Mall Walkers Contest |
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Get What You Need
By Matt Steflik
The marquee outside the mall advertises "Get what you need...all under one roof". I've found this to be true. The mall is a special place.
I've had a full life, all things considered. Fought in two wars. Been to lots of places. Married and buried a good woman who shared my life with me for forty-two years. Jennifer gave me love, companionship and a wonderful son, David, before leaving this earth. After she died, I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. Most days I had trouble even leaving the house. Dave and his wife kept after me to get out and keep active...to socialize. That's how I ended up at the mall and how I met the Mall Walkers.
While most of the stores in the mall didn't open until ten, the mall itself opened a little after six. I'd heard that lots of folks went to the mall first thing in the morning to walk "laps" of the interior for exercise. After going a few times, I discovered a good-sized senior population that met, had coffee and walked daily at the mall. The group called themselves the Mall Walkers, and several of these fellow old timers were veterans. I made a lot of new friends, and at the group's height we had close to twenty regular walkers. I had discovered a reason to get out of bed in the morning. I had needed a new routine, exercise and friendship, and I found it...all under one roof.
Things changed again a little over a week ago. The first reports came on the television about the dead returning to life and feeding upon the living. No one was sure how it was possible or why it was happening. The media "experts" speculated on everything from biblical prophecy to botched military research. In the end it didn't matter. The zombie outbreak quickly grew beyond the control of the local authorities. Looting ran rampant, the town was on fire and it was every man for himself. Phones were dead. I knew I was on my own. I had no idea how my son or his family was, but I figured he would try to get them out of town. I decided to leave too. Once I was clear, I could set about trying to find them. Old fool.
The run from town is a kaleidoscope of images blurring in my head, with brief moments of horrible clarity. A school bus gutted by fire in which blackened shapes still moved. A thing that used to be my paperboy...biting a chunk out of my arm. A woman missing half her face, pushing an empty baby stroller slicked with blood. Everywhere was carnage and ruin...like being at war again. As I neared the edge of town, my car gave out. I needed a place to hold up...to hide. As luck would have it, the mall's marquee glowed in the distance.
I've been here at the mall for three days now. The undead are here too. Crowds of the creatures walk the concourses of the mall, wandering in and out of the stores and around about the interior. I've managed to keep away from them so far, but I haven't seen any other survivors. I wonder what need formed in their dead brains to make them want to come here? And what need brought me here? I can't remember now. The pain...I can't think straight.
It's hopeless. I'm alone, scared and...hungry. My mind is going. I'm so...cold. And it hurts. There's no help coming. I won't see my son again. Out in the mall I've seen several of the Mall Walkers...several of my friends. Though dead, they came back here by some instinct...some need...and continue to walk. The idea seems strangely appealing...a nice...long walk with my friends. The mall really is a...special place. It's like the song goes; "you can't always get what you want...but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need". All under one roof, too. It's not a question of...want anymore. Get what you need. Yes. Oh Lord, it hurts...so bad...
I need to...feel warmth...need to...eat.
I need to walk now.
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