Dark Days
Part 3
By Tooki
Edited by Tonya
Halloween 2022
It had been three months since the world had gone to hell. Detectives David Starsky and Ken Hutchinson had managed to escape Bay City with their Captain Harold Dobey, his wife Edith and children Cal and Rosie. A rookie officer had come with them but on a supply run back to the city, they had lost him when his mother, who had turned, attacked him.
They were held up in the Dobey’s cabin, where they had been relatively safe, but they were running low on supplies and had scavenged everything within a ten mile radius. It wasn’t safe to go back to the city, the dead had taken over.
The men had taken the time to teach Edith, Cal and even little Rosie how to handle a gun and other weapons. Edith had resisted at first, especially when it came to Rosie, but it had been Starsky who had convinced her it was the only way to stay safe.
There was no way to really know what was going on. The radio stations had stopped transmitting long ago, there wasn’t even static now. The electric was out and gas for the station wagon was all but gone. There was a small stash for emergencies.
Hutch stood on the bank of the small pond yards from the cabin, fishing pole in hand. He was afraid they had nearly fished the pond dry. The fish were either getting smarter or there weren’t many left.
None of them were really hunters but they had given it a try when a deer had wandered close to the cabin. Starsky had tried to shoot it but missed. Hutch couldn’t say he was upset even though fresh meat would have tasted good. But he didn’t relish the idea of cleaning the animal.
“Catch anything?” Starsky asked, coming up behind his partner. He was carrying a crowbar just in case he needed to take care of a zombie….a word he refused to use. It made it all that more real or perhaps unreal, more like a movie.
Hutch shook his head, “They don’t seem to be biting.” He wound the fishing line back into the reel, “Maybe tomorrow.”
Starsky sat down on a stump. “What are we going to do, Hutch?”
“You are asking me?” Hutch looked at his partner. “This is your thing.”
“Just because I watched a few horror movies, does not mean it’s my thing!”
“Well you know more than me!” Hutch exclaimed, as started back toward the house.
Starsky jumped up, “Don’t leave me out here alone.” He caught up with Hutch, “I think after the kids go to bed we need to discuss what is next.”
“See, I told you it’s your thing.”
Starsky glared at his partner then stopped, he held his breath and listened intently. Hutch turned around to see where he was. Starsky put his finger to his lips and pointed toward the woods on the right side of the cabin.
Hutch stopped, then backtracked to where Starsky was standing. “What is it?” He asked in a low voice.
“I saw some movement.”
Hutch watched intently to where Starsky was pointing. Several trees were shaking, “How many do you think?” The blond hissed.
They both stood ready to do battle, not wanting to lure them toward the cabin in case there were more than a couple. One night there had been a dozen or more clawing at the doors and windows, loosening the boards that had been attached over the windows. It had been frightening but the dead had finally gotten bored or heard something in the woods and wandered off.
The detectives backed toward the pond but made sure they could escape without getting in the water. There were five dead ambling out of the woods and started to turn toward the house.
“Hey…over here.” Starsky yelled to get their attention. All five swung their heads toward the men. This bunch had been dead for sometime, they were beginning to decompose. Their clothes were in tatters, most had bare ribs where skin had been. One had lost half the skin on its face, its teeth were visible in the gaping hole.
They snarled and snapped as they approached. “I wish I had my gun,” Starsky said, bringing up the crowbar. But he knew that would only draw more.
Hutch looked around for a weapon, he had made a possibly deadly mistake, he hadn’t brought anything but the fishing pole. Starsky was always getting after him for not carrying some sort of weapon anytime he went outside. It was a beautiful fall day, flesh eating monsters hadn’t been on his mind. Only feeding Dobey, his family and Starsky.
“Get back Hutch,” Starsky told his friend when he realized he had nothing to defend himself with. As he backed up Starsky spied an ax stuck in a stump for splitting wood. He tossed the crowbar to Hutch and ran for the ax.
The crowbar landed a foot away from the blond. Hutch took a few steps toward the weapon, as he bent down to grab it one of the dead lurched forward and grabbed a hold of the back of Hutch’s shirt. He tried to jerk himself free but toppled them both to the ground. It. was pulling itself closer and closer as it nashed its teeth in Hutch’s ear.
Starsky swiftly took care of three of them, cracking open their skulls with the ax, dropping them to the ground. He turned to see where his partner was, his stomach dropped. Starsky ran to Hutch, he kicked the bag of bones off his friend then brought the ax down on its head.
Before Starsky could check on Hutch the last of the dead stumbled toward him. With one sweeping stroke he beheaded the man that was now decomposing. He ran to Hutch’s side, who was still laying on the ground. “Are you okay?” Starsky pulled him to his feet.
Hutch felt the back of his neck and inspected his ears. No blood, the thing hadn’t bitten him. “G-Good,” He stammered, not sure what would have happened if he had been bitten.
Dobey came rushing out of the house carrying a fire poker in his hand ready to do battle, “You boys alright?”
“Hutch had a close call.” Starsky said as he inspected his friend.
“If it had bitten me I really wouldn’t have turned into one, would I?” Hutch asked, still shaken.
Starsky took a long time before he answered. “From the things we have seen…yes.”
“I still can’t wrap my head around all this,” Hutch admitted as a shiver ran up his spine.
In the cabin Edith was trying to put together an evening meal. She peered into the kitchen cabinet that was nearly empty. There were maybe a dozen cans of beans left, a few cans of fruit, enough flour to bake a couple loaves of bread. They were pretty much out of food. She hoped that Hutch could catch some fish to go with the beans, they were all sick of fish and beans.
“Mom, can I go outside?” Rosie leaned on the counter.
Edith sighed, closed the cabinet and looked at her daughter. The kids were only allowed out when an adult was with them, and then they had to stay close to the cabin. “Not right now.”
“But I’m bored,” The little girl whined.
“Here, set the table,” Edith handed her daughter napkins and silverware.
Rosie took the items her mother handed her, she spied Cal looking out the front window, “Mom wants you to set the table.”
“Why can’t you do it?” Cal asked, annoyed. He was trying to see what was going on outside. His dad had run out of the cabin with a fireplace poker telling them to stay in the house. He knew one of those things had wandered close to the cabin again.
“It’s your turn!” Rosie persisted.
Sighing, Cal took the napkins and silverware from his sister, “Hope Uncle Hutch caught some fish. I’m tired of beans.”
“I’m tired of fish!”
“Yeah, me too.”
While Cal was busy setting the table, Rosie glanced her mother’s way, she was busy making bread. The little girl loved fresh baked bread but it would be better with some butter. Rosie edged toward the door keeping her eyes on her brother and mother which was easy in the small cabin. Finally she carefully opened the door just enough to slip out.
Rosie looked toward the pond, where the men were talking. There were some of those things laying on the ground, she had never gotten a good look at one and didn’t want to. The little girl walked in the opposite direction staying close to the cabin so she wouldn’t be seen.
As she got to the edge of the cabin Rosie looked toward the woods. Leaves were falling, the woods looked inviting and fun. She knew she was going to get in trouble but she didn’t care. Rosie ran for the woods, she wouldn’t go far, just far enough to collect some leaves, sticks and pine cones.
Dobey and the two detectives moved the bodies to the edge of the woods away from the cabin. Then made their way into the cabin. Edith looked up to see if Hutch had fish.
“Sorry Edith, fish weren’t biting.”
She turned worried eyes to her husband, “Harold, what are we going to do?”
“We’ll talk about it later honey, after dinner.”
“Cal, why are you setting the table? I told your sister to do that.” Edith asked.
“She said it was my turn.” Cal answered as he finished.
Edith looked around the cabin, “Rosie?” There was no answer from the little girl. Edith raised her voice. “Rosie!”
“Cal, check the bathroom and bedrooms.” Dobey ordered.
There was a blood curdling scream from outside that stopped everyone in their tracks.
Rosie had seen her father go in the cabin along with the two men she affectionately called Uncle. None of them had seen her as she had stepped behind a tree. As soon as they were inside she began scavenging. Rosie picked up several pine cones, a large bird feather, she was very excited about. A couple of pretty rocks and a bunch of leaves. She wished she had brought something to carry all her treasures.
Rosie decided she would cup the items in the skirt of her dress and get back to the cabin. She knew she was going to be in big trouble and hoped her parents wouldn’t take the things she had collected as punishment.
As the little girl started to step out of the woods there was a rustling behind her. Rosie stopped, thinking it was a squirrel, but when she turned she saw a woman in a tattered dress and stringy long hair making her way toward her. Flesh was hanging off the woman’s face exposing bone and teeth.
Rosie screamed and turned to run to the cabin but she caught her foot on a fallen tree branch and went down hard. Her treasures spilled all around her. The woman growled and snapped her teeth as she advanced on her prey.
The little girl tried to get to her feet but the leaves were slick and she couldn’t get traction to get up. Tears streamed down her face, “HELP,” she screamed.
“Stay here! We’ll get her.” Starsky told Dobey, being younger and in better shape than their Captain, they could get to Rosie quicker.
Just as they got out the door they heard her cry for help. Both men scanned the edge of the woods as they ran toward the cry. “There!” Hutch pointed to the woman lurching toward what they assumed was Rosie in the tall grass.
Starsky and Hutch double timed it until they were nearly to the woman, that was when they saw Rosie on the ground. “You get Rosie, I’ll take care of the lady.” Starsky said.
Hutch scooped up the frightened little girl. “I got you.” He said holding Rosie close to his chest as he moved away so Starsky could take care of business.
The dark headed detective caught more motion and sounds in the woods coming toward the. He ran the crowbar through the woman’s skull, and she dropped to the ground. There were more coming toward him, Starsky backed away from the woods glancing to see if Hutch and Rosie were safe.
The pair were nearly to the safety of the cabin, when two of the dead came stumbling around the corner of the cabin, Hutch stopped unsure what to do, he didn’t want to put Rosie down, but he didn’t want to battle them with her in his arms.
Dobey stood in the doorway, Edith appeared behind her husband handing him a rifle they kept at the cabin. The Captain knew that the sound of the rifle would only bring more attention if they were out there but he didn’t see a choice. He took aim at the ragged man stumbling toward his daughter and detective and fired. It dropped to the ground, then he shot the second one.
Hutch made a dash the last few yards to the door and handed Rosie off to her mother. “Thanks Cap,” Hutch said. Then to Edith, “Get my gun.”
Edith disappeared with her daughter, “Cal, take Rosie, get in the bathroom and close the door. Don’t come out until one of us comes to get you.” She ordered. Then grabbing the gun, Edith reappeared in the doorway and handed Hutch his .357.
Hutch, like Dobey, knew there was no alternative but to shoot the dead as more came around the cabin. Starsky was doing his best to hold them off on the other side of the cabin. Stabbing each one in the head, he was covered with gore.
The gunshots caught the dead’s attention and most of them turned toward the cabin and away from Starsky. It gave him the opportunity to run toward the open door. Hutch was still outside, Dobey and Edith in the doorway. She had her husband's service weapon in her hand. Edith was glad that she knew how to use it.
“Edith, get me a pot and a large spoon,” Starsky yelled at her. He had watched the dead ones long enough to know they would follow sound.
“What are you going to do?” Hutch wanted to know.
“Lead them away.” Starsky told his friend. “Get in the cabin Hutch.”
“I’m coming with you!”
“No! Stay here, they might need you.”
“You might need me!”
Edith stepped out of the door, handed Starsky the items he requested. “Be safe.”
“Starsk!” Hutch called after his friend, as he disappeared into the woods banging on the pot. The sound attracted the dead and they moved toward the sound and away from the cabin.
Starsky knew there was a rapidly moving, small river only a half mile from the cabin. If he could get them into the water they would float away. He had seen it happen several times when he and Hutch had been on scavenging trips.
As he ran banging the pot, Starsky couldn’t believe what he was doing. He was the guy that hated the woods and didn’t know much about being in them but he had learned quickly. He didn’t like his odds, if he ran into another group of them, he would become one of them, that is if there was anything left when the dead got done with him.
He finally heard the sound of rushing water from the river. Starsky would have to get to the other side or at least part way to lure them into the water.
The bank down to the water was steep, Starsky slid down landing in the water. He banged the pot, then waited and listened. The unmistakable sound of the dead were above him, “Hey down here!” Starsky yelled.
The first body stumbled over the edge nearly landing on the detective, he waded out into the water. The swift current nearly swept Starsky off his feet but he regained his balance and finally made it to the other side.
Climbing out of the water he banged the pot and yelled. The bodies continued to topple into the water and floated struggling down river and out of sight.
Starsky heaved a huge sigh of relief and crossed back through the water. As he was scrambling up the steep bank, a boney hand reached up and grabbed his ankle and pulled the detective back down into the water.
Hutch paced the cabin, stopping every few minutes to stare out the window. He couldn’t wait any more, “I’ve gotta go look for Starsky.” Hutch said, he grabbed the fireplace poker and headed for the door.
“No!” Rosie cried, “You can’t go!” The little girl wrapped her arms around his waist.
Hutch looked down at Rosie, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be right back.”
“Give him another few minutes, son.” Dobey pulled his daughter from the detective. “Go help your mother.”
“Cap, he’s been gone for nearly an hour. I should’ve already been out there.”
Dobey put his hand on Hutch’s shoulder and whispered, “I know how you feel but we need you here, give it a little more time.”
Hutch barely nodded as he stared out the window, it was beginning to get dark.
Edith pulled a rare treat from the oven. She had used the last two cans of peaches to make cobbler. Setting it to cool, she dished up the beans she had warmed and put the bread on the table. She knew no one felt like eating but Edith had to keep busy. “Come on kids time to eat.”
Rosie and Cal sat down, the little girl looked at her plate and tears filled her eyes, “It’s all my fault.”
There was no denying it so Edith simply said, “What’s done is done.” There were tears in her eyes too. They were all fearing the worst. Edith looked at Hutch, “Ken, honey, come have something to eat.”
Hutch sighed and peeled himself away from the window but he didn’t come to the table, instead began to pace again. He couldn’t wait any longer, armed with the poker and his gun in his shoulder holster, Hutch opened the door.
A bedraggled Starsky stood there, he was wet, muddy, shivering and exhausted. Hutch dropped the poker and embraced his friend.
Edith jumped up from the table and ran to get a blanket. She threw it around his shoulders as Hutch pulled him into the cabin.
Starsky looked at Edith, “I lost your pot and spoon.”
Edith hugged him tightly and laughed, “I just care you are safe.”
“You are okay, right?” Hutch asked concerned as he inspected his friend.
“It was touch and go for a while, but at least this bunch is gone.” Starsky wrapped the blanket tight around himself and limped toward the couch.
Dobey watched his detective, “You are hurt, sit down.”
Starsky waved his concern away, “I just twisted my ankle trying to get back up the bank.” He didn’t tell them that one of the dead had grabbed him on his climb up. For being dead they were remarkably strong, it had dragged him back down the bank and into the water where Starsky had almost been dinner. He had finally managed to pick up a rock and smash in its head.
Hutch was on the floor stripping his partner's shoe and sock off to examine this ankle that was turning an angry shade of purple.
Rosie plopped down next to him, “I’m so sorry Uncle Starsky.”
“It’s okay kiddo.” Starsky grimaced as Hutch felt his foot, “Ouch! Take it easy there buddy.”
“Sorry, good news is I don’t think it’s broken, just a bad sprain.”
“Here, this will warm you up,” Edith handed Starsky a bowl of warm cobbler.
“But he hasn’t had dinner yet,” Rosie protested.
Edith looked at her husband who nodded, “Dessert first tonight for everyone.”
“I think we earned it.” Dobey smiled at Edith.
Rosie and Cal cheered, it had been a while since they had dessert or anything sweet. The candy bars the detectives had brought back on their run into the city months ago were long gone.
After the kids were in bed the adults sat down to discuss what they were going to do. With food running out and cold weather approaching quickly, decisions had to be made.
Dobey looked at Hutch, “You and I could go out, maybe we could find something to hold us over, until Starsky’s ankle is healed up.”
“Cap, Starsky and I have been all over, there is nothing left.”
“Then maybe we go a little further. We have the gas.”
Edith looked worried, “Harold, I don’t like the idea of being separated.”
Dobey looked at his wife, “Neither do I honey.”
“I can go alone.” Hutch said. There was a chorus of no’s.
“We will leave in the morning,” Dobey said, the decision made. Edith grabbed his hand, “We’ll just be gone a day or two.”
Hutch nodded, then looked at Starsky, “We will be fine. You just need to hold down the fort.”
“I haven’t caught a fish yet.” Starsky said sadly.
Edith patted his knee, “We will be fine. It’s only a couple of days, we won’t starve.”
Starsky looked doubtful, what if something happened and his captain and friend didn’t make it back?
The next morning Hutch made sure that the Tornio was full of gas in case Starsky and the remaining Dobey’s had to escape. He put weapons in the station wagon and bread that Edith had wrapped up for them.
With goodbyes said, the two men got in the wagon and headed toward what they hoped would bring them supplies to possibly last through the winter or at least until Starsky was back on his feet.
Edith, Rosie and Cal stood in the yard waving until they could no longer see the station wagon. Starsky was in the doorway also watching them go and cursing his luck that he had gotten hurt.
“Get off that ankle,” Edith told Starsky, then to her kids. “They will be back before you know it.” Edith gave one last look down the driveway before she closed the door.
The End…..til next year. Or maybe sooner. Let me know in the comments if you don’t want to wait til next Halloween!