Gone with the Flesh
After reaching a working gas station and discovering that Ernest’s condition may be more complicated than expected, Will and Zack encounter Derrick—a self-proclaimed vampombie whose existence introduces an entirely new set of rules. What began as survival is now turning into something harder to define.
“Easy,” Zack said. “That stuff’s expensive.”
Ernest wiped his mouth. “It costs a lot less than your life.”
Zack blinked. “Fair point.”
He went back inside for more.
I was standing about fifty feet from the woods when a man in a long black coat approached me.
He sniffed the air.
“I smell zombie.”
My heart jumped. “I don’t smell zombie. How can you smell a zombie?”
He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t smell a normal zombie.”
That didn’t make me feel better.
“I’m part zombie,” he said calmly. “That’s how I can tell.”
“Either you are a zombie or you’re not,” I said. “You’re dead or you’re not. That’s how that works.”
He shook his head.
“I’m a vampombie.”
I blinked.
“A what?”
“I was bitten by a vampire right after I was bitten by a zombie. I’m human by day. Vampire by night. And for three days after a full moon… full zombie.”
I just stared at him.
“I usually fast during the full moon,” he added. “I try to make myself harmless. But if you ever run into a warewombie…”
He leaned closer.
“You better beware. They’ve got the worst traits of everything.”
This day was escalating rapidly.
“What is your name?” I asked carefully.
“Derrick Duncan.”
I debated for about three seconds whether bringing him to Ernest was a good idea.
It wasn’t.
I did it anyway.
The meeting.
Ernest stepped out from the tree line.
“Who is this?” he snapped. “I thought I was avoiding humans and you bring someone to me?”
“He’s not a regular human,” I said. “He’s a… vampombie.”
Ernest blinked. “A what?”
Derrick studied him carefully. “You talk. And coherently.”
I rubbed my forehead. “You two can explain yourselves to each other. I don’t have the energy.”
Zack came jogging back with an armful of jerky.
He stopped cold when he saw Derrick.
“Who are you?”
“Derrick. I’m a vampombie.”
Zack burst out laughing. “Oh yeah? And I bet there are warewombies too.”
Derrick went dead serious.
“Shhhhh. Don’t call them out.”
Silence fell.
Zack slowly handed the jerky to Ernest.
Derrick looked at all of us.
“I have a place where you can sleep,” he said.
And that’s when I realized this wasn’t just a weird road trip anymore.
It was turning into something much bigger.
Prefer to listen? [Listen to The Gas Station]
Episode 2 The Problem with Roads (Part 1) | Episode 3 The Smile in the Glass (Part 1)