Left 4 Dead (Closed)

[IntriguedLover]

I had somehow dozed off after all that had gone on. My mind shifted to being on a beach with mom and dad, then the sun was darkened by smoke. I turned around to see mom turned into a zombie and on fire, attacking dad. I pulled up my water gun and fired it at mom, both of them becoming bloody from the force of it. I sat up in a hurry waking from the dream, my breathing ragged. Tears came to my eyes when I realized they were both gone and never coming back.

I heard a knock at the door and quickly turned back around laying down. "Zoey? It's me Robert. Listen, Francis told me what happened. I'm so sorry. I'm here if you want to talk." I turned over and sat up looking at him, tears staining my dirtied cheeks.

"They're gone. There was no chance I could save them," I said, choking up from my emotions. "I failed them as a daughter," I continued, sounding distraught. "My parents are dead and it's because of me!" I said falling into his arms.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

"Zoey. It's not because of you," I said softly trying to look into her eyes, "It's the infected. It's because of them that they died. It's because of the zombies. Don't blame yourself." He wanted to say 'you couldn't have saved them' but in the back of my mind, I knew that wasn't a good idea. When trying to gain eye contact her face was dipped looking at the floor, with a bent index finger I touched her chin and gently lifted her saddened face. I found that using eye contact was the best way to convince a person and it enables you to look into their soul.

"Zoey, I don't know what else to say to you, but it wasn't your fault. You can't keep beating yourself up over it. We all need you back in this fight." Even though we had a crew of over twenty, every person on board was valuable. "Why don't you come up and join the others on deck. Getting some fresh air will do you some good instead of lying her on your bed. At least come to the bridge and I can show you how this old ship works."

It was a common tactic that helps with a person suffering. Instead of letting them sulk and simmer, try to get them up and moving, to focus on something else and get them around people that cared.

 

[IntriguedLover]

I nodded understanding that he was trying to get me out of the funk I was in. Maybe seeing the guys would make me happy, but even just being here with Robert was enough to make my heart soar. "I just feel like I failed them as a daughter. I couldn't save them when they had saved me so many times." No one had ever been that kind and understanding to me, it was a nice change. I got up off of the cot and walked with him to the bridge.

He led me to the pilot's chair and motioned for the guy that was in control to go elsewhere. When we were alone, I looked at the controls, "Wow, it must take years to understand what half of these things are." I looked at the radar and noticed that there were dots scattered on the screen. "Are those infected under the ocean waves?" I couldn't understand how zombies could walk under the waves and not float.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

There were two circles one beside the other. The one Zoey was looking at was our sonar for underwater and the other was our surface radar. Pointing out to her the individual blips all about the size of a period, "What it's picking up are large metal objects, not infected. Unless they managed to swallow a car" joking. "What we're picking up here looks to be either a sunken ship or a crashed aircraft judging by its size. As for the infected swimming," I paused for a moment and shrugged my shoulders, "I'm not a doctor, but my guess would be that they dead flesh is absorbing water like a sponge and making them sink" but that was only my guess.

Pointing to the radar circle beside it, "This is our surface radar. It can can up to ten miles." As the white line made its sweep there was nothing except the black lines off to starboard representing the shore. "Don't feel bad about not learning everything. We had to learn everything on the fly. We didn't get these installed until very last and that was a couple of days before the zombies appeared. We were still tinkering with the settings. It will come with time. Just learn a little bit at time and work the controls and it will sink in." Looking down at her she seemed enticed into the learning experience, wanting to learn more and more. At least she was up and about and not stewing. It was a welcomed change of pace for her as I looked out the window of the bridge towards the south. It appeared to be nothing but open seas."

 

[IntriguedLover]

I was becoming very intrigued with the lesson he was giving me. He is a very kind man and to understand my feelings about the loss of my family, it was nice. "As long as we make it to the Keys in time before winter. The dead would hopefully freeze up north," I said sounding hopeful.

There was a knock at the door and Francis appeared before us. "Well, um...how are you doing, Zo?" he asked, concerned for my well being.

"I'm just fine, Francis," I replied. "How are the others doing?" I was just as concerned about them as I'm sure they were about me.

"Bill has disappeared somewhere inside the boat and Louis is still sulking on the lookout deck," he responded. "We were all there with you Zoey, we know how you feel, even if we haven't done what you have done," he continued.

I looked down at my feet hearing what he said, "Thank you for understanding, Francis.." Francis then turned to go outside and I looked back to Robert. "It's going to be okay when we get to the Keys, right?" I asked him, looking for some reassurance.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

"It will be" I nodded, "We'll be able to start a new life. There are many islands that aren't heavily populated and there are even a few that have forts on it!"

"Well, that's good!" Francis laughed clapping his hands together, "If they still have their big guns then we can make those stinker Tanks explode!"

That did sound like a good time. Then there was a blip on the radar and turned to look at the screen. It was our surface radar. There was a contact three degrees off the port bow at ten miles. It was large. It had to be another boat. "We got something" I said taking up a pair of binoculars and scanning towards that direction. There was a black dot there slowly coming towards us. Passing the binoculars to Zoey I said, "What's that look like to you, Zoey?"

 

[IntriguedLover]

I took the binoculars from him and looked over the horizon. I saw the black dot moving at a good speed. "Well I can tell you this much, it looks like an oil tanker," I replied to him. Then I looked to him, my face lighting up, "More survivors?" I was excited and yet not sure what we would find on the ship. It was a matter of it being commandeered or not, whether or not the crew was still of the living or a part of the living dead.

"I'll find Bill and get the guys deckside, we may have survivors," I said scurrying off to find Bill. Much to my heart's content, I found him with a half lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth, snoozing in a chair in the armory. I walked over to him but knew if I startled him too bad, he might break my neck. Old war flashback type thing. So I knocked on some metal beside him and backed off, "Wha--- Oh Zoey, it's you," he said waking up.

"We've got a boat inbound to our location.. Possible survivors," I told him. He got up and stretched grabbing a .357 and stuffing it in the back of his pants. "Well, if it ends up being the zombies, I'll start blowing them away." We rushed to find Francis who was at the head. I turned around blocking my eyesight. "Damn it, pretty boy, cover that up, we've got a ship comin' our way," Bill said lighting another cigarette. Francis was startled and hurried to hide his junk. "Sorry," he said looking at us after doing so. "Let's go topside, Robert and Louis are already up there with the rest of the crew," I insisted as we continued on our way.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Remaining on the bridge I was trying to hail the incoming ship, "Tanker Espinoza, tanker Espinoza, this is the Pigeon. Respond, over." But was met with only silence. Coming within five miles we were able to see clearly that there were people on deck and they were moving about. Good. That meant that they were alive and not zombies. That was a relief. Handing the radio over to another sailor he would take over the hailing as I took up my rifle and used the PA system to address the crew. "We have a tanker coming in from the south identified as the Espinoza. There are people on deck. They don't appear to be zombies. Still, keep your guard up. We're going to come within range to talk as they're not responding to our radio calls. Do not engage, stay behind protection. Don't show hostile intent. Wait for my call." Hanging up the receiver I checked my rifle. I didn't want a fight. The tanker was much bigger than us, over twice our size and as they came closer there were more and more people turning up on deck, at least forty. The tanker was a civilian tank and didn't have any heavy weapons, but there were people on deck with rifles and they were flying the American flag.

The sailor on the radio continued to call on them, "Tanker Espinoza, tanker Espinoza, this is the Pigeon. Please respond."

Bill and the others came to the bridge having armed themselves. Louis had red eyes from crying, but he was ready. I spelled it out for them, "We're going to be friendly, see if we can get any information from them and trade supplies. Keep your weapons with you, but don't make any threats or wave your weapons. They might not like that."

By now the Espinoza was less than a mile away and the sailor on the radio called out, "They're slowing down and coming alongside, but they're still not answering."

 

[IntriguedLover]

"Do you think they are infected," I asked Robert.
"It doesn't seem like they are," Francis said looking through the binoculars that Louis was handing out. "Maybe their radio doesn't work."
I pulled up the binoculars and looked, zooming in the focus. "They don't look dead, I believe Francis is right," Bill said taking a drag on his cigarette.

I walked up next to Robert, "Let's get them within range and see, we can't be entirely sure." I kept my pistol in my waistband in the back in case that the crew of the Espinoza was infected.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

"Right," I nodded, "Everyone stay close. Remember, no show of force unless I say" walking onto deck I took a bull horn and called out, "Espinoza, this is the Pigeon." By now the tanker was 50 yards away and came to a stop. There were many people on deck, some were armed with rifles all against the rails looking down at us.

One man waved a bullhorn and replied, "Sorry, but we couldn't respond to your radio calls. Our receiver is broken."

"That answers that" Bill growled.

"Where are you going?" the man asked.

"We're heading south" I replied, not wanting to give too much away to these strangers. "You?"

"Up north! Figure the zombies can't get us if they're all frozen! Where do you come from?"

"We just left South Carolina. It's bad," I said, "All along the coast is burning." I didn't want to bring it all back, but it was the truth. The man on the Espinoza was quiet for a moment. Looking at all of their faces as the waves of the sea slowly began to bring us together I could tell that these were tired, dirty men that were beaming into us with their leer. They were angry at many things and were stuck on a ship that was to be their safe haven but end up being their prison.

The man came back, "Say, friend. Do you want to try and trade? We could use some things."

"Like what?" I asked trying to keep it friendly. So far they had not shown hostile intent, but we could tell that they were upset over something with their leer. It was then that they noticed Zoey and her red jacket.

"How much for the woman?" the man pointed.

"She's not for sale!" I yelled back without the bullhorn and stepped in front of her.

 

[IntriguedLover]

"Everything from here to Maine is destroyed..So unless you want to fight the dead at the docks, there's nothing between here and the north.." Louis said into his own bullhorn. Francis took the bullhorn from Louis, "We haven't got much to trade, but we could see what we could offer," not wanting to let on that we have a shitload of stuff from the last stop in South Carolina.

"How much for the woman?" the words from the man on the Espinoza echoed through my brain. I took a step back scared for my life. "She's not for sale!" Robert screamed standing in front of me. Bill took a step forward and stood alongside Robert. "The lady is not for sale or trade!" he said, gruffness in his voice as he responded to the offer.

Francis stood beside me and started to reach for his gun in his waistband. I placed my hand on his shoulder looking at him, telling him with my eyes that he shouldn't do that. He huffed and pulled his hand back around. I knew that the guys would protect me no matter what, but I had to say something. "How dare you think you can get whatever you want!" I screamed across the space that was between us.

I looked down at the water and noticed 3 Tanks under the surface, jumping trying to get at both of the ships. I turned to Robert, "We need to get moving, bulldozers below the waves," I whispered.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Nodding to her I waved at the Espinoza, "Best of luck to you," and turned gently pushing Zoey in front of me so that she was still shielded by me and Bill. Francis waved at them as well, "Have fun out there, sissies."

But that didn't settle the matter. We could hear cat calls and oaths being shouted at us above the groan of the metal ships. "Give us the woman. We have oil!" we heard, but we already had full tanks and we needed to leave in a hurry. No telling when the Tanks could get up to our level.

I gave the order to the bridge to proceed at full speed ahead to get us away from the Espinoza when something clattered on deck. Francis stood there and picked up a crushed soda can that one of the Espinoza sailors had hurled. Crushing the can a bit further in his large, powerful hand Francis hurled it right back and struck one of the sailors in the face. Then came a barrage of more soda cans and other junk that they had on deck. No shots were being fired, but the Espinoza crew were enticed as the ships slowly drifted closer to together from the tide. When the screw turning and propelling us forward we were moving away. The tanker was too big and slow to match us, if we kept it up we would be well away before they could turn around.

"Can I shoot them?" Francis yelled.

"No, Francis!" Louis called out ducking through the barrage.

"C'mon. Can I shoot them?" he smiled.

I took Zoey to the bridge and told the sailor at the helm, "Get us clear of these people."

 

[IntriguedLover]

"Francis, you cannot shoot them," I chuckled as I followed Robert back to the bridge. I cannot believe that those men wanted to trade stuff for me. My mind shifted to imagining what they might have done to me if the guys had agreed to get rid of me. I sat down in a chair and looked to Robert, "I thank you, for not giving me up.." I looked to him as he sat down in front of me. "I don't know where I would be right now if it weren't for you and the Three Musketeers out there," I said hearing Louis running from Francis and Bill scoffing.

"Come back here and let me shoot this can off your head, wussy!" Francis said shouting at Louis.
"Nooo! You will not! Bill help me!" Louis said screaming running around the ship's deck, trying to hide.
"Ugh, you both are just kids.. Heh.." Bill said walking slowly behind the two of them lighting a cigarette and puffing on it.

I shook my head and looked back at Robert, "It's a wonder I'm still around with those three. We're like the three chicks and Bill's the old rooster," I said with a smile. "I know I never asked, but...Did you ever have anyone special to you..you know..in a 'love' way?"

 

[guyloveshotstories]

"No. No" shaking my head lightly, "I've never had the time or anyone in my life. Spent my entire life working, trying to scrape out a living. Times were tough. Hell, many of the guys were openly trying to recruit a woman into our zombie group just so we could get a woman because it was turning into a sausage fest in our meetings." Going through my teens and approaching my thirties there were times where I doubted my life choices, as much fun as I was having with the guys and focusing on zombies it was ruining my love life. I didn't have one because of it, no night life, no prospects, but now I wasn't regretting my choices. I explained that to Zoey and added, "Not sure if it's fate, destiny, or whatever, i'm just glad now that I stayed with the ship." Pausing for a moment I went for the coffee pot, poured a mug and asked, "What about yourself? Ever had anyone in your life outside of family?"

We were pulling well clear of the Espinoza, and they were yelling and throwing things still, we knew that we would be well away before they could turn that old ship about, but we still didn't let down our guard. Running to the fantail Francis continued to taunt and jeer the tanker, flipping them off as well. Other sailors were watching the ship sliding away. If we still had the deck guns we could have blasted them bastards out of the water, but now we were just praying that the Tanks would figure out how to get up and sink them for us.

 

[IntriguedLover]

"Oh sure, I dated a guy in high school, but I never really wanted anyone in College," I said to him. "None of the guys liked the fact that I liked Zombie movies, saying that I was stupid for watching them.." I walked with him to get a cup of coffee for myself. Pouring the creamer, I continued, "However, I had to smash a few of those guys' heads in after they turned.." I smiled slightly because of how ironic it was. I remembered back to how I had fought so many of my fellow classmates and hit a turned cop over the head for his weapon. Life had certainly changed. Looking at how we were surviving now, it had changed for the better considering how well off we were.

I heard Francis mocking and yelling back at the Espinoza, having turned his attention away from shooting at Louis for the time being. I shook my head. "I just never thought about having anyone. After this all started, I basically thought that those days were lost anyway." I looked to him, having thought of how handsome he was the first time I saw this man. He is a kind and gentle soul, and a great leader.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

"Don't feel bad," I said taking another sip of the scalding coffee, "Looks like all of the movies that they were mocking ended up saving your life" pointing at her with the coffee mug, "My family and several other people in our company thought we were wasting our time with all of this. Who's laughing now?" chuckling. Looking Zoey over, she certainly had beauty even in her roughed up appearance. We were both run out and scared, but we were keeping ourselves together with the strength and determination from those with us.

"You're definitely going to stand out," I said, "Not only with your red jacket there, but also because you're a woman. We're going to be dealing with a lot of strange and desperate people. The moral laws of society have broken down and now everyone is fair game. I hope that we will make contact with good people, like ourselves, and we can make a safe society, but if we meet another ship or people that want you or to take you by force, they're going to have to come through me and the Pigeon." Sounded like a powerful boast, but I meant every word of it. I cared about my ship and everyone on it and we needed each other to survive, even Francis.

Zoey was beautiful with her dark brunette hair, washed face, red jacket and athletic appearance as my eyes graced her over, but I had to keep myself in check.

 

[IntriguedLover]

I could feel his eyes looking me over. I knew that he was wanting me, it wasn't obvious but the hint was there. I put down the coffee and stood up. "Would you mind escorting me back to the bunks?" I pulled off my jacket and hung it over my arm as I walked with him.

It was certainly a big ship. We passed by Francis and Bill going to the armory. "What are you guys up to?" I asked them.
"Well, we're going to check the sights on all the guns because there was a huge light over the ocean that made us think it was an EMP," Bill said putting his cigarette pack back in the pocket of his flack jacket.
"Yeah, we've gotta check 'em. May not have messed up the ship, but the sights will be shot if that was what we think it was," Francis said continuing on.
"If it's your luck, Francis, it might have been those tanks destroying the Espinoza," I chimed back as I watched the two of them continue on their way.

I walked into the barracks with Robert and sat on the edge of one of them. "Come, sit by me. I won't bite," I said smiling.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Sitting down beside her my hands on my lap and looking her over she was hinting at something. We were inside the bowels of the ship, well isolated from everyone else and with a small crew it was eerie at times hearing the metal groan of the ship as it slowly pitched and dived with the gentle waves. Looking at Zoey up close I could see the bit of sweat and smell her musk up close. Been a long time since I was close to a woman and where she was hinting and teasing at with her bright red jacket now off, showing her white undershirt showing off her breasts and her flat stomach had my heart climbing up with a quicker beat.

I had told the bridge that I would be down below, for what was not known at the moment. The sailors would start whispering and passing rumors sure after seeing the two of us walk off together.

"Well, here we are" I said rather nervously. For some reason I found sitting next to Zoey more nerve racking than it was commanding this ship and fighting the hordes of the undead.

 

[IntriguedLover]

I could tell he was nervous. Very nervous in fact. I looked over at him as he tried to make it seem like he wasn't looking me over. My heart was racing at this moment from being this close to him. A man that has saved so many with his ingenuity. For building such a refuge like this ship, it takes a brilliant person to come up with the idea, even if it was with others. The ship was making it's usual moan, the waves were lashing at the sides of the Pigeon as it moseyed along it's normal path. I moved closer to him and felt his breathing quicken as we were sitting there. Almost in sync now. I moved my hand over his lap and felt him tense up.

"It's quite alright, Robert," I reassured him. "We both know that we've been wanting this for a while now." I pushed my lips to his neck and felt the slight bristle of his five o'clock shadow. I kissed his neck at the pulse-line and then pulled back, waiting for him to do the rest. "I'm sorry if I was too forward," I apologized. I wasn't sure if he wanted this and didn't want to chase him away.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

There was a cold sensation that crawled up the spine at her touch. Pulling back she was nervous, it showed on her face as she looked up at me with a reassuring smile. We both wanted each other, but we were trying to play it safe. Looking down for a moment I reached over and touched her left hand and gave it a squeeze before leaning in and kissing her sweet, pink lips. We both knew what we wanted, but I wasn't going to pin her down and have my way. I was going to play it cautious and slow. We had all the time in the world, at the moment. Kissing her lips was the start of it.

I wanted to taste her and when our lips connected I opened the mouth and slowly slid in the tip of the tongue that brushed over the caps of the teeth before drawing back.

Been God knows how long since I've done something like that, and it was great and being this close I could feel her hot breath being forced out of her nostrils splashing against my face and her heightened heart rate was telling me she was wanting as well.

 

[IntriguedLover]

When he squeezed my hand, my heart skipped a beat. I felt so needy at this moment. He kissed my lips and slipped his tongue into my waiting mouth, dueling with mine. I could feel his heart rate climb as well as I felt mine beating in my ears. It was bliss. I felt him get closer to me and I let him. I wanted this so much and I knew that he wanted it as well. I moved my hand across his chest, to his shoulder, letting it drape over his back as I pulled him towards me. Closer and closer, gently.

I laid back on the bunk and pulled him on top of me. I could feel the bulge in his pants rubbing against my leg. I wasn't wanting to push it too much further, but he made his move and I followed suit. I kept kissing him, making out with him slowly, panting right alongside him.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

I wanted to take it slowly. Savor the moment. Laying along side her, one hand resting on her flat stomach, touching the soft white cotton fabric of her undershirt as we were inches away from one another. I didn't know exactly what to do next because it had been so long since doing this, being this close to a woman. I could smell her scent and it enticed me a bit further to go further.

Zoey was inviting me with her movements and inching in and closing and kissed her sweet lips again, this time holding it there and shoved the entire length of my tongue down her throat and slid my hand down her stomach and teased it along the belt line of her pants and touched the buckle and slowly began to undo it. It was surprisingly easy as the fork slid out of the studded leather and let it rest there before popping the button for her tight fitting jeans. It was becoming clouded. My eyes were closed. Flashing them open there were her slowly rising and falling mounds, a moan escaped my lips, quivering as the cold sensation crawled up my spine and my fingers tingled.

 

[IntriguedLover]

I pulled my top off over my head, while not pulling my lips away from his but for just a moment. I loved his touch. It was intoxicating. I slipped my hand down to his pants and mine, pulling them apart slowly yet fast. I opened my eyes for a moment and our eyes met. Our breathing was in sync, our lovemaking was so wild. My mind was becoming fuzzy with lust, wanting to feel him within me. "Feel here," I said to him, panting as I spoke.

I moved his hand up to my breast, letting his fingers feel my erect nipples. The bumps across my skin from the chill, the intense love building between us. It didn't feel real and at the same time, it did and felt so right.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Cupping one breast with the palm and giving it a firm squeeze there was texture and firmness. The bounty of youth and excitement was flush in her body as I kissed her lips again feeling her hardened nipple and giving it a pinch between the index and thumb and rubbing the two together to entice her further. I didn't want to look, allowing the darkness set the map for me as I touched the rest of her body slowly, the open palm gracing her firm stomach, touching the belly button, and then coming back up and touching her other breast, pinching and plucking the pink areolas all the while french kissing Zoey deeper and deeper each time, feeling the back of her throat. For some reason I was so passionate to go as far and as wet as I could. My ankles crossed over her's and started to draw her in, my chest was pressing against her side, any closer and I would be on top of her. Perhaps that's what I wanted.

 

[IntriguedLover]

I too had closed my eyes, just to feel the sensual side of what was going on. His warm body was almost on top of mine. The kissing never seemed to stop, his tongue reaching deeper inside my mouth with each and every thrust of it. I felt his bulge grinding against my knee. I moved my mouth away from his to lick and suck on his earlobe. My breath gliding across his ear as I did this. I heard him grunt and felt him slow his grinding a bit. "Do you want to enter me with the throbbing beast?"

**********

"Where do you suppose the two went off to?" Francis said asking Bill, filling every rifle and tagging them with his initials.
"Oh, they're both kids. I think we're grown up enough to be able to figure out where they went," the war vet said in response.