The After Effects of Z-Day

Erin stared out the kitchen window at the empty back yard. It had been at least six months since her kids were out playing in the sunshine, now the brown, crispy grass only housed the knocked over sun bleached yard toys.

She walked over to the back door and gently slid it open, grabbing the crate of empty, dirty water jugs, she tiptoed to the 50-gallon drum affixed to a tarp held up by metal rods in the shape of a large funnel, gentle pushing part of the tarp to the side, revealing collected rain water and dew. She grabbed the old nylon sock she used to filter the water and tied it on the top of the jug, and dipped it in the water to fill; moving the nylon to the next jug and repeating the process till all the jugs were full. moving the tarp back into place, she slid the crate to a fire pit nearby, were a large metal pot sat nestled on a makeshift grate. She started a small fire in the pit, slowly adding the logs to make it decently sized, and started dumping the water from the jugs into the pot, ensuring any and all debris got removed. Checking the fire a final time, she moved the crate with the jugs back to the barrel, and went back inside to the darkness and silence.

Kat double checked the bedroom window, the fence was still holding up well after her fixes the other day. After having to move the chickens to the basement, she did not want to take any more chances with the fence that felt like it was the bane of her existence. Her next plan was to start adding primitive forms of traps and caltrops around the outside perimeter of the fence, she already had everything planned out, but would not be able to start working on it till the guys returned from their hunt for supplies. It had been a few days, and she was starting to worry, though this was not the first time. The house fully understood that with each expedition, it would take longer, as they had to go further; but that did not stop them from worrying about their loved ones.

Kat slowly went downstairs, seeing the small group of women sitting in the living room, patching clothes, crocheting, prepping food, and organizing supplies, she gave a curt nod to them and turned towards the kitchen.

"Erin, how's the water supply." She asked quietly.

"Good, I just put a few more gallons to boil so we will have extra. How's the perimeter? When are the guys supposed to be back?"

"Holding so far, my repairs and patches seemed to be holding. I am drawing up blueprints for traps and extra protection, I just wont be able to start building them till after the guys return. As to when that will be, I am not sure. I heard Abe mention they might have to go to the next town over, but with that being unknown territory, who knows who or what they will run into."

"Do you think they went to Harrisburg already? Or maybe they are waiting for that. They still haven't fully searched here for survivors."

"I don't know honestly. You know Abe, he doesn't think women are capable of anything but house work. He does not like the fact I do repairs."

"Abe doesn't even want me to make fires for cooking." Erin rolled her eyes, "How did we get stuck with him?"

"Well, he did risk his life for most of us." Kat sighed, "Big ol' Preacher man, not sure how he survived, but for those that don't know, his own survival proved he was a liar."

"How so?" Erin looked confused

"His whole thing for his sermons was how bad the vaccine was right? How it was the mark of the devil, and will be the end to all humanity."

"Oh right! I remember that! He was one of the biggest protesters for mandatory vaccines, and having kids get it! So, how does that prove he lied?"

"He isn't one of them." her head bobbed to the outside

Erin stared at Kat for a moment and gasped, "He got the vaccine!!"

"It's the only way the virus doesn't turn people. So he HAD to have gotten it!"

the women stared at each other for a moment, and sighed,

"Yet, we are stuck with him." a voice from behind broke the silence and both woman turned around and looked.

Another young woman stood in the kitchen doorway. Her bright red, curly hair stuck out as it traveled down her back. Her slender frame while thin was well toned.

"Marian, you scared me."

"Yea I tend to do that, Mostly to Abe though." she giggled and winked at the girls, "So besides bringing to light the sin of lie that Pastor Abe committed, what we talkin bout?"

"Mostly that, we were informing each other on our statuses."

"Gotcha, from what I can see, good stock of water, and the fences are holding."

Both nod in acknowledgment.

"And once the men come back, we can continue making improvements, I think, we should build a fence around the neighbors house, slowly clear it completely, and make it part of our compound. Make more room for people ya know." Marian said enthusiastically.

"I agree, I brought that up to Abe, and all I was told, was 'let the men do the thinking sweetheart' I honestly don't think he is interested in finding more survivors" Kat huffed as she collapsed on a chair

"That would make sense, he is never happy when new are found, and it would give more people to recognize him and bring to light the false tenses he spews forth." Erin said meekly.

The three woman looked at each other, the obvious signs of exhaustion in each of their eyes. Their days were filled with menial tasks that Abe deemed suitable for a woman, and only a couple were given tasks in replace of the men when they are exploring, like Kat, who was a licensed contractor and was a construction foreman before Z-day. She had to show Abe her abilities before he would allow her to mend fences and houses while the men were out. Half the time, she had to fix their mistakes when they were gone. The silence was broke by a loud commotion outside, the girls jumped and ran to a window, mentally preparing for the worst. Much to their relief it was the return of the guys, with what appeared to be a group of survivors.

"Their back!" Erin screamed with excitement as she ran to the front door, prepared to help bring in whatever they had found.

The other women gathered as well to welcome their loved ones, and greet the new comers. Abe road on top of the large reinforced Hummer, proclaiming their victory at the top of his lungs in the name of Jesus. After they came to a stop, and people started piling out of the SUV, Erin ran to her husband and attempted to embrace, only to find herself blocked and thrown to the ground by Abe.

"No MAN needs you wallering all over him. Let him breath and be comfortable before you continue with your woman agenda." Abe said with a disgusted look on his face, "You females need to learn your place." he looked around and spotted Kat and Marian,

"Here." he grabbed someone from next to him and threw them out at them "Here is another female who thinks she can do something manly." he spit on the ground, "Go explain to her how useless you all are." he jumped out of the Hummer and strolled off to his own secured home.

The waiting women ran to help carry the spoils in and separate them out. A small group gathered the hunted animal carcasses and set off to salt and preserve the meat. Other groups were checking the clothing and finding what they were in charge of.

Marian and Kat ran to the slender woman on the ground and helped her up,

"Sorry bout him, really we all aren't like that." Kat said trying to brush the dirt off of the woman's black leather pants, "I'm Kat and this is Marian."

The woman looked up at the two and gave a curt nod, "I'm Rae, I was the main guard of our group, till yours infiltrated us. Told us it would be no different than what we were doing, but safer cause more people. I didn't realize I would be outcasted because I have a pussy." Rae said bluntly pussy." Rae said bluntly

"Yea, we all feel that way." Kat said glancing towards Abe's house

"We can fill you in on some things later, come though, let's get you settled in."

the girls ushered Rae into the main house and gave a brief tour, explaining how the food and water systems worked, the fences and security forces, and bedding arrangements.

"We have room in our cabin, you can join us." Kat said nodding at Marian, "its only three of us so far. Erin, the girl who mistakenly tried to hug her husband, used to bunk with us too, till her and Steve got married. Abe made them jump a bunch of hoops to be able to get their own cabin and be together."

"What kind of hoops? Shouldn't a married couple be together?" Rae asked confused

"You would think, but Pastor Abe is a very strict imbecile." Marian laughed, "They had to sign a contract stating that they would only have relations for the approved purpose of procreation, missionary style only, and have to ask for permission if they are wanting to procreate."

"Well that seems intrusive and boring." Rae laughed, "I mean, ONLY missionary and for procreation??? What fun is that? Who doesn't love a good romp every now and then with others??"

"Right? Erin is bi, and WAS with Marian before Abe showed his ugly face and brought his crew with him. Some of the guys are great and super nice, but Abe banished most 'sins of the flesh' including but not limited to same sex mingling." Kat explained

Marian snorted, "Lot of good that does, when he keeps us bunked separately from the boys huh." she gave a quick wink at Rae.

"Wait a minute... Pastor... Abe...." Rae thought for a moment, "from that big ass tent church off the interstate? Mr. Screamer at everyone for everything?"

Kat touched her nose

"How did he become your leader?"

"He had supplies we didn't have, and he kind of forced his way in." Marian shrugged, "Everything was great at first, but after a few months, us girls were slowly forced out of the positions we held."

Kat snorted, "Ya those idiots he replaced me with on the building and security faction don't know their head from their ass." she shook her head, "I asked one to bring me a ball-peen hammer, and he brought me a freaking wrench. THEN had the gull to say I did not now what I was talking about."

Rae snorted and chuckled, "Oh yea, I've dealt with that a lot. No one seems to think a girl can do anything."

All the woman sighed and nodded, Marian looked out the window at the falling sun, the growing colors speckled the sky like an autumn rainbow. Burnt Pumpkin Orange stretched across the horizon, almost like it was on fire. Even though it had been months since the start of Z-Day, the sight of the uncluttered horizon was breathtaking, every night.

"We should start heading to our cabin." Kat said looking around, "We don't want it to get to dark while we get out there." she nodded her head to the front door of the main house, that most people were already slowing filing out.

Rae looked up the staircase and saw Abe standing at the landing, arms crossed as we watched people leaving. His face seemed to almost always be in a scowl.

"Does he stay in here?" she asked quietly as the other girls grasped her elbow and walked her out.

The just crossed the threshold into their cabin, and Kat set the lock before turning around.

"It's safer to talk in here, but still keep your voice down. Yes Abe stays in the main house with a couple body guards, so that in the event of the fences breaking during an attack... again.... He is still safe and has time to escape."

"While we are all getting our faces gnawed on." Marian spit

"What she said" Kat said shrugging, "It's also why everyone sleeps in groups and locks their doors." she pointed to an empty bed in the corner "That's for you."

Rae slowly made her way through the cabin to the corner bed, brushed the dust off and sat down, taking in the meek attempts the girls made to personalize and pretty up the meager living space they were given.

"Why is everyone living in sheds?" Rae questioned

"There wasn't enough space in the main house one Abe came on with his group. We had to start gathering sheds from other plots and bringing them in. Abe doesn't like the idea of taking over more houses, cause he feels it will weaken out security and of course, make people feel like they can control an area."

"So it's all about control?"

"Well think of who he was before Z-Day."

"I personally cannot believe this is our life now..." Marian said, "Ya know, back in school when they asked 'were did you see your life in twenty years' never would I have guessed living in a shed during an apocalypse of cannibalistic numbskulls." They all chuckled

"None of us did." Rae said sadly.

"Well, it's our job to make our lives more livable, no matter the circumstance." Kat said standing up, "So that being said, welcome home, We have a bookshelf with various types of books that we find, some cute little knick knacks on the shelves, we have lights and batteries stored in a few boxes, but we are still searching for solar panels to make them all work."

"We are allowed that? I would have thought he would have wanted to control over every aspect."

"We are allowed, granted he only wants us reading bible stories, but he knows if he controls to much he loses everyone, and lets just say their has been a few incidents where he has almost been thrown over the fence." Marian winked "Not that any of us would be sad if that happened."

"Makes sense, would we be the only cabin with electricity if we had solar panels?" Rae inquired

"No actually, so far every solar panel set that has been found, has been given to the guards and inner circle cabins. BUT if we found one ourselves, it's ours, occasionally we get the chance to sneak off ourselves to explore, its how we found out books. Marian likes the romance novels, I'm a horror and thriller girl myself."

Rae glanced to the bookshelf, in the flickering light of the candle Marian had lit, she could make out some familiar titles of varying genre.

"I like horror a lot." she said quietly, taking in everything that came out. "If ... we have some solar power and a backup battery, we could cook our own meals, late night snacks, actually make our place cozy."

"I miss hot tea" Marian said sitting up, "Hot tea, with a sweet treat and a good book, that is how I used to end my nights."

"So how do we go out and get things?"

"well we have two options." Kat said, "We submit the application, and agree to any and all things procured are subject examination and collection for the betterment of the community, therefore most things are taken by Abe." Kat stopped to gage facial expressions

Rae stuck her tongue out at the idea, and Marian shook her head vigorously

"Or we sneak out on our own accord, like most other people do, when they are out exploring."

"That one, seems best." Rae said pointing to Kat.

The girls talked for hours till the pitch blackness followed with silence. Drifting slowly off into sleep, with plans on how to improve what little bit of quality of life they had left.

+++++++++++++++++++++

The girls stood on the porch with everyone else waiving goodbye to the men as they all loaded up for their next exploration trip. It had been made aware to the group that this trip was going to take a while, as they needed to go a couple towns away. Medical supplies were low as well as clothing for the coming winter. Most of the women were excited to have a few days away from the men and Abe mostly.

"Can't miss you if you wont leave." Rae said under her breath as she waived with the rest of the group.

Kat and Marian were trying to console the sobbing Erin as her husband loaded up into one of the rigs. With every trip they all have to be warned that there will more than likely be losses, and to prepare yourself. It had become a tradition for married couples, the day before an exploration, to have the entire day together, and preapproved intimacy's is in play, but this was only for those who were wed, not that it stopped others.

"Rae I think you should feel honored that Abe has started showing an interest in you." Erin said sniffling and wiping her eyes, "He doesn't show interest in to many."

Rae laughed, brushing her jet black hair from her eyes, the bright sun making her blue eyes sparkle. The oversized T-Shirt she cut into a midriff ruffled in the wind and didn't do to well at hiding her small chest. Leather pants sat snuggly on her hips and tucked into a pair of leather work boots.

"I don't want his attention." she smirked, "Hence why I keep dressing this way. He has told me many times that I need to cover up and be more appropriate, I know it's because he wants me to be his. As long as I stay slutty and fun, he won't progress anymore."

"Ever thought that is what is intriguing him?" Kat asked as the gates closed and they turned back to the main house

"It crossed my mind, but either way, I am not changing."

"Good for you! Stick to your guns and don't let anyone change you!" Marian slapped Rae on the back, "Or else you end up like that." she thumbed over to Erin who was still sitting on the porch crying.

"Boys are not worth the hassle." Rae winked at Marian

"Boys are not worth losing your figure over." Kat ran her hands down her stomach and thrusted her hips forward

"You are both perverts." Marian blushed

"That's not what you said last night." Rae smiled big while Marian blushed

"She really couldn't say much with her mouth full... again." Kat elbowed Rae's side, "We kept her pretty busy."

"Oh my gosh you two!" she squealed and held her hands up, "I give up, gosh.. ERIN!" she turned and ran back to the girl sniffling on the porch, throwing her arms around her for comfort.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The growing growling rumbled from outside the wall, the occasionally slap reverberated on the aluminum siding used to patch holes. The female guards gathered the remaining guns and loaded up their pockets with bullets, Rae at the front giving directions and guiding everyone along the top of the walls to start picking off the intruders. Kat snuck around inside the walls with her group of workers, quickly reinforcing the walls and replacing boards being knocked down, occasionally shoving a long sharpened metal spike through the wholes and into the softened skull or eyes of the slowly decomposing invaders, careful to avoid any blood spray. Erin making sure there are plenty of clean bottles of water and quick snacks for the groups, in the heat of the summer it was easy for a guard or builder to overheat and becoming dehydrated, they had lost a few that way. Marian shuffled the remaining groups upstairs and hushed the children, keeping a close eye on the windows to keep status reports, the remaining bottles of rubbing alcohol and bandages in a box that remained next to her, as well as any bits of first aid kits that had been gathered.

Marian stepped quietly downstairs to check in with Erin, and make sure she had enough water to boil incase they needed bandages.

"I don't know what brought this attack on, we have gone almost a month without one." Erin said breathlessly glancing at Marian

"Men leaving in those big rigs, the sounds and rumbles." she shrugged, "Maybe they just wanted to keep us on our toys."

"Well you seem calm." Erin snorted

"Ever notice we have an easier time getting these under control when it's just us, versus when the boys are here?"

"Yea it is a pure cluster when they are all here huh."

loud gun fire in rapid succession halted all conversations for a few minutes followed by the sound of heavy soled boots running onto the porch. The girls braced themselves, unsure of what the sound brought and whether they were doomed.

Silence swept over the area, not a sound crept from any corner of the house or the yard. Erin and Marian crouched down behind a wall watching the front door, unsure if to expect it to burst open or a gentle nob turn. As the clock on the wall slowly ticked by, the two became increasingly nervous.

"What's going on" Erin whispered

"I don't know."

"I'm scared..."

"Me too."

Marian held on to a large wooden baseball bat that was kept by the kitchen for random protection when needed, tears streaming down her face as her hands trembled. Time almost seemed to slow to a crawl as the girls leaned closer in to each other, scraps and groans started to emit from the front door, and occasional thud against the heavy wood sent shivers up their spins; tears speckled the dusty floor at their feet as they prepared for the worst. The scratching got louder on the door, and a loud slap on the window made the two jump, take a deep breath and hold it, knowing the end was in sight. As they tried to calm their hearts and control their breathing, the door busted open, making both girls jump and scream, their screams matched with the screams that came flooding into the house.

"SURPRISE!" someone screamed out from the group.

Marian looked up, bat gripped tightly and ready to swing, seeing Rae and Kat standing in front of her, big grins stretched across their faces.

"Did we get you?"

"You mother fu..." Marian was cut off by the start of sobs next to her.

All the girls turned and look, Erin stood next to them, tears pouring from her eyes, snot bubbles popping from her nostrils, and her feet standing in a puddle.

"Oh gosh honey, I am so sorry!!" Kat said wrapping her arms around Erin, "I am so sorry, I did not mean to scare you that bad, we were just having fun."

"I.... thought..... you... all... died." she said between gasps

"No no, gonna take more than twenty Zombies to take me down, and I had a pretty good group with me." Rae nodded behind her, "And maintenance crews on the ground were tiptop shape and speedy, honestly, don't think we could have asked for better group."

"You assholes scared the shit out of us!." Marian screamed and started pounding her fists on Kat's chest

"Sorry! ouch... Stop it Marian!" Kat said, grabbing both her hands, "Breath girl, ok hindsight, it was not as funny as we all thought it would be." Kat stepped carefully to not step in the puddle, "Now come, lets get you cleaned up, someone go released everyone upstairs." she said over her back

Rae and Marian grabbed some old clothes and some water and tackled the floor, while Kat took Erin to her cabin to change clothes each girl mouthing sorry to her as she passed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dinner that evening was quiet and so tense you could cut it with a spoon. Erin had been excused from cooking and she spent the evening in her cabin, none of the girls could get her to open the door. By the time dinner was done, she left her cabin and went strait to the kitchen, grabbed her bowl and sat in a corner.

"Please Erin, we said we are sorry, what more do you want?"

Erin tilted her head away from them as she spooned the porridge into her mouth.

"Miss Erin, people are talking to you, and you taught us that it is rude to ignore someone talking to you." a little girl sitting next to Erin said.

sighing she nodded at the girl and turned her head to look at the other three,

"Look, I know what you said, and yes I will be fine, but right now, I just want to be mad."

"I can appreciate that answer." Kat said nodding, "We will leave you alone to feel your feelings, just know we are here when you are ready."

Erin smiled and nodded, while Marian's lip started to quiver, "I didn't do anything." she sniffed, "Why are you mad at me?"

"Marian, just let her be, and let her feel what she needs to feel." Rae said putting her arms around her, "It is not the end of the world... well ok, it MAY be, but not because of this."

Everyone chuckled at Rae's comment, and Rae gave a half smile to everyone.

'I don't know why they think that was a joke.' she thought to herself as she rolled her eyes, but figured she would leave well enough alone.

As everyone tucked into their cabins for the night, Erin closed the door of her and Steve's cabin, slowly turned the lock, and lit a candle on the tiny handmade table by the door; staring into the empty void of loneliness. What little bit of a life they could build together on almost nothing seemed depressing. No family pictures on the walls, No family heirlooms, a shed as a house, and no cozy accoutrements to make it feel like a home. Erin walked over the the crudely put together bed, and sat down. The lack of bedding felt depressing to her, as she remembered her old life with fluffy pillows and cute bed spreads. Her grandmothers handmade crocheted blanket would also lay on the foot of her bed, and a folded up homemade quilt for cold nights in the chest at the foot of her bed. She loved having chairs and a lounge in her bedrooms, it made them feel welcome and cozy, and a vanity filled with various makeups and perfumes. Now she had none of that. Just cold, dinginess surrounded her.

Pulling her feet up to the bed, she tucked them to her chest and tipped over, her head landing on the old, flattened pillow. A single tear slowly rolled down her cheek as she looked at her life now.

"My father was right, I would never amount to anything worthwhile." she said quietly as she drifted off to sleep.