The Lightkeepers

12

fresh, though the snapping of twigs reminded me that nowhere was left untouched by zombies or

the wilderness now.

The area behind us was clear. The hair on my arms and the back of my neck prickled.

Scanning the bushes again, my grip tightened around the hilt of my Katana, ready to pull it from

its sheath. In the space of a few drawn out seconds, Henry had an arrow nocked and sighted his

target. The arrow flew through the air and wedged itself in between the eyes of a walking corpse.

A trickle of blood ran from the site of the arrow. I skipped over its grayed face and rotting surface,

focusing on its torn clothes. The tattered tan shirt and brown khakis resembled that of a park

ranger ’ s. I wondered where his hat was. The patches of the uniform were missing or obscured from

my view. My heart lurched. My stomach twisted as I again looked at the arrow. My body sagged

a little as I lost my breath. Henry recovered the arrow with a thunk .

Popping out on the other side of Kearney Road, I instinctively looked both ways before

crossing the street. Henry spotted a lone deer. He nocked a clean arrow. I stepped away from him

and turned my back to him completely. The bowstring made a light boing as the arrow was sent

free, whistling through the air. Wordlessly, we approached the deer.

“ Whatever happens, take this, ” Henry said, handing me his Beretta .9mm carbine rifle. My

right hand gripped the stock as I took it from him. I positioned the strap across my chest and turned

on my heel. Henry had taken his knife out and was beginning to field dress the deer. Repositioning

myself, I stood with my feet apart and my right hand curled around the pistol grip. My trigger

finger rested along the side of the trigger. I shouldered the rifle and kept watch over our

surroundings, ready for anything.

Henry grunted behind me. Without looking at him, I led the way back, at times rotating

positions with Henry, who carried the deer across his back and shoulders. I was grateful that he

hadn ’ t asked for help.

Crossing back to the lighthouse seemed like an eternity. Henry was too preoccupied with

carrying the deer, leaving me to watch everywhere I could. I didn ’ t mind, though it soon became

overwhelming, especially since we had already seen one creeper. The sun glowed in front of my

eyes. I craned my neck and sighed in relief when I had a clear sightline to the patch of woods

again. We soon popped out of the trees. I lit up at the sight of the lighthouse ’ s peeling white paint.

Home.