I didn’t expect that, I will enjoy my little holidays on the river banks that much. I have already spend three days on fishing, sleeping, repeating my stuff and drinking booze, which I found on the back of a car. Seriously, it looked like a ordinary fishing trip back when the world wasn’t filled with walking corpses. Fishing, canned food and alcohol.

Of course I wasn’t careless, there were trap wires around my little camp and my drinking was only recreational. I feel relaxed probably first time since begin of apocalypse. Why didn’t I came up with such a good idea? I don’t know.

I need to confess something to you. I became little obsessed. You see, my fishing gear isn’t nothing special, just simple stick but I am quite successful in caching my meals but there is one thing that makes me uncomfortable. 

In the water, near the place where my camp is, is living truly monstrous fish. It has already run from the hook many times and even broke one fishing pole. Since it happened on my second day here, I have been hunting for this river king. I don’t know what kind of fish is it, but the thing I know for sure, is that the fish is huge. And I will get it for sure. 

I am sitting on the river banks, right know I am hunter and my pray is down here in the water. I am prepared for everything, I mad fishing rod from thicker branch, I made two fishing lines in to one so it could stand strength of river king. I even sacrificed one of my hook needles for wound stitching. Ok, let the hunt begins.

It’s been about four hours and still no sign of river king. I can’t get impatient right now, that’s the rule of hunting. For a moment I think I can hear gunshots but it could be only sounds of trees in the forest. I am a little distracted by sounds and almost missed little movements of the float. It has began.

Now, it is most important part, I need to pull my fishing rod in right moment. My float is dancing on the water and suddenly hides underneath. PULL!!!!

I got him, I got him for sure. Ok, now the fight begins. I need to be careful, I don’t want to break the line.  River king is almost near the surface when somethin unexpected occurs . There is the human corpse drifting down the river. I am little shocked and when fish pulls the line with it’s last strength the fishing rod fall from my hands.

I guess my little holidays are over. The corps is floating few meters from me but I can see that it’s is fresh, water is red around it. I got no problem with finding out the house of death, there is an bullet entry wound on his forehead.

When water turns body upside down, I can see exit wound, or I would rather said… I can’t find right words. The back of head is completely blown off. It seems like our friend got shoot by some serious rifle and that means that somebody has got his hand on some military stuff.

You see after sickness wiped out most of humanity and turned them in to zombies, some of lucky one who survived where serving in military. Technically such a people have a little easier on the beginning. I have to admit, I don’t like this kind of people, I have spend one winter in the came ruled by military and I don’t have any nice memories. Let me tell you about it.

It was my first winter and I was in big trouble. I was struggling to get some food and to find warm place to stay. It was another clod day when I entered some city and instantly I was surrounded by guys wearing military uniforms, I almost shit myself. I was about to pray to god for a miracle, when one of them asked me, if I want to spend winter in their camp, in exchange I needed to work for them.They took me to some military facility protected with high fence and guarding towers. Like I found later, there was interesting story about that place.

When zombie apocalypse began there were three soldiers that didn’t get sick. One officer and two privateers. Fortunately for them facilities where full of different kind of weapons, so after a few days of constant slaughter they were able to clear whole camp.

As you probably expect the gun fight lured massive amount of zombies from rest of a town. But once again, number of equipment made survival possible. It wasn’t long when other survivors found military facility and in order to live behind safe walls they promised to obey officer’s orders.

I am pretty sure that you know what happens, when to much power is held by one person in times like this. I didn’t take much time before camp became true dictatorship.

So, I ended up in place like that and once again my enormous luck saved my skin. After few raids on the town to collect additional supplies, I was noticed and promoted form ordinary worker to the member of guard, which was obviously privileged class in camp.

For the whole time I spend in the camp, I was a witness, how time of crisis turn people in to beasts. After three months, I decided that was enough. I was on patrol with four other guards, I was waiting a long time for occasion like this.

This four of them were true monsters, who were feeling pleasure from watching people misery. So after we checked another building and was ready to came back to the camp, I departed myself from them under excuse of taking piss. Four of them were waiting in the care, they didn’t expect any danger.

So, hidden behind building I took out few grenades, which I have stolen from armory and throw them under a car. It was ordinary 4x4 pick-up, nothing armored. I am pretty sure that they didn’t even noticed when the died.

So after my flashy resignation I had to run in haste. Winter was already ending so living by myself wasn’t problem anymore. Of course I got a lot of useful stuff hidden outside camp.

So, as you can see, anything connected to military is a bad sign. Of course I can be wrong and this poor guy was shoot with some crazy hunting rifle, who knows? I should focus on important things, my camp doesn’t seems to be as safe as few minutes ago and the fact that I have ignored gun shots earlier, means that I need to get back to my routine.

I haven’t spend all three days on resting, I have repaired my clothes, taken care of my weapons and prepared new backpack which I found in the car. Seriously, I am pretty impressed how much useful stuff were gathered by previous owners.

As you should remember, I got additional pistol hidden in my backpack, it will replace previous one, which I lost while running from zombies. I found another cool thing in the car, holster that you can attach to your thigh. It’s pretty useful and it looks cool. Definitely better than keeping gun in pocket.

With all stuff repacked to a new backpack and everything prepared, it was only one decision left. What to do with a sword. Bruises on my left side and left leg still doesn’t heal completely, but the way I killed that last guy was pretty impressive. After short moment I decided to give it one more chance.

There is also matter of car and all stuff gather on it. The best thing to do is, move everything that could fit to the cabin and cover the car under branches. I left keys hidden in the nearby tree, who knows, maybe I will need this car later.

I am fully prepared, so it’s time to move up the river. I bet that you are at least little surprised. Why would I want to move in direction from which dead guy came? I believe it’s important to know what kind of hostile survivors are in area and I am little curious about what happened. Ok, ok, maybe I am more curious than just a little.

Breaking trough forest isn’t most pleasant thing, especially with all that gear I am wearing. I take me almost three hours when I see smoke over the trees. You should know that smoke in zombie apocalypse is almost always a bad omen. That’s why I don’t make campfire, if there isn’t a serious reason to do it.

There are few sources of smoke but any of them isn’t a good news. Most obvious is of course campfire, great way to prepare meal, warm ourselves and tell everybody around that we are here. I guess that I don’t need to explain why it is a bad thing.

Another case is gunfight and I am not talking about few shots. Even my little battle from few days before is nothing. I am talking about massive fire exchange from machine guns or even use of explosives. Trust me, in situation like this it’s quite common to light up some fire.

Sometimes, smoke we could see, will be coming from chimney. It means that we have found some settlement, permanent camp. It’s better to avoid such a places but you can try and approach. It could be bad or good, mostly it’s matter of luck. In my case, I am trying to avoid such a encounters but sometimes there is a good reason to visit such a place. They may shoot you on sight, they may trade with you or they can even let you in and offer a place to stay. Like I sad before, it’s matter of luck.

Unfortunately everything seems that gunfight was source of our smoke but let me remind you that I am in the middle of nowhere right know, so why somebody was fighting over here? I guess we will find out soon.

It takes another 30 minutes of breaking trough bushes but I finally arrive at my destination and I have to admit that I am pretty socked. I have seen a lot of shelters, camps, settlements, call it like you want, but the structure which appeared before my eyes absolutely outstanding. Of course if we think about it form perspective of zombie apocalypse.

There is fucking fort in front of me. Located in the bend of the river, on the little, obviously manmade earthwork and surrounded by the wooden palisade fort. And it’s burning, at least part of it.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Holy shit, fucking unbelievable.

Right know I am standing on the edge of circle clearing, which was obviously source of wood for a construction. I am standing and looking at wooden fort with my mouths open. Think about it how much of work is need to build such a thing and imagination. Seriously, can bet that idea came from some medieval fanatic.

Ok, time to get my shit together, fort even made from gold won’t save me from taking a bullet. So, obviously attackers are not here and there is no sign of habitants of the settlement. I guess, I can assume that they are all dead, broken entrance to the fort only confirms my theory. It is probably safe to check what is inside this palisade but lets scout area around fort.

After fifteen minutes I am sure that surroundings are clear, it’s time to engage. I leave my backpack hidden and armed only with my gun and sword I am starting to sneak to the fort. Unfortunately the only covered path leads trough the river, I guess it’s time to get little wet.

Water is pretty cold, there is nothing surprising, it’s middle of April. But water is not the biggest problem, after I made it to about 20 meters to the fort found something very unpleasant. And once again I was shocked, there was a dump pipe coming from fort straight to the river. Amazing idea but it smells bad, really bad. It’s not like I was bothered by that smell but if it could be possible I would to avoid such a situations.

I made it, all wet, a little smelly but I made my way to the gates of fort in sneaky style. Form closer look it’s obvious that attackers weren’t small fries. Ground is covered in empty cartridges and wooden gates look like they were blown up with some explosives. I cant believe I couldn’t here that noise. Damn river king, it’s all his fault.

When I enter trough gates its time to wield my sword. It’s to early for corpses to turn into zombies, they need about eight hours after hearth stops, to became walking dead. But I have seen cases that the eight hours were much shorter, short enough to get few people killed.

So, with sword in my hands, I am slowly walking in to yard and it became obvious that there will be no zombies from habitants of this place. You may ask why? It’s simple, all of them lying on the yard right now, and their heads are next to it arranged in small pyramid.

Fortunately, I don’t have much time to contemplate doubtful beauty of this a exhibition because someone is shooting at me. Remember when I was thinking about throwing out my sword, you better forget it, I won’t part with this excellent weapon even if world ends. Oh, that may sound little ridiculous, the world already ended, at least for most of humanity. Ahhh never mind, don’t focus on meaningless things.

So,  the bullets are flying around me, and that one which was heading straight in direction was stopped by sword I was holding in my hands. Sometimes it feels like the only reason I survived such a long time is only my luck, seriously it feels really bad.

Fortunately, my opponent isn’t shooting some big ugly gun, in different case I would hurt myself with a sword because of the momentum that bullet would gave it. It time to take Sig Sauer out from holster, sword is fun but like they said, you won’t bring knives to the gunfight.

Right now situation isn’t looking to bad. I am hiding behind pile of dead bodies and our shooter is hiding in the wooden house located on the opposite side of yard. Unfortunately I can retreat without making myself an easy target. Maybe I should try a little gamble?

While being shoot at, I have noticed few things. My opponents shoot five times and there was little gap between single shoots. With addition of small caliber it looks like our assassin is wielding small, five bullets revolver. The gamble is if he or she got some spare bullets.

Let’s try some old movie trick, unfortunately I don’t have any helmet, but I guess nobody will be offended if I will borrow one head from the pyramid. Yes, I am a sick, sick man but what can I do? I am living in some sick times.

With the head of some middle-aged gentleman stamped  on my knife, I am ready. Slowly, slowly I move the head to the edge of pile made form corpses and… nothing. Of course I can be wrong, but if I were this guy I would shoot to everything that would only try to move.

I am sure now, ok maybe not 100% sure, but enough to go all in. With casual movements, I stand up and clear my cloths from dirt, blood and other fluids that was leaking from pile of dead bodies. A wait a little and… nothing. I make one stop forward and suddenly there is one shot.

Oho, remind me later that I shouldn’t play any poker in future. At least there is one good thing, the person hidden in wooden house is hopeless shooter. That was another miss, I guess it was 6 bullet revolver? I will find out in the moment.

Ok, I am done with playing games, with Sig Sauer in my hands I charge to the house and there is no one inside. I am carefully looking at the interiors when some shadow jumps on my from celling. Laterally in last moment, I manage do rise my left arm and block it a little. Yeah, the same arm that was wounded few days before.

Surprisingly, attacker couldn’t even make me fall on the ground, he just jumped on my back in some weird way. You should know that I am not a small guy, I have little more than 1,9m in high and like I said before, even if my food ration aren’t always full, zombie apocalypse made me strong.

So, I somehow manage to grab this guy and throw him at the wall. Ok, it seems that it is enough to knock out my opponent. After short moment adrenaline effects are starting to fade and dull pain in my left arm, is reminding about it’s presence.

 I take up my gun from the floor, it’s time to check, who my is my new friend. There is a half filled bucket next to the broken door, so I take it and pull all water inside on a person laying under the wall.

As a response I am rewarded with very creative sequence of swears and I notice something. I was mistaken, it’s not a guy, it’s a girl. That explains why this airborne attack from under a ceiling didn’t help her much.

It takes her few seconds to remember, what kind of situation she is right now. She stands up quickly and with something looking like broken leg of a chair, she moves behind wooden table.

“Don’t even try to come near me!”

Yeah, that’s definitely female voice. Our eyes meet and I feel that it is a time to say something.

“Hey, I am not here to hurt you.”

Oho, my voice sounds a little like a broken car engine, you don’t have many occasions to chat with somebody, if you travel alone.

“Don’t lie to me, murderer.”

It seems that someone is a little mistaken.

“ Please, listen to me I am not murderer (lie), I didn’t kill your friends outside(truth), I was just passing by and saw smoke(almost truth). I am here to help you( probably truth/lie).”

It’s obvious that she don’t believe me. I look like a shit, with all this mud, water and blood on mu cloths. My voice sounds like some villain from B class movie. And there is one more thing, you see shaving in zombie apocalypse is pain in the ass, so I have  grown rather impressive beard, the only problem is that it makes me look like a textbook road bandit.

So, I am standing inside a wooden hut and in front of me is girl that obviously want to see me dead. It probably worth to mention that hut its starting to burn. Fire has spread from other buildings inside the fort. I about to take another try to convince her, that I am not enemy, when I hear noise from the outside. Noise that makes mo think and move fast.

I charge at the girl, with one move I push the table to the side and I take chair’s leg hit on my forearm protector. Quick grab with the my left hand, hit on the back of her head with another and she is knocked out once again.

Seriously she is very light, I flip her motionless body trough my shoulder. It’s definitely time to run. You see, the noise I heard before was sound of care engine on high revs. I am pretty sure that it is car belonging to the attackers, who wiped this place before I came. They probably heard this girl shooting at me.

Faster, faster, faster, there is a chance that they won’t  see me, there is a lot of smoke hanging low in the air that should cover my escape to the river. I jump trough the broken entrance and run directly to the river. Girl on my shoulder doesn’t help me either run or keep my balance.

The moment when I jump to the river, is the moment when car enters the clearing. I made it. Now, I only need to rake my back pack and run as fast I can. There is only one question, why did I save this girl?