Diabolus of the Dead Ch.10

Chapter 10

Reading a large digital clock perched on one of the square buildings, it was around the afternoon by the time the two aliens had gotten away from the mob surrounding Jeeve's restaurant unscathed. Linda had not spoken a word, nor shone any sign of physical contact. Marty couldn't tell whether this was a blessing, or he had really dug deep into her feelings.

"Y-you know, the silent treatment won't solve anything." The man spoke up after almost a half hour of dead silence. The albino woman said nothing, continuing onward with the heavy lamp still hanging in her hands. He couldn't tell if she was upset, or angry; perhaps both? Marty trailed behind her, giving her space. "Where are we going?"

Linda stopped, but didn't turn around. Marty halted as well, tightening his grip on his bloodied crow bar nervously. The woman glanced back, eyes narrowed, "I thought we were going back to get your stupid stick."

"He is not stupid! He is far more intelligent than even MY brilliant mind, thank you very much!"

"Brilliant, huh? If you two are so 'brilliant', why didja lose him? Why didja mindlessly run into a mass of undead eating machines that crave living, breathing, organisms?" Linda snapped, still standing where she was.

Marty choked back, weighing the weapon in his hand, "Fine. But this way is getting us nowhere."

"Oh, would you like to stop and ask directions?"

The man huffed, "Really? You're going to give ME attitude? I'M the one who's supposed to have the attitude here!"

"Whatever…" Linda sighed, letting the base of the lamp rest on the rancid concrete, "what's a faster way, then? We've been travelling all day."

"Well," Marty placed a hand to his chin, observing the area, flicking his tail doing so, " We had to have been walking around the harbor, the fastest way back would be just over the water."

"Do we have a boat?"

"Uh, duh, the harbors full of them. There's cruise liners, cargo ships, yachts, you name it." Marty said, facing his companion again." He turned to face down an open street, "It should be that way." He pointed.

"Alright." Linda picked the lamp back up, following her boss. They passed under several flickering street lights until they gave out entirely, only their lights guiding their way. The two avoided all types of debris scattered across the road, from loose papers to broken billboard that fell from its place on the buildings.

After several minutes of silence, a sudden noise caught Linda's attention; music? As they neared the area where the harbor was located, the two caught the sight of working, flashy lights hazing behind the buildings obscuring their view. The music was happy, cheery, like one would hear during a marry-go-round ride. Then they saw it; one of Marty's famous amusement parks.

Linda paused, slowing to a stop and looked over at Marty, "This isn't the harbor…."

"Yes it is!  It's just through here." Marty corrected, smiling.

"Isn't there a quicker way around this?"

"Hey, this is the quickest way. There's a tour ferry just at the end where the docks are," Marty began walking away, "I'll make it free of charge!" Linda followed behind him, her tail flicking irritably. The two neared the entrance, the arch by the ticket gate was still intact, lights blinking in a dance of synchronized color. Color being all shades of blue.

"So, are we going to run in there without thinking things over again?"

"…No! I…" Marty took a moment to think, "Let's go through the game area. There's a lot of places to hide n' crap over that way." He pointed.

Nodding, Linda followed, hopping over the ticket booth and into the fairgrounds. Several walkers just up ahead were tearing through a trashcan, paying no mind to the fresh kill out in the open. The two tiptoed behind several benches until they reached a restroom.

Linda took a deep, crackled breath, and peered around the corner of their current location to check if the coast was clear. She then looked ahead to see where the docks would be, but any sign of the water was obscured by various roller coasters and tents. "How big is this place??"

"It's huge!" Marty said proudly, "First one ever made, in fact!"

Linda ignored him, "Is there a map of some sort?"

"Hey!" Marty's smile went back to a frown, "Stop asking direction stuff! This is my place, I know where everything is! The harbors that way," he pointed again.

Linda's stripes began to flare again, "You know, your attitude is really starting to piss me off…" she said.

"Well, I'm sorry that things aren't peachy enough to where I'd actually be in a good mood around the likes of you." he replied coldly.

The woman huffed again, her temper on the brink of containment. Perhaps it was the fear, or watching her friend dying around her putting her on edge, but the man had to have at least a sliver of guilt.

As they neared the arcades and games, the wailing and moaning of sick guests grew louder and louder til the two came across the scene of a couple hundred or so walkers sifting around one another in agony. Linda ducked behind one of the larger trash cans as Marty stood in place against the black tent of a ball game; it's prizes still hanging untouched, merely catching the breeze of the ocean air.

"Oh goody… The only way out of here and it's blocked. How could my luck get any better?" Marty whispered to himself.

"Your brilliant idea isn't working, Marty, let's just go back and find another way around."

"Hey!" Marty raised his voice, "We're already here, I'm not turning back!" The groans of the undead suddenly silenced, Marty winced as he noticed all eyes were on him. The only time I don't need the attention…

"Marty, dammit!" Linda stood up, stage-lamp in hand, as the angered guests began to pursue. The two veered to the left, the only open area they could find, towards a section of rides; some even still working despite nobody there to control them. Marty constantly glanced back to see their progress; which in this case wasn't going according to plan. Zombies of all shapes and sizes were quickly gaining foot, even with their poor coordination, some were dressed with backpacks and souvenirs wrapped around their necks, bile splashing and covering any decals or designs.

"Marty!" Linda said between shaking breaths as they ran, "where the hell are the docks at??"

"Woman!" Marty began, but changed his tone as Linda shot him yet another nasty glance, "It's somewhere, ok!?" He said, colliding into the back of the albino woman, nearly falling. She had stopped; another hoard of walkers just before them.

"Oh, lovely."

Linda stepped forward as one of the smaller zombies lunged towards them, sharp mammalian teeth barred and claws outstretched toward their semi-organic prey. It launched itself into the air, shrieking, but never landing as it caught the end of Linda's lamp against its jaw, sending it back to the air and into the mob. Angered, the rest of the fray started forward, Linda's back against Marty's.

"This way," Marty said, starting towards the nearest roller coaster.

"Marty! There's no time for this, there's too many!" Linda protested.

"Shut up and get in the freakin' cart, will you?!" Linda frowned, but didn't argue. She hopped into the seat, Marty just behind, just as the carts left the station and the zombies reached the platform. The first hill went up fast, the zombies climbing it by foot didn't have as much luck. "Now this is more like it!" Marty smiled, crowbar still in hand.

"Ok, so what happens when the ride is over?" Linda mentioned, staring back at the pursuing zombies.

Marty had no time to answer as the first hill began, sending them accelerating downwards. Marty put his arms up in amusement as the woman gripped the unsecured handlebar in shock. The cart reached the top of the second hill, both Blacorite feeling their weight lift from the seat. Marty laughed as they zoomed downward once again, taking out several walkers standing along the track with no effort. Linda looked back to find that one lone walker had somehow found its way onto the train as it looped around for the third drop. It was climbing the seats right towards them, Linda moved her body to face it as the cart dropped downwards once again. "Marty!"

"What? Oh." Marty turned around as the large zombie was only two seats away, goopy streams of bile catching the wind. The man managed to turn to face the ugly tourist, smacking it across its jugular and onto the track. Then the ride was over. The train angled back into the station where the mob of undead stood waiting hungrily.

"Brilliant plan, Marty. Now we're dead."

"Well, at least I had a bit of fun before I kicked the dust." Marty said nonchalantly, "seriously, loosen up." He hopped out of the train just before it stopped, Linda quickly following. The two landed with an 'oomph' on the ground as the angered zombies thrashed through the metal bars down at them; but they were safe, for now.

Marty broke a lock to a security gate, letting Linda go through then him. They ran towards a manager's office, quickly locking the door behind them. Marty grabbed his knees, taking hefty breaths as Linda slunk to the ground, worn out. The muffled noises of gaining tourists didn't trigger either of them, as for now they seemed to be safe in the small, secured building. "Welp, I guess this is it. Wasn't really nice knowing you but, whatever, I'm dead anyway." Marty said again, sighing and glancing out the window.

"What the heck is your problem with me?" Linda looked up at him, her eyes glazing over again.

"Don't cry." Marty said sharply, "And do you really need me to tell you? You stalk me, you make me feel weird, and not the good weird, and you scare me. It's not exactly something that gives me happy memories. And my entire life's work is falling apart and I'm stuck with you."

"Well… I would think you of anyone would LIKE the attention!" Linda started, she choked her tears back, "I'm sorry I'm not something you approve of! It's not like I'm actually being serious all the time, you know other people are allowed to cut back and have fun too! And you seem to do the exact same stuff so… stop being so hypocritical… I thought you were a better guy than this."

Marty didn't respond, sitting across the room against a table to where he didn't face the distressed woman.

"And you don't think I'm not upset? All my REAL friends are gone, all the people I cared about, and I'm stuck with some selfish asshole. I'm not happy either. Stop thinking about yourself all the time." She rested her arms on her knees as the scratches of claws on glass wrung just above her on the window.

Silence fell over the both of them, the zombies being the only source of noise. The atmosphere was awkward.

"Sorry."

Linda looked up, Marty didn't move where he was, but continued, "You still creep me out, but I guess I don't have a choice. I'll stop being a jerk if you stop being a crybaby, got it?" he glanced back at her. "I… guess…"

That made Linda smile slightly, "What? Too manly to admit you need me?"

"Shut up." Marty frowned, standing up, "Look, I would have been eaten, so I guess I owe you a solid. BUT NOT ANYTHING SUGGESTIVE SO GET THAT OUT OF YOUR PINK HEAD RIGHT NOW."

Linda chuckled, "Ok. I guess I'm sorry, too." She stood up as he stepped over to the door, glancing out watching the last of the walkers trail away in defeat. "The coast is clear, it's now or never." Marty nodded, opening the door to take a second look, then the two tip toed out into the open and towards the direction of the harbor.

There before them sat the black water of the ocean, just across the bay the glowing light of the main tower. Marty led them down to the docks, looking through each of the boats that were hitched to the poles, choosing a fairly small speed boat. Putting on some stylish sunglasses, he turned towards Linda, "Alright, 'partner'," He began, "Let's do this."