Parks and Wrecked Part 3

Today's Post is a guest Post from Andrew Chandler. To see more of Andrew's work, take a look at andrewchandler.net. To learn more about the Florida Zombie Apocalypse, read Hargood and the End

When Sean awoke, the sun was high in the sky and the air was stifling. He chugged down a bottle of tepid water and then used another to bathe the crusty scabs on this arms and legs. His head throbbed and he limped to the first aid kit to look for some pain relievers. Finding a few packets, he ripped them open with this teeth and gulped them down. The phone was still off the hook and silently dangled by the chord. He yanked the entire utility off the wall and threw it across the tiny enclosed space, shattering it against a register.

The cash machine toppled over the edge of the counter and broke open on the floor. Coins and bills spilled out and Sean's eyes widened at the sight. He bent down and began to scoop up the treasure, stuffing it into his pockets. As he did so, he caught his reflection in the stainless steel surface of a deep fryer. It occurred to him how ridiculous the scenario was. He laughed to himself and left the rest of the money on the floor. He then tossed the bag of drinks out through the broken window and followed it with a great deal of effort.
He meandered around the park for a while, amusing himself by breaking windows and taking clothes and knick-knacks from the gift shops. He collected melting candy bars and bags of chips from vending machines, snacking from time to time.

He considered the acquisition of a weapon, just in case he ran into any stray freaks hiding out amongst the rides and games. A bat from the batting cages didn't make him feel secure. An air rifle from the shooting range didn't quite seem lethal enough. He wondered if the security office had any real guns.
The security office! The security guards! Where were the night watchmen? Where was the cleaning crew and the maintenance team? The thought that they might be inside the compound hunting him at that very moment sent a shiver down Sean's spine. He ducked into the shaded alcove of a nearby restroom. The security office was near the main entrance. It would take him at least ten minutes to walk there from where he currently stood. He didn't think he could run in his condition, but if necessary, he might be able to sprint a short distance. He decided the best course of action would be to move slowly and quietly so as not to draw attention.

It seemed like it took an hour. Sean strained to hear any kind of sound. He cursed himself every time his shoes scuffed the ground or his breathing got too heavy. Once he thought he heard one of those inhuman groans, and he froze in place for several minutes. It turned out to be a door creaking on its hinges, but even the slight movement of that door made him all the more convinced that someone else was in proximity to his current position.

Finally he spotted the office. He scanned the surroundings and crept forward, trying to keep to the shadows as best he could. For the first time that day, he found that the door was unlocked, so he slipped inside and latched it behind him.

The office was comprised of two rooms. The room where he stood held two desks with chairs, and behind one desk was a wall of video monitors, all currently blank. The other room was dark and Sean assumed it was a closet or possibly a break room or lavatory. He crouched low and slowly snuck toward the door.

"WUMP! SQUEEEEEeeee." The sound startled Sean and he dropped to the floor and spun around. There in the window was one of the security guards, or at least what used to be one. His clothes were drenched in blood, and part of his lips and nose were missing. He flattened his rotting corpse against the glass and pawed at the clear surface with greedy palms.

Sean stared in morbid fascination at the creature before him for a full minute. Not knowing how long the glass would hold up, or if the office had another way out, he crawled backwards on his hands and slid into the other room.

He noticed the smell first and then he heard the buzzing of flies. The linoleum floor was wet and sticky and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. Fearfully, he pressed his back against the door frame and felt for a light switch. His hand bumped into something hollow and metallic protruding from the wall, and next to it was the switch. He simultaneously flipped it on and closed his eyes. Nothing. "Stupid!" he said out loud. He walked back into the main office and started to look around for a flashlight. His hands were still wet, and it wasn't until he wiped them on his pants that he realized that they were red. He gulped once, and then vomited into a trash can.