The Escape plan |
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An entry into the January 2008 Twilight Creations contest by Raymond Williams
Day 5: My name is Ted Dawson, and I'm currently curled up in the ventilation shaft of the local Hardware Store known as Todd's Tools, getting some Much Needed Rest as I write this.
"Why am I writing this?" you ask, or should I say, "Why am I writing this from inside the ventilation shaft of a hardware store?" And to that I would say "That is a very good question," but to answer it I'm going to have to take you back 5 days to when this all began. Like I said, my name is Ted Dawson and when I'm not cowering inside ventilation shafts, I'm the local Helicopter Pilot for the scenic tours here in the small town of Sleepy Hollow. Yeah I know, like the book and that movie with Jonny Depp. But let me tell you, this town has worse things then a headless horseman, that's for sure. As it's the off season, things are quiet for me, so I came into town to take care of a few things.
Day 1: I had just finished buying groceries and thought I'd pop in to see May at the Florist Shop to see if I could tee up a date for this Saturday, before heading back to the Helipad. It was no surprise that once again May turned me down. As I left, I was crossing the Town Square,when I noticed half the town was attacking the other half. I turned to run back to May's but as I did one of the local teenagers attacked me. Half his face was missing and he was trying to bite me. I wasn't aware of it at the time but he was a zombie. I managed to push him away and fled into Todd's Tools which was the closest store that wasn't under attack. Once safely inside, Todd and I barricaded the door and hid in the storeroom out the back.
Day 2: Sleeping last night was difficult, all I could hear was the moaning from those things outside. I was just about to drop off when I heard some movement from across the room. I flicked on the flashlight only to find that Todd was no longer himself; apparently he had been bitten earlier that day but forgot to tell me. Thankfully Todd is about 67, and not too quick on his feet. Without any weapons close at hand all I could do was wrestle Todd into the staff toilet and lock him in there.
Day 3: Really regretting the fact that I locked Todd in the only toilet in the hardware store. The trash bin is really starting to smell. I think I'm going to have to look for a weapon and clear Todd out.
Good news: I found a shotgun! I was eating one of the last donuts that were left in the staff refrigerator. As I was eating it half of it broke off and rolled under the counter. As I reached down to pick it up, I was like, "Hey Look… A Shotgun!" I wasn't actually talking to anyone -- it's just been a long 3 days so I find it easier to talk out loud sometimes.
On the downside I only had 3 bullets, but hey, it's a shotgun and Todd's locked in a small room. "How can I miss?", I though to myself.
Surprisingly, with a shotgun, it's quite easy to miss a slow moving zombie locked in a toilet. I needed more bullets and the only place I knew had some was the Police Station.
I put a sign for May in the window saying 'Me, Police, Then you, Then Here'.
She replied with a sign: 'You, Police. Then Me, Then Helipad -- SAFETY.'
She did have a good point, so I went with her plan. As it was now dark, I thought I'd wait till morning to attempt the rescue mission.
Day 4: Extremely tired from lack of sleep. You'd be amazed at how loud a hundred people moaning can be. I stood in front of the glass doors for the first time in 4 days. I could see the ruin of what was left of Sleepy Hollow. Zombies were everywhere. Just idly walking from one place the next. I stood there with shotgun in hand and decided this was it, it's now or never. I smashed through the front doors and ran to the nearest car.
Once inside the car, I remembered another small flaw in my plan: I have no idea how to hotwire a car. As I looked down I thought to myself thank god The Keys are still in it. Unfortunately so was the owner's hand. Slightly decomposed and still grasping the keys. After prying the hand off and disposing of it I headed for the Police Station.
There were a number of abandoned cars on the road, and there were Zombies, so I decide to take the back streets. 15 minutes later I was at the back entrance of the Police Station. Using the shotgun as a battering ram I smashed the back door open. I don't know how it happened--I guess it's because I don't come into town much so it always feels like the place is set out differently each time I do, combined with my Bad Sense of Direction --I somehow ended back where I started: Todd's storeroom. And Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Any Worse. Not only had I smashed the back door open to get in, but the place was now crawling with zombies from when I had smashed through the front door to get out. Surrounded by zombies I did the only thing I could think of. I climbed into the ventilation shaft.
Day 5 again. So now I lie here writing this and eating Tic Tacs to keep my strength up, on the verge of getting Claustrophobia, and waiting for May to come save me. I'm sure she will once she realizes I'm not coming. I'm sure she will come looking for me….won't she?
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