK
Robert insisted we take Labor Day off. We're going to cut the pace a little more. Even with people taking turns carrying the babies, it's hard on Mel. We're only doing five or six miles a day as it is, but we're not really in any hurry. It's more important to keep the babies happy and quiet, which is certainly easier when their mother isn't exhausted. None of us want to see the zoms get anyone else, especially not the twins.
Robert also assured me that he had no idea I wasn't straight and wasn't trying to make me uncomfortable by coming out himself. Rick apologized for outing me, at least. Still, it made me reevaluate every time Robert's been alone with me. Were all those times necessary for the planning and stuff? Does he have a crush on me? We can't afford to get caught up in some sort of doomed romance when we need to be keeping an eye out for zoms, and I don't want to crush the kid's heart. God, I hate this job. Why can't I be the normal 23 year old, looking for a job, buying this kid his first legal beer in a couple months and enjoying the attention of a potential crush?
Oh, right, because there is no normal anymore, none of us have jobs other than pirating, and we threw the idea of a drinking age out the metaphorical window months ago. Not to mention the fact that there's nowhere to buy a beer. I could steal him one.
Joseph Steven Bronwen, you are being ridiculous. Let the twerp steal his own beer if he wants it.
Thursday, September 18, 2031
Salisaw, OK
I didn't realize back in March that I was signing up to lead the Rainbow Brigade down the yellow brick road. Damn Rob for starting this whole big sharing thing, anyway. Genevieve and Susan announced at dinner that they're dating now, and Barry told us all that he's bisexual. Keith chimed in to say that he's asexual, and my own sister decided she's bi as well. Not that I have a problem with her being bi, of course, but she's only 14! More to the point, the youngest person not related to her is the gay Robert, and he's six years older. At 24, Albert's the youngest straight man, and that's definitely not okay. (And no, I'm not just upset that he's straight. He's not that pretty.) Let's not even mention Ashley - who's married! - being the youngest woman at 27. I'm going to kill Robert Johnson for making my sister think about sex.
Well, I'm glad Gen and Susan are happy, at least.
Saturday, October 4, 2031
Henryetta, OK
Lee picked up a radio station today, but when we followed the signal to investigate, it was just a zom who happened to bump into something and start some music playing. Lee popped him and got all excited over the equipment we'd found. Turns out he was a DJ for his college's station for a couple years. Knew how to use it all. So of course, we got to thinking - we were so excited to hear what might be a sign of more people, maybe others would be, too.
So we're setting up camp in the roaring metropolis of Henryetta. Jackson's convinced that it's a sign the music this station played was gospel. He insists we stick with it - not that we have a whole lot of choice, anyway. Several of the group are learning how to work the equipment and taking shifts on the air. Lee's telling anyone who can hear to come to Henryetta and join us.
Rob's out now looking for a CB radio or anything else that might be able to contact more people. He's getting damn good at sneaking around the zoms without them ever noticing him. There aren't really a lot of zoms in this town, but if we're staying for a while, especially if we're telling other people to come here, it's probably best if we keep a low profile anyway.
Tuesday, October 7, 2031
Henryetta, OK
Nobody yet. People are arguing about how long to stay, but nobody wants to split the group up just yet. Lee thinks the signal could be heard up to 80 miles away and we ought to wait long enough for someone that far away to get here. So if they're traveling like us, heavily loaded and with two infants, that could take 20 days or so.
I've got to talk to Rob first, but I'm thinking we could wait that long. Especially if we take the less patient people and set them to scouting expeditions, see if they can see anyone coming in.
Thursday, October 16, 2031
Henryetta, OK
RIP Alice Sanders. She died to save three kids who were coming to find the radio station.
RIP Jimmy, last name unknown. He asked Barry to put him down because he'd been bitten on the way in and was already starting to show signs.
But we managed to save Sally-Anne Judd and Emily O'Connell. They're both 10 and immediately started to idolize Sam. She seems to like them, too.
Saturday, October 18, 2031
Henryetta, OK
RIP Alexander Wells, who died saving his brother, who broke his leg saving three more people. They're really starting to come in now. I just hate that it's taking so many of my people's lives to save these others.
Isaac won't be able to walk for at least a month. There's talk once again of splitting the group. The newcomers especially want to give others plenty of time to get there, and some are thinking about stopping in Oklahoma City for another good long radio broadcast.
Monday, October 20, 2031
Henryetta, OK
Packing up to move out. We're leaving behind Jackson, Lee, Isaac, Amanda, Samuel, and Ashley of the old group. The only newcomers joining us are the first two girls who joined us, Sally-Anne and Emily, and James O'Connell, Emily's uncle, who showed up a few days after her. Thankfully, he has some medical training, and Sam's learned a lot from Ashley, so we should be okay. Besides, we still have those first aid books.
It's hard to break up this group. We've really become family in our seven months together. But they do what they feel they need to, and we do what we need to. Lord willing, as Jackson says, we'll see them in California sooner or later.
Tuesday, November 11, 2031
Oklahoma City, OK
Susan found some radio stations and recorded broadcasts for each of them to play on loop as we move on. She's still upset that her brother didn't come with us, but he asked her to spread the word of their plans along out way.
Mel's excited about the twins - they're starting to roll over on their. Rob's started waxing poetic about the virtues of having them along. Morale boosting to see life when we're surrounded by so much death every day, he says. (Gen slapped him silly the first time he started describing the death. I'd've done it if I'd been closer to him, too. We can all see it for ourselves. Sure don't need it in English-major technicolor.)
Saturday, November 29, 2031
Clinton, OK
We stopped early today to celebrate Rob's birthday. I have a feeling we won't be leaving until Monday - he intends to get drunk, as befits a young man on his 21st. I intend to accompany him, because I don't need much of an excuse to get drunk after what we saw this morning.
And, you know what, fuck the future. I'm not going to describe scenes of carnage for your future pornography. Someone else can do that. Pretty Boy Poet over there. I'm getting wasted.
Sunday, November 30, 2031
Clinton, OK
Uhhhh
yeah
sort of still drunk
getting the disapproval glare from Melinda like being a mother makes her suddenly understand
well she didn't have to shoot her own father
or watch her sister shoot her mother
and she sure as fuck isn't leading a bunch of fuckup zombie dinners down the interstate like a fucking buffet while they expect her to keep them safe
what does she know anyway
I'm allowed one day off in this whole mess, aren't I?
Rob's hung over but sobering up, let him lead for a while.
fucking fuck fuck it all. there's more alcohol in here somewhere.
Saturday, December 6, 2031
Elk City, OK
Rob stole the journal and wouldn't give it back until I promised not to rip out what he calls the one bit of honesty this damn book has. I'd do it anyway, but he's going to check, and he's convinced the others how important this is, too.
Stupid kid.
Thursday, December 25, 2031
Just outside Amarillo, TX
Christmas.
Sam insisted on stopping early yesterday in what seems to be a completely deserted suburb. Susan set up Christmas music on the radio, and James took the kids "shopping" for presents for everyone. Rob and I are working on hooking up a generator at an empty house for hot water. What better present than a warm shower?
At the rate we're going, we won't get to California until mid-summer. I hope there's something for us at the end of the journey. Rob's got a plan if there isn't, though. It seems to involve barricades and moats, so I'm not sure how good of a plan it is, but he could have just been fucking with me when he said that. He's actually really good at this whole apocalypse thing. Certainly makes my job easier having him around to tend to the details.
Wednesday, January 21, 2032
Santa Rosa, NM
Genevieve and Susan apparently broke up sometime last week. They've somehow managed to keep it from being awkward for the rest of us. Keith made some very satisfied noises at hearing that news, though. Something about how the women need to be dating men and getting pregnant, now that the population of America is ... reduced. Doesn't he remember how hard it was to travel when Mel was pregnant? Plenty of time for that sort of thing when we get where we're going.
Meanwhile, Albert, Melinda, and James O'Connell have apparently started up some sort of relationship. I guess with two babies, you may as well have two boyfriends.
Rob's definitely interested in me. Jesus fuck. Didn't I already tell him that wouldn't work?
Thursday, January 22, 2032
Santa Rosa, NM
Turns out I told myself how Rob and I wouldn't work, not him. That was an awkward conversation.
Friday, January 6, 2032
Albuquerque, NM
Barry and Susan are ... something. Rob's ambushed me and stolen kisses a couple times. Albert and James seem content with each other when Mel's busy with the twins. Gen's still mad at Keith for reducing her to procreation, and Keith's mad at everyone for assuming he was volunteering to help with said procreation. Sam reports that Sally-Anne and Emily both have crushes on our brother.
Somehow I think the future people ought to be more interested in the state of the world than the state of our relationships, but I don't know anything about the world. Ours is the role of sending out information and moving on, never hearing anything new ourselves. We're running into the zoms less and less, but I don't know if that's because they're not around as much or if we've gotten better at avoiding them. The few encounters we do have are quick slaughters rather than the nerve-wracking brawls they were back in North Carolina. The zoms aren't getting close enough to turn us anymore. Thank God.
Tuesday, February 17, 2032
Grants, NM
Rick's birthday. Eighteen used to be a bigger deal. Everything used to be a bigger deal. But at least he got a good present - we heard a radio station that isn't one of ours, and it had live voices! There are other Livers out there. Living. Somewhere close enough that we can get them on our crappy little portable radio.
They're telling stories and jokes, anything to fill the air with live voices. No music, no repeated recordings, but they keep coming back to say the same thing regularly: Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California are all completely safe. There are forces holding the border while they erect some sort of boundary. Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and part of Montana are relatively safe, with only pockets of zoms left. Part of Mexico and a whole bunch of Canada are safe. They're calling themselves the United Territories.
We're 85 miles from the border.
85 miles from safety.
Knowing we're this close, we can do that in 10 days.
So close. Oh, man. Happy birthday, little brother. I think it's the best you've ever had.
Now, if you'll excuse me, busybody people reading my private journal years into the future, I have an annoying boy to go make out with. It seems I promised him to give "us" a chance when I knew we were all safe. Why would I do a fool thing like that?
Saturday, February 28, 2032
40 Entry Quarantine, United Territories
We made it! We're in the United Territories. Out of what they're calling the "Zom Zone". Funny how the same slang sometimes comes about in different places.
Life is so different here. Livers - no, they say Alives - walking around freely, mostly unarmed. We're still in quarantine, so there are armed guards on us constantly, and we can see the border patrol from our windows. Still, the thought that we don't all need to carry loaded shotguns just in case ... it's kind of overwhelming. I feel naked without that weight across my shoulder.
They're particularly interested in the twins here. It seems there haven't been very many births since the original quarantines broke. Stress, they say. Mel says she feels like they're looking at her as breeding stock. Albert and James both promised they wouldn't let that happen, but for some reason, she made Rob and me promise as well. One big family.
Wednesday, March 10, 2032
Nacozari de Garcia, United Territories
As soon as we were out of quarantine, the Patrol snapped us up. All of us except Melinda, Sally-Anne, and Emily. Well, and the twins. But with everyone else transferring to the same place, the five of them got to stay with us. We're down in what used to be Mexico, working on the regular Patrol in addition to coordinating outreach efforts with the District Patrol Leaders. Our group came from the farthest away, had the fewest casualties along the way, and did the most to send Alives to the United Territories - and all this led by a 23 year old and a 21 year old who had no idea where they were going.
We've been assigned a section of the Patrol barracks together. No use splitting a team who already works so well together, DPL Bradley said. He was particularly pleased to see Mel, James, and Albert's relationship. Fortunately, she's clear of any "breeding stock" pressures with the twins still so young, but Bradley did start leaning on Gen and Susan. Even Sam got a bit of pressure before I stepped in there. She's not even fifteen yet!
Rob, being the smartass that he is, mentioned that the women can't do it on their own. When I asked him if he was volunteering to help, he shut up pretty quick, but he didn't look amused or anything. I asked him about it last night, and
If I intend to donate this journal to history, I really need to keep the private things private. The point is, they're pressuring all the women who are at an age where they can become pregnant. Sucks for all of them, I'm sure, but I'm glad to be on the sidelines of that argument. I'll gladly stand up for them, of course, but I'd hate the military leaders to start telling me I should donate my body for the good of humanity.
Wednesday, May 12, 2032
Nacozari de Garcia, United Territories
Sam's 15th birthday. The first real party we've had since this whole thing began. Her friend Miguel even brought a piñata. Some horrid orange thing that might have been a goat in a previous life, but she loved it. I suspect Miguel is more than just a friend to her. There's no other excuse for that piñata.
Keith and Barry have both requested reassignment to train new recruits, so they're shipping out shortly after the party. Mel, James, Albert, Emily, Sally-Anne, Jane, and Eliot are looking for a house to move into together. Gen and Susan are dating again, and Rob and I ... well, we're dating, too, I guess. Have been since we heard that first broadcast from the United Territories. But since relationships that can't lead to babies are sort of frowned on, the four of us are letting people believe we're all together in some form. It'd be easy enough to find an apartment for us and let our private business stay private. I have to admit, it's weird to find that nobody cares about the apparently age gaps. Susan's ten years older than Rob. Are we that desperate for kids?
We received word yesterday that Samuel and Ashley Benedict made it in with a large group of Alives. They're already talking about going back out to change the messages on the stations farther from the border. They asked in the message if I'd like to come with them, but I'm about to be promoted to District Patrol Leader, with Rob as my assistant. Do I miss the freedom and the camaraderie of leading a small group somewhere? Yeah. But I don't miss the constant vigilance. I'm content with protecting the people of Nacozari and coming home to a private room I share with my boyfriend.
Tuesday, June 29, 2032
Las Vegas, United Territories
We've done it! Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and half of Montana have been declared officially safe. The UT border in former Mexico has pushed outward to expand the Territories. Former Canada's border is limited more by lack of Patrol than safety; we're shipping more personnel up each week to reinforce, and as soon as they've arrived, that part of the border will start expanding as well. More people are coming in every day, drawn by Sam and Ashley's messages. Isaac got in three days ago, when I happened to be at 40 Entry, and his reports were fantastic. Every one of my people I left in Henryetta is still alive, and they've saved hundreds of others who are now being picked up by UT trucks and brought in. With the reduced zombie activity closer to the border, it's been safe to send vehicles out of the borders.
But for all the territory we cover now, the people of the United Territories still number less than twelve thousand. Pressure to have babies is rising.
40 Entry and the other border towns are all becoming mobile camps. As soon as they're all on wheels, we're going to push this part of the Territories out, too. See if we can't slowly reclaim the whole continent for Alives, wipe out the zoms completely. That should help with our population, too. I've been assigned as the Advancement Coordinator for the lower part of what used to be America, based in 40 Entry for the most part. Rob's one of the DPLs under me, also at 40 Entry, since we'll be reclaiming territory the two of us are already familiar with.
Wednesday, August 4, 2032
Ciudad Juarez, United Territories
Rob and I took the week off to visit Melinda and her family for the twins' first birthday party. They've moved to Ciudad Juarez as the border's advanced eastward. James has gotten involved in the local government, and he had some uncomfortable news to share with us. It's not law there yet - it's not even a precursor to a law - but it's being talked about seriously, and that means it's probably being talked about seriously in other places, too.
They want to make being gay illegal. No, they want to make gay sex illegal. It's all in an effort to encourage babies, which I understand, but ... way to regress our social progress forty years. Not that I'm saying the (dammit, everybody's using that stupid name) zombiepocalypse was a good thing, but we really were at an unsustainable population. We're not in immediate danger of dying out as a species. Is it really necessary to push the baby agenda so hard? I'd gladly jerk off in a cup for the good of the human race, but for God's sake, let me keep fucking my boyfriend.
Tuesday, September 7, 2032
Albuquerque, United Territories
Ciudad Juarez has passed the Harrison Population Expansion Act. Several other localities have similar legislation in the works. Hastily-formed civil rights groups are already suing. This is a hell of an important issue to be the focal point that this new government cuts its teeth on.
Thursday, November 25, 2032
Denver, United Territories
All the local baby-making laws are standing, and there's a federal one in the making. Rob and I have a decent amount of sway in the Patrol, but our voices are useless against the federal government. James sent a message saying Ciudad Juarez passed a sort of compromise amendment that allows same-sex partners in polyamorous relationships to have sex when there's no chance that opposite-sex intercourse could result in pregnancy, or when pregnancy is inadvisable. Not that this will be worth anything once the federal act passes. We already function as a foursome in public with Gen and Susan, so that's some sort of protection for us.
But it's not going to be good enough protection. Gen's bisexual, and I can have sex with her every now and then if we have to, but none of us want to. As for Susan and Rob ... well, neither of them can do it. Gen's not thrilled about pregnancy, but she wants a baby with Susan, and Rob's completely in love with the idea of a kid for us. I can't say that I'd mind having a little one around, but I'd prefer better circumstances for the actual conception.
Thursday, December 23, 2032
Mexico City, United Territories
Merry fucking Christmas. The Harrison-Underwood Population Expansion Act passed almost unanimously today just before the committee broke for a winter hiatus.
Gen, Susan, Rob, and I are applying Monday for a four-way marriage. There are some extra protections for legally bonded spouses, close to what the Ciudad Juarez amendment was, though it looks like we have to have fertility testing done.
Monday, January 3, 2033
Mexico City, United Territories
Thank you, God! Susan is infertile and thus exempt from the terrible "intercourse testing" Gen will have to undergo. We were afraid she wouldn't be allowed to marry with us, but apparently infertile women are being encouraged to commit to a family that already has a fertile woman. With more hands caring for the kids, there can be more kids.
I don't know what we'd do if polygamy weren't legal. I can't imagine us in two hetero marriages, trying to pretend.
Thursday, January 6, 2033
Mexico City, United Territories
Rob's been increasingly withdrawn since Christmas, and he finally talked to me about it today. He's been worried about the marriage, he said. It wasn't the idea that I might suddenly decide I really do like women after all. I had to drag it out of him, but he's afraid of what will happen if Gen doesn't get pregnant, whether they'll try to "encourage" another fertile woman into the marriage. Or if she does get pregnant, just in time for the law to be repealed and the two couples of the foursome to go our separate ways. Or if the law's never repealed and we have to pretend forever. He can't decide which is the worst option.
I didn't know what to say. The situation sucks all around. We're too young to get married. We haven't been dating for near long enough to even consider it. But if we don't marry, we'll be out of our jobs.
And then Rob really threw me a curveball. He said we could leave. If we're not ready for marriage, not ready for kids, we can go back out into the Zom Zone. As missionaries, or just run away. We have enough practice. We could defend ourselves. We could warn people about the laws in the United Territories, maybe even set up our own country somewhere if we found enough people to make it work. We could build a house in the middle of nowhere and hide from the UT.
I can't leave my brother and sister, leave the best chance at life humans have, but it makes me wonder if there are other couples out there thinking the same thing. What kind of government is so cruel to its people that they have to seriously consider leaving and taking their chances with the zoms?
Tuesday, January 18, 2033
San Antonio, United Territories
Rob and I decided to hyphenate our last names, but the women are each keeping their original names. That'll irritate the courts, but there's not really anything they can do about it. We're getting married as requisition; the wedding is scheduled for February 1. Gen has her first intercourse testing the next morning. What kind of wedding night is it if I have to fuck someone other than my husband?
Rob threw a chair out the only window this house had left. Somehow that didn't make me feel better about living in someone else's looted-out house. But married families get moved out of barracks into houses, and the only houses around ... well, we have no way of knowing what happened to the previous owners. Just like that stupid pop-out-babies act, someone had to make a decision. At least this one comes with the proviso that if the owner shows up, we move out. Nothing says that if we come out, we get to stop procreating.
I think Rob wants to leave. I think...
I think I would go with him. Rick turned 19 yesterday, and it's not like he and Sam live with me, anyway. They're fine on their own. I'd hate not to see them so often, but they'd be okay. They'd have each other. Rob would be alone if I didn't go with him. And it's just not safe out there, alone.
And yeah, I'd miss him.
But we'd be leaving Susan and Gen in the lurch. That's not fair to them.
So I guess we're both staying. Damn our senses of responsibility.
Satuday, April 15, 30 A.P. (2061 in the old system)
Niagra, United Territories
Genre/Length: science fiction, approx. 7500 words
Content Notes: Character death, lots of strong language, queer characters facing discrimination, pregnancy. Zombies and the resultant violence, most of which is not explicit - but some is! The occasional overall gross-ness and gore encountered in places the zombies have been.
Summary: Zombies happened, and they happened hard. Joe Bronwen didn't realize he was signing up to lead the Rainbow Brigade to safety, but there's a silver lining in every irritating cloud.
Notes: Written for
five_steps_back's 2012 junetide gift. I was pretty sure, when I started writing, that this would only be 1500 words. I would like to think that, in this case, more is better. Also, I blame five_steps_back completely for having such an inspiring prompt. Thank you for that! Huge huge thanks to firesign10 for the beta!Friday, December 20, 2030
Black Mountain, NC
Found this journal under a mattress in the house we're squatting in. Little girl used to live here, looks like. I ripped out all the pages about her crush on some kid named Timmy, but I couldn't bring myself to throw them out. Maybe she's still alive. Maybe Timmy kept her out of the town bonfire. She might want those pages back one day.
Yeah, right, Joe. Deluding yourself again. If the kid isn't dead, she's one of them. Or Timmy's already eaten her brains.
Happy fucking Hanukkah.
Tuesday, December 24, 2030
Black Mountain, NC
Snowstorm's trapped us in town. We ripped apart the house next door for firewood, but it's not enough. Rick and I are going to go get more tomorrow, tear up the other houses on the street. Not that there are a lot left standing at this point. Most of the town's already ash, or what's left isn't anything you can burn. I guess we have to be grateful for that, though. Torching everything killed a lot of those fucking zombies, even if they did take themselves out too. Least they left the Ingles standing. We aren't going to starve out here.
Sam wants to celebrate Christmas tomorrow. A bit of normalcy in the midst of all this, she says. Rick got on her case, of course. "I didn't know Da raised a fool."
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Fuck it all. Fuck everything.
Wednesday, December 25, 2030
Black Mountain, NC
Looks like Mom was infected after all. Sam put her down, but not before she'd bitten Rick. I wish we could figure out how this damn thing is transmitted, but I'm a computer tech, not a doctor. Sam and I are taking turns watching him for signs. If he's gonna turn, I hope he does it on my watch. I don't want my baby sister to have to kill anyone else in the family. She's just a kid. Or she was. I guess neither of them are, anymore. Not after this. Still, that's an older brother's job.
Saturday, January 25, 2031
Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC
Zombies came back to Black Mountain a couple days ago. We skipped out the back instead of fighting - too many for that - but had to leave the car behind. Headed towards the city. No signs of life yet - living life, that is - but we haven't gone very far. Walking along Highway 70 for now, because the interstate looks to be crawling with zombies.
The college is deserted. No bodies, no zombies, practically no cars, just ... empty. Rick reckons the students and teachers all left to go find their families before the quarantines went up. Still worth it to come up here, though. There's all kinds of food, industrial-size cans and everything. There'd be fresh stuff if it weren't the middle of the damn winter. Or if we'd come earlier. It's been a month since quarantine was broken in the city, and they held out a lot longer than the forces out by the farm.
We took the constant watch off Rick the day we moved. He's going to turn or he's not going to turn, nothing we can do about it by exhausting ourselves staying up all night to see.
Friday, January 31, 2031
Asheville, NC
Stumbled onto a big group of people in the city. They said it's not safe to use cars - zombies are drawn to any sign of humans, of food. I don't know why. Fucking zoms don't die if they don't eat. Nothing kills them but a shotgun to the face.
We're holed up in a hospital for now. It's not a long-term solution, but it's defensible while the snow's so bad for walking. This guy they've got in charge here, Jacob, has the three of us separated until our blood's done being analyzed. Apparently one of the docs found a way to tell who's infected - about damn time, really. Shouldn't be too much longer. In the meantime, he's starting us on some exercises. Gotta be strong when it's time to move. There's a rumor that the quarantine held in California, if we can just get there.
Wednesday, March 5, 2031
Candler, NC
We hit the road today. Walking I-40, heading out to California on no more than that rumor, but it's the best we've got. People seem to be doing better with somewhere to go, a goal to work towards. I hope it's for real, though. I'd hate to see what it's like if we get all the way to the Pacific and it's still just as bad as it is here.
Jacob's pushing a pretty hard pace for this many people. Some of them are older, and one's pregnant - no way she can keep this up all the way across the country. Still, there's a good number of older teens, younger adults. At least someone else can handle protection and supplies when the less fit have to rest in the evenings.
People are mostly sticking with their family or the friends they came into the hospital with. I guess it makes them feel safer, you know? And that's good - I'm more alert for zoms when it's Sam or Rick beside me than the annoying kid tagging along with us. The longer we can stay protected, the better. Somehow I doubt Jacob's into stopping to bury the dead.
Tuesday, March 11, 2031
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
RIP Jennifer Burgal. At least it was a heart attack and not the zombies.
Friday, March 21, 2031
Knoxville, TN
RIP James White. Wherever the fuck you went in the middle of the night, I hope it was worth it.
Tuesday, March 25, 2031
Kingston, TN
Sam's sick. Rick's bitching has pissed everyone off. Jacob says the three of us are slowing the rest of the group down. He wants to leave Sam behind and keep going. Leave us, really, because we're not abandoning her. For the good of the cause, he says. What fucking good is the cause if he's going to abandon someone at the first sign of trouble? It's just a fucking virus or something, she'll be fine in a day or two.
The kid that was hanging out with our family said he'd stay with us if we stopped for a bit, be an extra gun so we could focus on her health more. If she's no better by the time we stop tonight, I might have to take him up on his offer. He's annoying, but he knows how to shoot.
Thursday, March 27, 2031
Kingston, TN
A day off the road, and Sam's fine. The part of the group that stayed with us is packing up now, ready to move out in the morning. We'll try to catch up to the others, but judging by Jacob's face when they left? I don't think we'll be able to.
Friday, May 30, 2031
Memphis, TN
We've picked up several stragglers from Jacob's group along the way, those too old or weak to keep up with him any longer. We're not moving as quickly as we once were, but since we don't even know if we have a particular destination at this point, I can't really see how speed matters.
Everybody seems to have elected me the leader for some reason. I don't know the least thing about where we're going - a month ago, we were farther from the farm I grew up on than I'd ever been before. But I guess they want someone who isn't going to scoot out in the middle of the night. So long as my kid sister and that fool brother of ours are around, they've got that in me. I just thought they'd go for someone a little older, at least.
My informal second in command is that irritating kid that was following me around before. He's just 20. I know, I know, I'm all of two and a half years older, but still. Except for my siblings, he's the youngest in the group. But he was in ROTC and really knows his way around a gun, so he's been working on that with everyone. Rick's helping him, and so's Alice, a fantastic lady in her 40s. She had to kill her kids when they turned, leaving her this weird combination of mother to half the group and ruthless taskmaster to the other half.
Rob - the kid helping me - saw me writing in this journal the other day. He says I should keep a record of everything for the future, more than just my family. What future, I asked him, but he just shrugged. What the hell. Maybe we do survive, and maybe this becomes one of those things kids have to read in school to understand the distant past. God, I hope that's what happens. Still, I can't help but think this horrid little journal is going to end up lining a bird's nest. At best.
Maybe the zoms will develop brains - the kind they can think with, rather than the kind they eat. Maybe they'll read this one day and feel remorse for this whole fucking apocalypse. Well, here you go, zombie chums. Here's the list of people this expedition has:
Joseph Bronwen - that's me, you brain-guzzling fuckheads. The one who popped his own father before the radio admitted that the CDC didn't have a cure.
Richard Bronwen - my mad little brother who says he'd eat your brains right back if he didn't think it'd kill him
Samantha Bronwen - my baby sister. Fuckheads. You made her kill her own mother before her fourteenth birthday. And what a birthday it was, too - she killed two more of you.
Robert Johnson - bona fide Eagle Scout, saving our asses from here to California
Alice Sanders - you jackasses turned her kids three months after her husband left her
Dick and Jane Elkin, an older couple we rescued after Jacob abandoned them
Keith Black
Genevieve Aiken - we call her Gen
Alexander and Isaac Wells, brothers
Jackson Williams
Albert Carrow - you took an eye and an ear from him, but you couldn't infect him
Melinda Tobe and her unborn baby - God, I'm not looking forward to hiding for the birth, but we do need to start thinking about it soon
Barry James
Lee and Susan McAdams, also siblings
Amanda Smith - and we only know her name because she had her license on her. What the fuck did you do to her that she won't even talk now?
Eighteen of us, traveling by foot along the side of I-40, stealing from abandoned stores and houses, hiding every time we see more than a handful of zoms. But we're still alive, despite their best efforts. Fuck the zoms. This journal is for the future. Our future. Mel's kid - this journal is for him. He'll read this one day and giggle at how ridiculous it all seems to him. He'll grow up in a world without zombies.
Although the kid could be a girl. The doc's still with Jacob's group, so we don't know. Either way, he or she's going to have a hell of a lot of parents as we finish up this trek.
Tuesday, July 1, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Made it to another big city. Jackson and Barry found two more live people while they were on a food-and-ammo run. So hey, future readers, add two more names to that list. Samuel Benedict (sucks to have two Sams, let me tell you) and Ashley Jamison. Their wedding was supposed to be on Friday. Gen's pushing for us to have some sort of 4th of July celebration anyway, so we may as well put together some sort of wedding at the same time. Ashley and Susan are talking about finding a bridal shop and everything. As long as we don't call too much attention to ourselves, I don't see why we couldn't. The zoms seem to have mostly left the city in search of more live people. I don't know, maybe there are Livers out in the country. I thought they would have come to the cities, that we could pick up more people on our trip, but maybe they've gone to the country, hoping to set up homes somewhere zom-free. (God, I hope that works out for them.) Sam and Ashley hid in the sewer to escape, they said. I can see where that wouldn't be so popular.
We'll be in the city for another month or two at least. It's getting harder and harder for Melinda to walk all day. Ashley was a nurse, though, so at least we're not doing this whole birthing thing blind. Rob's taking her on raids to the hospitals and clinics in the city, trying to find the equipment she wants for the birth. No luck so far on an intact ultrasound, but we've at least got a ton of painkillers and antibiotics. We set up in a hospital hoping to make it easier, but Little Rock's in bad shape. Even if we could get the power back on, everything's smashed.
More bodies than usual laying around, too. Fuck, seeing my 14 year old sister step calmly over a dead toddler to see if the cabinet had any clean towels ... this is worse than a war zone.
Saturday, July 5, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Alex and Isaac set up the best wedding surprise possible. They found a nice hotel that seems to have escaped the more permanent effects of the zombiepocalypse, as Rick's starting to say. Damn fool thing to call it - like it's still that kinda cool thing people talked about in the past - but it's hardly worth fighting over. Anyway, the Wells brothers cleaned up the hotel, or most of it, and we had a wedding in the conference room followed by a pool party. They even got the power back on for most of the night. Hot tub, dinner cooked on a stove, honeymoon suite for the newlyweds.
Of course, I'm writing this by flashlight now, but it was amazing while it lasted.
Tuesday, July 8, 2031
Little Rock, AK
I have so much more time to write, but never anything to say. We're still in the city, living in the hotel. Most of us are training with good frame packs so we can carry more when we finally head out again. Ashley's teaching everyone some basic first aid, and Sam - my sister Sam, not Ashley's husband - is learning more than the basics. It'll be good to have so much medical knowledge.
Rob found a bookstore that didn't see too much slaughter and picked up some survival guides for us. Only a few of them have blood stains, and they're still readable - better than anything we looked at before! It's apparently offending Rob's bookish inclination, but Barry's been breaking the binding to pull out what we might need as a reference along the way. It's mostly pictures of poisonous snake and charts of which plants we can and can't eat. He's planning to go back later and find some first aid reference books, just in case something happens to Ashley and she can't help us with it.
Rob also got us some good frame packs and lightweight sleeping bags. We're making forays out in small groups to try on better hiking shoes so we can break them in before we leave the city. I'm thinking we ought to load up the packs and break those in - and build up our muscles - before we're on the road again. Really be ready this time.
Well, happy 23rd birthday to me. And happy belated 25th anniversary, Mom and Dad. I wish you were here.
Sunday, July 27, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Jane's sick. Ashley doesn't think she'll make it through the week. Even if she does, there's no way she could hit the road the way we have been.
Thursday, July 30, 2031
Little Rock, AK
RIP Jane Elkin. You are already missed. What are we going to do without your stories of growing up in the sixties as we sit around our campfire at night?
Funeral services performed by former A.M.E. minister Jackson Williams. Genevieve sang.
Monday, August 4, 2031
Little Rock, AK
It's twins! A girl and a boy. Jane and Eliot Tobe. El's got a set of lungs on him, let me tell you.
Isaac told us today is his birthday, too. 34 years old. Melinda asked him to be their godfather. Jackson's going to baptize the twins this weekend, and then if Mel's in good enough shape, we're going to hit the road again. Slowly, but better supplied than ever before. Most of us can carry 60 pounds for 8 or 9 miles a day, so we're more than ready for this.
Sunday, August 10, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Just a formal record of the baptism of Jane Elizabeth Tobe and Eliot Harold Tobe, performed by former minister Jackson Williams, assisted by Robert Johnson.
Leaving in the morning. Dick and Alex are visiting Jane's impromptu grave one last time. Rob and I are dividing baby supplies among the troop. Of all the things I never expected to do, apportioning diapers and burp cloths is pretty high on the list.
Monday, August 11, 2031
Little Rock, AK
They were attacked at the grave. Alex is okay, but Dick's already showing signs of turning.
Monday, August 11, 2031
Little Rock, AK
Oh Jesus, he shot himself. Fucking shit, shit, shit, is it bad that all I can think is how glad I am that Jane's already dead? I wouldn't want her to have to deal with this. Rob and Alex are the only other ones who know what happened. We're going to tell the others he died, but not how.
Rob won't let us leave today. Says we need another proper funeral first. Dick dealt with himself before he was a full zombie, we handle his death like we would that of any other Liver.
Fucking shit, I hate this job.
Saturday, August 30, 2031
Clarksville, AK
Oh god oh god oh god
Robert came out today. To whole group. No big deal, right? No big deal to most people.
Until that stupid brother of mine opened his big fat mouth and said, "Hey, Joe, looks like you're not the only queer in this gig."
Godfuckingdammit, Rick.
Monday, September 1, 2031
Alix, AK
Robert insisted we take Labor Day off. We're going to cut the pace a little more. Even with people taking turns carrying the babies, it's hard on Mel. We're only doing five or six miles a day as it is, but we're not really in any hurry. It's more important to keep the babies happy and quiet, which is certainly easier when their mother isn't exhausted. None of us want to see the zoms get anyone else, especially not the twins.
Robert also assured me that he had no idea I wasn't straight and wasn't trying to make me uncomfortable by coming out himself. Rick apologized for outing me, at least. Still, it made me reevaluate every time Robert's been alone with me. Were all those times necessary for the planning and stuff? Does he have a crush on me? We can't afford to get caught up in some sort of doomed romance when we need to be keeping an eye out for zoms, and I don't want to crush the kid's heart. God, I hate this job. Why can't I be the normal 23 year old, looking for a job, buying this kid his first legal beer in a couple months and enjoying the attention of a potential crush?
Oh, right, because there is no normal anymore, none of us have jobs other than pirating, and we threw the idea of a drinking age out the metaphorical window months ago. Not to mention the fact that there's nowhere to buy a beer. I could steal him one.
Joseph Steven Bronwen, you are being ridiculous. Let the twerp steal his own beer if he wants it.
Thursday, September 18, 2031
Salisaw, OK
I didn't realize back in March that I was signing up to lead the Rainbow Brigade down the yellow brick road. Damn Rob for starting this whole big sharing thing, anyway. Genevieve and Susan announced at dinner that they're dating now, and Barry told us all that he's bisexual. Keith chimed in to say that he's asexual, and my own sister decided she's bi as well. Not that I have a problem with her being bi, of course, but she's only 14! More to the point, the youngest person not related to her is the gay Robert, and he's six years older. At 24, Albert's the youngest straight man, and that's definitely not okay. (And no, I'm not just upset that he's straight. He's not that pretty.) Let's not even mention Ashley - who's married! - being the youngest woman at 27. I'm going to kill Robert Johnson for making my sister think about sex.
Well, I'm glad Gen and Susan are happy, at least.
Saturday, October 4, 2031
Henryetta, OK
Lee picked up a radio station today, but when we followed the signal to investigate, it was just a zom who happened to bump into something and start some music playing. Lee popped him and got all excited over the equipment we'd found. Turns out he was a DJ for his college's station for a couple years. Knew how to use it all. So of course, we got to thinking - we were so excited to hear what might be a sign of more people, maybe others would be, too.
So we're setting up camp in the roaring metropolis of Henryetta. Jackson's convinced that it's a sign the music this station played was gospel. He insists we stick with it - not that we have a whole lot of choice, anyway. Several of the group are learning how to work the equipment and taking shifts on the air. Lee's telling anyone who can hear to come to Henryetta and join us.
Rob's out now looking for a CB radio or anything else that might be able to contact more people. He's getting damn good at sneaking around the zoms without them ever noticing him. There aren't really a lot of zoms in this town, but if we're staying for a while, especially if we're telling other people to come here, it's probably best if we keep a low profile anyway.
Tuesday, October 7, 2031
Henryetta, OK
Nobody yet. People are arguing about how long to stay, but nobody wants to split the group up just yet. Lee thinks the signal could be heard up to 80 miles away and we ought to wait long enough for someone that far away to get here. So if they're traveling like us, heavily loaded and with two infants, that could take 20 days or so.
I've got to talk to Rob first, but I'm thinking we could wait that long. Especially if we take the less patient people and set them to scouting expeditions, see if they can see anyone coming in.
Thursday, October 16, 2031
Henryetta, OK
RIP Alice Sanders. She died to save three kids who were coming to find the radio station.
RIP Jimmy, last name unknown. He asked Barry to put him down because he'd been bitten on the way in and was already starting to show signs.
But we managed to save Sally-Anne Judd and Emily O'Connell. They're both 10 and immediately started to idolize Sam. She seems to like them, too.
Saturday, October 18, 2031
Henryetta, OK
RIP Alexander Wells, who died saving his brother, who broke his leg saving three more people. They're really starting to come in now. I just hate that it's taking so many of my people's lives to save these others.
Isaac won't be able to walk for at least a month. There's talk once again of splitting the group. The newcomers especially want to give others plenty of time to get there, and some are thinking about stopping in Oklahoma City for another good long radio broadcast.
Monday, October 20, 2031
Henryetta, OK
Packing up to move out. We're leaving behind Jackson, Lee, Isaac, Amanda, Samuel, and Ashley of the old group. The only newcomers joining us are the first two girls who joined us, Sally-Anne and Emily, and James O'Connell, Emily's uncle, who showed up a few days after her. Thankfully, he has some medical training, and Sam's learned a lot from Ashley, so we should be okay. Besides, we still have those first aid books.
It's hard to break up this group. We've really become family in our seven months together. But they do what they feel they need to, and we do what we need to. Lord willing, as Jackson says, we'll see them in California sooner or later.
Tuesday, November 11, 2031
Oklahoma City, OK
Susan found some radio stations and recorded broadcasts for each of them to play on loop as we move on. She's still upset that her brother didn't come with us, but he asked her to spread the word of their plans along out way.
Mel's excited about the twins - they're starting to roll over on their. Rob's started waxing poetic about the virtues of having them along. Morale boosting to see life when we're surrounded by so much death every day, he says. (Gen slapped him silly the first time he started describing the death. I'd've done it if I'd been closer to him, too. We can all see it for ourselves. Sure don't need it in English-major technicolor.)
Saturday, November 29, 2031
Clinton, OK
We stopped early today to celebrate Rob's birthday. I have a feeling we won't be leaving until Monday - he intends to get drunk, as befits a young man on his 21st. I intend to accompany him, because I don't need much of an excuse to get drunk after what we saw this morning.
And, you know what, fuck the future. I'm not going to describe scenes of carnage for your future pornography. Someone else can do that. Pretty Boy Poet over there. I'm getting wasted.
Sunday, November 30, 2031
Clinton, OK
Uhhhh
yeah
sort of still drunk
getting the disapproval glare from Melinda like being a mother makes her suddenly understand
well she didn't have to shoot her own father
or watch her sister shoot her mother
and she sure as fuck isn't leading a bunch of fuckup zombie dinners down the interstate like a fucking buffet while they expect her to keep them safe
what does she know anyway
I'm allowed one day off in this whole mess, aren't I?
Rob's hung over but sobering up, let him lead for a while.
fucking fuck fuck it all. there's more alcohol in here somewhere.
Saturday, December 6, 2031
Elk City, OK
Rob stole the journal and wouldn't give it back until I promised not to rip out what he calls the one bit of honesty this damn book has. I'd do it anyway, but he's going to check, and he's convinced the others how important this is, too.
Stupid kid.
Thursday, December 25, 2031
Just outside Amarillo, TX
Christmas.
Sam insisted on stopping early yesterday in what seems to be a completely deserted suburb. Susan set up Christmas music on the radio, and James took the kids "shopping" for presents for everyone. Rob and I are working on hooking up a generator at an empty house for hot water. What better present than a warm shower?
At the rate we're going, we won't get to California until mid-summer. I hope there's something for us at the end of the journey. Rob's got a plan if there isn't, though. It seems to involve barricades and moats, so I'm not sure how good of a plan it is, but he could have just been fucking with me when he said that. He's actually really good at this whole apocalypse thing. Certainly makes my job easier having him around to tend to the details.
Wednesday, January 21, 2032
Santa Rosa, NM
Genevieve and Susan apparently broke up sometime last week. They've somehow managed to keep it from being awkward for the rest of us. Keith made some very satisfied noises at hearing that news, though. Something about how the women need to be dating men and getting pregnant, now that the population of America is ... reduced. Doesn't he remember how hard it was to travel when Mel was pregnant? Plenty of time for that sort of thing when we get where we're going.
Meanwhile, Albert, Melinda, and James O'Connell have apparently started up some sort of relationship. I guess with two babies, you may as well have two boyfriends.
Rob's definitely interested in me. Jesus fuck. Didn't I already tell him that wouldn't work?
Thursday, January 22, 2032
Santa Rosa, NM
Turns out I told myself how Rob and I wouldn't work, not him. That was an awkward conversation.
Friday, January 6, 2032
Albuquerque, NM
Barry and Susan are ... something. Rob's ambushed me and stolen kisses a couple times. Albert and James seem content with each other when Mel's busy with the twins. Gen's still mad at Keith for reducing her to procreation, and Keith's mad at everyone for assuming he was volunteering to help with said procreation. Sam reports that Sally-Anne and Emily both have crushes on our brother.
Somehow I think the future people ought to be more interested in the state of the world than the state of our relationships, but I don't know anything about the world. Ours is the role of sending out information and moving on, never hearing anything new ourselves. We're running into the zoms less and less, but I don't know if that's because they're not around as much or if we've gotten better at avoiding them. The few encounters we do have are quick slaughters rather than the nerve-wracking brawls they were back in North Carolina. The zoms aren't getting close enough to turn us anymore. Thank God.
Tuesday, February 17, 2032
Grants, NM
Rick's birthday. Eighteen used to be a bigger deal. Everything used to be a bigger deal. But at least he got a good present - we heard a radio station that isn't one of ours, and it had live voices! There are other Livers out there. Living. Somewhere close enough that we can get them on our crappy little portable radio.
They're telling stories and jokes, anything to fill the air with live voices. No music, no repeated recordings, but they keep coming back to say the same thing regularly: Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California are all completely safe. There are forces holding the border while they erect some sort of boundary. Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and part of Montana are relatively safe, with only pockets of zoms left. Part of Mexico and a whole bunch of Canada are safe. They're calling themselves the United Territories.
We're 85 miles from the border.
85 miles from safety.
Knowing we're this close, we can do that in 10 days.
So close. Oh, man. Happy birthday, little brother. I think it's the best you've ever had.
Now, if you'll excuse me, busybody people reading my private journal years into the future, I have an annoying boy to go make out with. It seems I promised him to give "us" a chance when I knew we were all safe. Why would I do a fool thing like that?
Saturday, February 28, 2032
40 Entry Quarantine, United Territories
We made it! We're in the United Territories. Out of what they're calling the "Zom Zone". Funny how the same slang sometimes comes about in different places.
Life is so different here. Livers - no, they say Alives - walking around freely, mostly unarmed. We're still in quarantine, so there are armed guards on us constantly, and we can see the border patrol from our windows. Still, the thought that we don't all need to carry loaded shotguns just in case ... it's kind of overwhelming. I feel naked without that weight across my shoulder.
They're particularly interested in the twins here. It seems there haven't been very many births since the original quarantines broke. Stress, they say. Mel says she feels like they're looking at her as breeding stock. Albert and James both promised they wouldn't let that happen, but for some reason, she made Rob and me promise as well. One big family.
Wednesday, March 10, 2032
Nacozari de Garcia, United Territories
As soon as we were out of quarantine, the Patrol snapped us up. All of us except Melinda, Sally-Anne, and Emily. Well, and the twins. But with everyone else transferring to the same place, the five of them got to stay with us. We're down in what used to be Mexico, working on the regular Patrol in addition to coordinating outreach efforts with the District Patrol Leaders. Our group came from the farthest away, had the fewest casualties along the way, and did the most to send Alives to the United Territories - and all this led by a 23 year old and a 21 year old who had no idea where they were going.
We've been assigned a section of the Patrol barracks together. No use splitting a team who already works so well together, DPL Bradley said. He was particularly pleased to see Mel, James, and Albert's relationship. Fortunately, she's clear of any "breeding stock" pressures with the twins still so young, but Bradley did start leaning on Gen and Susan. Even Sam got a bit of pressure before I stepped in there. She's not even fifteen yet!
Rob, being the smartass that he is, mentioned that the women can't do it on their own. When I asked him if he was volunteering to help, he shut up pretty quick, but he didn't look amused or anything. I asked him about it last night, and
If I intend to donate this journal to history, I really need to keep the private things private. The point is, they're pressuring all the women who are at an age where they can become pregnant. Sucks for all of them, I'm sure, but I'm glad to be on the sidelines of that argument. I'll gladly stand up for them, of course, but I'd hate the military leaders to start telling me I should donate my body for the good of humanity.
Wednesday, May 12, 2032
Nacozari de Garcia, United Territories
Sam's 15th birthday. The first real party we've had since this whole thing began. Her friend Miguel even brought a piñata. Some horrid orange thing that might have been a goat in a previous life, but she loved it. I suspect Miguel is more than just a friend to her. There's no other excuse for that piñata.
Keith and Barry have both requested reassignment to train new recruits, so they're shipping out shortly after the party. Mel, James, Albert, Emily, Sally-Anne, Jane, and Eliot are looking for a house to move into together. Gen and Susan are dating again, and Rob and I ... well, we're dating, too, I guess. Have been since we heard that first broadcast from the United Territories. But since relationships that can't lead to babies are sort of frowned on, the four of us are letting people believe we're all together in some form. It'd be easy enough to find an apartment for us and let our private business stay private. I have to admit, it's weird to find that nobody cares about the apparently age gaps. Susan's ten years older than Rob. Are we that desperate for kids?
We received word yesterday that Samuel and Ashley Benedict made it in with a large group of Alives. They're already talking about going back out to change the messages on the stations farther from the border. They asked in the message if I'd like to come with them, but I'm about to be promoted to District Patrol Leader, with Rob as my assistant. Do I miss the freedom and the camaraderie of leading a small group somewhere? Yeah. But I don't miss the constant vigilance. I'm content with protecting the people of Nacozari and coming home to a private room I share with my boyfriend.
Tuesday, June 29, 2032
Las Vegas, United Territories
We've done it! Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and half of Montana have been declared officially safe. The UT border in former Mexico has pushed outward to expand the Territories. Former Canada's border is limited more by lack of Patrol than safety; we're shipping more personnel up each week to reinforce, and as soon as they've arrived, that part of the border will start expanding as well. More people are coming in every day, drawn by Sam and Ashley's messages. Isaac got in three days ago, when I happened to be at 40 Entry, and his reports were fantastic. Every one of my people I left in Henryetta is still alive, and they've saved hundreds of others who are now being picked up by UT trucks and brought in. With the reduced zombie activity closer to the border, it's been safe to send vehicles out of the borders.
But for all the territory we cover now, the people of the United Territories still number less than twelve thousand. Pressure to have babies is rising.
40 Entry and the other border towns are all becoming mobile camps. As soon as they're all on wheels, we're going to push this part of the Territories out, too. See if we can't slowly reclaim the whole continent for Alives, wipe out the zoms completely. That should help with our population, too. I've been assigned as the Advancement Coordinator for the lower part of what used to be America, based in 40 Entry for the most part. Rob's one of the DPLs under me, also at 40 Entry, since we'll be reclaiming territory the two of us are already familiar with.
Wednesday, August 4, 2032
Ciudad Juarez, United Territories
Rob and I took the week off to visit Melinda and her family for the twins' first birthday party. They've moved to Ciudad Juarez as the border's advanced eastward. James has gotten involved in the local government, and he had some uncomfortable news to share with us. It's not law there yet - it's not even a precursor to a law - but it's being talked about seriously, and that means it's probably being talked about seriously in other places, too.
They want to make being gay illegal. No, they want to make gay sex illegal. It's all in an effort to encourage babies, which I understand, but ... way to regress our social progress forty years. Not that I'm saying the (dammit, everybody's using that stupid name) zombiepocalypse was a good thing, but we really were at an unsustainable population. We're not in immediate danger of dying out as a species. Is it really necessary to push the baby agenda so hard? I'd gladly jerk off in a cup for the good of the human race, but for God's sake, let me keep fucking my boyfriend.
Tuesday, September 7, 2032
Albuquerque, United Territories
Ciudad Juarez has passed the Harrison Population Expansion Act. Several other localities have similar legislation in the works. Hastily-formed civil rights groups are already suing. This is a hell of an important issue to be the focal point that this new government cuts its teeth on.
Thursday, November 25, 2032
Denver, United Territories
All the local baby-making laws are standing, and there's a federal one in the making. Rob and I have a decent amount of sway in the Patrol, but our voices are useless against the federal government. James sent a message saying Ciudad Juarez passed a sort of compromise amendment that allows same-sex partners in polyamorous relationships to have sex when there's no chance that opposite-sex intercourse could result in pregnancy, or when pregnancy is inadvisable. Not that this will be worth anything once the federal act passes. We already function as a foursome in public with Gen and Susan, so that's some sort of protection for us.
But it's not going to be good enough protection. Gen's bisexual, and I can have sex with her every now and then if we have to, but none of us want to. As for Susan and Rob ... well, neither of them can do it. Gen's not thrilled about pregnancy, but she wants a baby with Susan, and Rob's completely in love with the idea of a kid for us. I can't say that I'd mind having a little one around, but I'd prefer better circumstances for the actual conception.
Thursday, December 23, 2032
Mexico City, United Territories
Merry fucking Christmas. The Harrison-Underwood Population Expansion Act passed almost unanimously today just before the committee broke for a winter hiatus.
Gen, Susan, Rob, and I are applying Monday for a four-way marriage. There are some extra protections for legally bonded spouses, close to what the Ciudad Juarez amendment was, though it looks like we have to have fertility testing done.
Monday, January 3, 2033
Mexico City, United Territories
Thank you, God! Susan is infertile and thus exempt from the terrible "intercourse testing" Gen will have to undergo. We were afraid she wouldn't be allowed to marry with us, but apparently infertile women are being encouraged to commit to a family that already has a fertile woman. With more hands caring for the kids, there can be more kids.
I don't know what we'd do if polygamy weren't legal. I can't imagine us in two hetero marriages, trying to pretend.
Thursday, January 6, 2033
Mexico City, United Territories
Rob's been increasingly withdrawn since Christmas, and he finally talked to me about it today. He's been worried about the marriage, he said. It wasn't the idea that I might suddenly decide I really do like women after all. I had to drag it out of him, but he's afraid of what will happen if Gen doesn't get pregnant, whether they'll try to "encourage" another fertile woman into the marriage. Or if she does get pregnant, just in time for the law to be repealed and the two couples of the foursome to go our separate ways. Or if the law's never repealed and we have to pretend forever. He can't decide which is the worst option.
I didn't know what to say. The situation sucks all around. We're too young to get married. We haven't been dating for near long enough to even consider it. But if we don't marry, we'll be out of our jobs.
And then Rob really threw me a curveball. He said we could leave. If we're not ready for marriage, not ready for kids, we can go back out into the Zom Zone. As missionaries, or just run away. We have enough practice. We could defend ourselves. We could warn people about the laws in the United Territories, maybe even set up our own country somewhere if we found enough people to make it work. We could build a house in the middle of nowhere and hide from the UT.
I can't leave my brother and sister, leave the best chance at life humans have, but it makes me wonder if there are other couples out there thinking the same thing. What kind of government is so cruel to its people that they have to seriously consider leaving and taking their chances with the zoms?
Tuesday, January 18, 2033
San Antonio, United Territories
Rob and I decided to hyphenate our last names, but the women are each keeping their original names. That'll irritate the courts, but there's not really anything they can do about it. We're getting married as requisition; the wedding is scheduled for February 1. Gen has her first intercourse testing the next morning. What kind of wedding night is it if I have to fuck someone other than my husband?
Rob threw a chair out the only window this house had left. Somehow that didn't make me feel better about living in someone else's looted-out house. But married families get moved out of barracks into houses, and the only houses around ... well, we have no way of knowing what happened to the previous owners. Just like that stupid pop-out-babies act, someone had to make a decision. At least this one comes with the proviso that if the owner shows up, we move out. Nothing says that if we come out, we get to stop procreating.
I think Rob wants to leave. I think...
I think I would go with him. Rick turned 19 yesterday, and it's not like he and Sam live with me, anyway. They're fine on their own. I'd hate not to see them so often, but they'd be okay. They'd have each other. Rob would be alone if I didn't go with him. And it's just not safe out there, alone.
And yeah, I'd miss him.
But we'd be leaving Susan and Gen in the lurch. That's not fair to them.
So I guess we're both staying. Damn our senses of responsibility.
Satuday, April 15, 30 A.P. (2061 in the old system)
Niagra, United Territories
Niagra Report
Harrison-Underwood Population Expansion Act Repealed
Aaron Bronwen-Johnson, Junior Reporter
Thanks to the never-ceasing efforts of the Civil Action Party, one of the oldest laws of the United Territories was repealed today. The Harrison-Underwood Population Expansion Act, or HUPEA, was passed on December 23, 2032 A.D., what we would call today Desember 23, 1 A.P. The HUPEA provided prospective marriage-sets with guidelines regarding the types of marriages that would be allowed as well as regulating consummation in an effort to increase the struggling population immediately following the Zompoc. Any set married under HUPEA may report to their local UT Records Office within the next three months to change or terminate their marriage with no fee.
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