Alternia Comics

Day Fourteen - Sunrise

Sometime between when the fire died down to embers and the sun came up, a visitor came to the camp: a wild dog. I had my back to the woods, letting my gaze drift between the smoldering embers, the sleeping Charlie, and Lisa's car, mostly the embers though. The gentle waves of red washing through the ash mesmerized me, took hold of some part of me and managed to beat the Hunger into the background. I was about to lie back and stare at the stars when I heard a noise.

Day Twelve

Day Six

The car broke down yesterday. Somewhere in Ohio. I think that's where I am. Highway signs are less useful when you're on foot and don't see them often. For now, I'm keeping the Hunger in check by avoiding temptation (by which I mean living people) and focusing on the Judo forms.

It's hot during the day. I wish I had a hat, or sunglasses to shield my eyes. My face must be red and blistering, but I don't have a mirror to check. At least there was a duffel bag in the car. Makes it easy to carry the books.

Day Nine

The following is a transcription of a journal I bought from a traveling merchant. He said it contains the story and thoughts of one of what we call the Unbroken, one of the mindless zombies who has, somehow, regained some semblance of sanity and self control. The name on the inside cover is Ian MacKellen.

- James Connor, Bard of Subterra.

Day One.

   Kevin looked all around Jack's chair at the council table until he was sure he had looked everywhere. He pushed the chair back in frustration, its wheels squeaking with the age, and sat on the floor. He stared into space, not focusing on anything, letting his eyes drift around the room as he thought of where he might search next.
   He decided to check Colin's chair next when his eyes set upon a small depression under the table where Jack sat. He reached a tentative finger to it and pressed.

This is the first story published here, I think, that's a collaborative effort between Alarin and me. He started this, sent it to me and said "Write the next part. Here's how it should end." Hopefully it turned out alright.
-Karak

Jason clutched the precious package to his chest and ran from the madness behind him. He used a parking stop to vault over a low fence and tore across an open lot, making for the abandoned apartment complex ahead.

   Kevin sat in the second of the nine high-backed chairs arrayed behind the long, curved table. From his vantage point in the vent, Kevin thought the table was straight, but sitting behind it now he could see there was a definite, if slight, curve to it, with the first and ninth chairs a foot forward from the fifth chair, and angled toward the center of the room. "Was this your chair, Jack?" he asked aloud, leaning back and imagining some of the discussions that must have gone on in this room.

.

   Jen opened the first file and read aloud. "Minutes for 14 March 2021. Officers Present: Colin Leff, Gerald Stein, Lisa Kossman, Laurinda Selmeyer, Kathleen Corvidae, Nelson MacKenna, Barbara Matheson, Thomas Mason." She paused before reading the last name in the list. "And Jack Marten. Proof, Paul! This is it!" She skimmed ahead a bit as Paul gathered more of the boxes.