Experiment Undead

Kate heaves a relieved sigh and leans back, her shoulders visibly relaxing. ‘Now that Nancy is finally asleep,’ she says, gesturing with her hand, ‘how about you kids go and see what vegetables you can find in the garden while I start cooking the lamb in the oven?’

‘Okay,’ I reply, nodding.

Emma and Oscar trail after me as I stride towards the door, my hand already reaching for the wicker basket waiting by the side. As I open the little gate, the two brown horses I spotted earlier trot towards us, their heads stretching over the fence in curiosity.

‘Grab them some carrots,’ I say to Emma, pointing towards the plump orange vegetables poking out from the soil.

She lets out a high-pitched squeal of delight, her eyes widening as she runs towards the horses. Pulling out a few carrots from the ground, she giggles in excitement as I stand behind her, holding them up high in her hand.

The horses greedily snap up the carrots, their lips tickling Emma’s palm as she giggles more. As we gently pat their soft, velvety noses, we hear a distant neigh behind them.

Turning around, we spot another horse galloping towards us, her pristine white coat shimmering in the sun. ‘Oh, she’s absolutely beautiful!’ I exclaim, reaching out to stroke her neck as I pull another carrot from the ground to feed her.

Oscar takes out his camera, capturing the moment of the horses eating the carrots and then of me patting the white one. ‘This is so cool,’ I say, a smile spreading across my face as I glide my fingers down her neck.

‘They’re so friendly,’ Oscar agrees, his eyebrows raised in amazement.

‘Have you ever ridden a horse before?’ I ask him, my voice low and curious.

He frowns for a moment, his lips pursing as he thinks. ‘No, but I’d love to learn,’ he says, his eyes shining with eagerness.

‘Me too,’ I reply, nodding my head in agreement.

Suddenly, Kate’s hands pop up at the kitchen window, and she starts gesturing wildly, her body language indicating that we should hurry up and collect the vegetables for her.

‘We better get these vegetables for her,’ I say, smiling as we reluctantly return to the garden.

As we approach the house, Emma and Oscar’s arms are full with vegetables as I carry in the basket of fresh produce. Kate takes the basket and inspects it, her eyes sparkling with delight. ‘The horses seem friendly,’ she remarks, her voice full of wonder and amazement.

‘Indeed they are,’ I reply with a smile, nodding in agreement.

Kate’s face lights up, ‘I used to go horse-riding a lot when I was a little girl,’ she says with a wistful expression. ‘If we find their reigns and saddles, we might be able to ride them out of here when it’s time to leave,’ she adds, her voice filled with hope.

Oscar’s face lights up with excitement, ‘That would be awesome!’ he exclaims, his eyes shining with anticipation.

Kate picks up the peeler and the potatoes and turns to us, ‘So, who wants to peel these for me?’ she asks with a grin.

We exchange nervous glances and slowly back away from her. Kate’s smile fades into a frown as she realizes we are trying to escape.

Before she can say anything, we race out of the kitchen.

We walk past Nate sitting on the porch with his rifle, keeping watch.

‘Let’s check the cupboards in the rooms. Maybe we can find something to do?’ I suggest to Emma and Oscar.

‘I don’t know if we should be opening cupboards without a grown-up around,’ Oscar says, his face filled with concern. ‘Remember what happened last time?’ he adds, his voice low.

‘Zombie boy, zombie boy!’ Emma shouts, her arms flailing wildly as she runs in a circle.

I grab her shoulders to stop her from running and reassure her, ‘It’s fine, besides you have me, and I have these,’ I say, pulling up my jeans over my ankles to reveal the two knives.

Oscar mumbles nervously, ‘Fine,’ and follows me into the main bedroom.

As Emma and I enter the bedroom, we notice the walls are painted in a dull off-white shade, making the room look a little drab. The wardrobe doors are a darker shade of brown, but they don’t seem to add any interest to the room. The dresser is cluttered with an array of old nik knacks, trinket boxes, and picture frames. Emma walks over to the dresser and starts rummaging through the boxes, finding a few pieces of jewellery, bobby pins, and buttons.

I decide to check out the wardrobe, but as I open it, a musty smell emanates. I wrinkle my nose and pull back a few hangers. I find a collection of floral long-sleeved dresses, checkered shirts, and dull grey trousers.

Suddenly, Oscar’s voice breaks through the silence. ‘Eww,’ he says, holding a large pair of nude-coloured underwear. He looks at us and grins mischievously. ‘Grundies,’ he says and tosses them in my direction.

I take a step back and narrowly avoid the flying underwear. ‘Grundies?’ I ask, raising an eyebrow.

Oscar nods enthusiastically. ‘Yeah, you know. Undies that old people wear.’

I can’t help but chuckle. ‘You’re so immature,’ I say, shaking my head.

Oscar grins at me, his eyes twinkling. ‘Well, I’m thirteen years old. I’m supposed to be immature,’ he says with a playful smile.

He leans against the dresser, his arms crossed and a playful smirk on his lips. Emma rolls her eyes at his antics and joins me by the wardrobe, sifting through the clothes with a look of mild disgust on her face.

I glance around the room, looking for some redeeming features. The curtains are a faded floral pattern, and the carpet is a dull shade of brown. The bedspread is plain white, and the pillows look a little lumpy. Overall, the room lacks character and feels a little tired.

As we explore the room further, I notice an old oval-framed photograph hanging above the bed. It shows a plump old lady in a floral dress standing beside a very tall, slim man wearing a checkered shirt, trousers, and suspenders. I climb onto the bed, reaching to take it off the wall.

‘It’s an elderly couple who live here,’ I say to Emma and Oscar, who are both standing by the dresser.

Oscar rolls his eyes. ‘Well, I thought we figured that part out when I found the grundies,’ he quips.

I shoot him a look of annoyance. ‘Smartass,’ I reply, shaking my head.

Oscar grins, his body language relaxed and carefree. ‘Better than being a dumbass,’ he laughs.

‘What’s that supposed to mean!’ I shout, running towards him.

Oscar’s eyes widen as he realises his mistake. ‘Oh shit!’ he exclaims before turning around and darting out of the room.

I chase after him, feeling a rush of adrenaline as I race down the hallway. Oscar runs ahead of me, his laughter echoing through the empty house. As we round the corner, he skids to a stop, turning to face me with a wide grin.

I skid to a stop in front of him, trying to catch my breath. Despite my anger, I can’t help but laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation. Oscar’s eyes sparkle with amusement.

Oscar swiftly turns, racing out the back door. Emma is right behind me as I continue to chase after him.

‘Get back here, Oscar, and I’ll show you who the dumbass is!’ I shout after him, my voice laced with laughter.

Nate watches the chase with amusement, enjoying the entertainment. ‘You better not let her catch you, Oscar. I’d be running for my life if I were you,’ he jokes.

Finally, Oscar ducks into the stable and shuts the door behind him. I come to a stop outside, my chest heaving with exertion. Emma heads back inside, her hunger apparently getting the better of her.

With a sigh, I give up on the chase and turn to face Nate. I’m resigned but still energized from the chase.

I pass Nate the framed photo. ‘What’s this?’ he asks, taking the photo from my hand and studying it intently.

I shift my weight from one foot to the other and chew on my bottom lip, ‘I think it’s the people who live here,’ I tell him. ‘The main bedroom is full of similar clothes to what they’re wearing in the photo. Plus, everything in the house is ancient.’

Nate taps the frame thoughtfully with his finger. ‘Perhaps their children came and got them out of here?’ he suggests.

‘Maybe,’ I shrug, my eyes scanning the fields. ‘Oh, did you see the horses?’ I ask, trying to lighten the mood. ‘I found another one. Kate said we could ride them out of here when we leave.’

Nate nods, his expression serious once again. ‘Three horses should be enough to get us out of here, but we’re probably going to be stuck here for a couple of weeks, at least until Nancy’s arm improves,’ he says.

‘Two weeks!’ I exclaim, my heart racing with anxiety. ‘But the others! My foster mum and my brother. As you said, they’ll be looking for us and waiting for us to get to Lederberg State Park. If we don’t arrive within a few days, they might think we’re dead.’

‘Penny, I’m sorry,’ Nate says, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. ‘We will find your family again. I’m sure more Safe Holds will be formed, and we will check the closest one we come across. They might have a system where they can log in and search to see if they are in the same Safe Hold or a different one.’

‘But you don’t understand,’ I plead, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. ‘I told Jane I hated her. I need to tell her I didn’t mean it. What if I never see her again, and they were my last words to her?’

Nate’s face softens with sympathy, but there is a hint of helplessness there too. ‘Then, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do,’ he says gently.

My fists clench at my sides, and I can feel my anger boiling. I want to punch Nate in the face, to make him understand my frustration and fear. But I know it wouldn’t solve anything, so instead, I turn and storm towards the door.

As I pass Nate, he reaches out to stop me, but I dodge him and grab my duffel bag from the lounge. I sling it over my shoulder, my eyes blazing with defiance.

‘Don’t even think about it, Penny. It’s too dangerous for you to go on your own. Even you must know that?’ he warns.

Of course, I already know that, but I will not admit that to him.

I glare at him, daring him to try and stop me. ‘Get out of my way,’ I growl.

‘No,’ he says firmly, his expression stern.

‘Argh! Why do you have to be such a dick?’ I shout, my voice echoing through the house.

‘I thought your mother told you to stop using that word?’ he retorts.

‘Actually, she told me to stop calling Liam a dick! She never said I couldn’t call anyone else one!’ I snap back.

‘Are you always this stubborn?’ he asks, his eyes narrowing in frustration.

Adamant on finding my mother and brother, I turn around, run down the small passage, and out the other door.

‘Penny!’ he shouts as I run past the horses and through the nearest field. ‘This is stupid, Penny. It’s going to be dark soon,’ he shouts.

I ignore him and don’t stop running for at least half an hour. Finally, I reach a clearing and lean against a tree to catch my breath. My chest heaves as I try to slow down my breathing. Looking around, I realise I don’t know which way to go. The sky above me is beginning to darken, and I can feel the temperature dropping rapidly. ‘Damn it, Penny. You should have taken the map.’

I walk aimlessly through the fields, trying to keep warm by rubbing my arms. The sky is now a deep shade of grey, and I can hear thunder rumbling in the distance. The air is charged with electricity, and I can feel the hair on my arms standing on end.

In defeat, I turn around and slowly walk back towards the farmhouse. I’ll go back to the farmhouse, leave first thing in the morning, and ensure I take the map with me this time. The storm clouds are getting closer, and I can feel the first few drops of rain starting to splash across my skin. My footsteps become heavier as I trudge through the fields, feeling defeated and alone.

After an hour of walking, it’s dark, and everything is unfamiliar. I don’t recognise my surroundings and can’t see the farmhouse. Panic rises in my chest as a kangaroo bounds through the nearby bushes, making me jump back in fright. But then, I hear another noise, a raspy moan, and my blood runs cold. It couldn’t be a soulless out here in the middle of nowhere? I take no chances and quickly unzip my duffel bag, pulling out my handgun and tucking it into the waistband of my jeans. With my heart pounding in my chest, I search my bag for one of my two torches, switching it on for light.

I look around using the torch, and just when I think things can’t get worse, the rain intensifies, pouring down harder and heavier.

‘You shit!’ I shout at the sky, angrily gesturing to it with the rude finger.

Drenched in the rain, I keep walking, constantly slipping over from the muddy ground. The rain only falls heavier and louder. All I can hear is the rain hitting the sloshy ground.

My torch flickers and dies, leaving me alone in the dark and the rain. Panic sets in as I see a silhouette moving toward me. ‘Nate?’ I shout, but the pouring rain drowns out any reply he might make. Fumbling through my duffel bag again, I search for my second torch, finding it just as the silhouette gets closer.

As soon as I flick it on, I scream as a tall soulless man grabs my arm, trying to bite me. I fall back, the man landing on me as the torch falls into the mud. I scream, trying to push him off, but he’s too heavy. His decomposing lips snap and gnarl, and spit flies everywhere as he tries to bite me. I keep one hand pressed against his forehead while I grab the gun from my waistband with the other. I press it against his temple and pull the trigger.

The dead man lays limp on top of me. He’s so heavy. I can’t move from under him. So instead, I lay there in the mud, in the heavy rain, realising just how close I came to death. Laughter leaves my lips, and I wonder if I’ve officially gone insane.

Memories of my past rush through my mind, the faces of those I’ve killed, both human and soulless. But my thoughts are interrupted by Nate’s voice calling my name.

Weakly, I call back, wondering if I’m hallucinating, but then I hear it again, louder this time. Nate appears out of the rain, grabs the arm of the tall man and drags him off of me. ‘Penny!’ Nate shouts. ‘Bloody hell, this is the tall old man from the photo. By the looks of him, I don’t think he’ll be a problem anymore,’ he says, staring at him. The right side of his head is completely missing from the gunshot.

My body is trembling, and I can feel the cold rain seeping into my bones, and I’m exhausted and barely responsive. Nate takes the gun beside me, scoops me up, places me onto a saddle, and sits behind me. My eyes widen as I realise we’re on the white horse. Nate must have found the saddle and reigns and then searched for me on horseback.

‘I swear you’re like a bloody cat with nine lives, Penny,’ he says.

I can’t respond, but my teeth chatter, and I’m trying to hug myself for warmth. Nate wraps his arms around me tighter and nudges the horse with his heels to run faster.

Finally, we arrive at the farmhouse, and I see Todd standing on the porch, waving a torch to guide us in. Nate carefully lifts me off the horse and enters the warm, cozy lounge room. I’m grateful to be out of the rain and feel my body slowly begin to warm up. Todd takes the horse to the stable, and I lean into Nate, still unable to speak but silently, thanking him for rescuing me.

As I hear my name being called out, my heart skips a beat with the anticipation of finally being reunited with my friends. But the sight of their faces falls when they notice the state I’m in - blood and mud splattered all over me and shivering uncontrollably. I clutch onto Nate’s shirt for warmth and support.

‘Kate, get some blankets from one of the bedrooms. She’s hypothermic. I need to warm her up,’ Nate instructs Kate.

I watch as she rushes upstairs while Nate sits in the recliner by the fire, holding me in his arms. I feel stupid and like a baby on his lap. I want to shove Nate away and maybe punch him in the face, after all. But I can’t stop shivering.

Kate returns with two blankets and places them on the arm of the chair, ‘Here, let me help you remove your jacket. Both of you being drenched isn’t going to help warm either of you up,’ she says.

Nate leans forward, so it’s easier to remove his jacket. Kate then throws one of the blankets around him. I didn’t notice until now that Nate was also shivering from hypothermia. Kate leans down, pulling my boots off, and frowns when the knives I concealed inside fall to the ground. Nate tries not to laugh and then closes his eyes while Kate removes my soaking wet shirt and jeans. Kate then wraps the other blanket around me and sits me beside Nate.

We shiver, leaning into each other for warmth.

‘You both stay put while I make you some warm milk,’ Kate instructs us.

Oscar and Nancy sit on the longer couch, watching us with concern.

When Kate returns with the warm milk, she finds us both sound asleep, snoring away.

‘Oh well,’ she says and turns, giving the milk to Nancy and Oscar instead.