The Stammerer

 

A gust of wind began to blow as Tim entered the dim bus. Jeez, it was dark as hell!

As Tim sat down on the third row, he felt a sigh of relief coming out. This was the last bus to get out of New Orleans. It had been 15 days since the virus had set in, and had turned almost everyone in the area into zombies…

Mindless, heartless, killing machines, to whom if you gave one stare, you would be dead within a minute.

As the bus moved, Tim suddenly heard someone.

Someone was stammering.

‘He-he-he…m-me…’

Tim was startled. Was someone else there? Slowly, he took out his derringer from his right pocket – it may not defend much, but it would provide the required time for him to run…

The voice came again.

‘He-he-he…-m-me…’

Tim turned around slowly. It was dark – the lights weren’t working at all. In the little light that came from the broken neon lights outside, he made out a figure seated in the very last row. It wasn’t moving much – just seated over there…

The stammer came again:

‘Yo-yo-youn-young S-S-Sir, h-he…’

Tim now spoke out:

‘Is there anything wrong?’ Although he spoke it normally, it seemed as if it went through a tunnel.

There was no answer. Did he hear heavy breathing? He could feel a bit of a hot air hit his face.

The bus now picked up a little speed. They were now about to leave Austin, Texas. The stammerer spoke again:

‘S-S-Sir pl-plea-please hel-hel-help m-me…’

Tim now got up. Holding the derringer firmly in his hand, he slowly moved towards the

(don’t go)

back of the bus, where the

(please don’t go)

voice was coming.

‘Sir, is everything okay?’ Tim called out again. He could feel a cold sweat flourishing him…

There was no answer. Tim could hear the heavy breathing now more closer…

The bus now passed over one of the streetlights, and that was when the man fell face-down on the floor.

Tim gave out a scream.

The man’s chest was burst open. Blood was spluttered over there – as if someone had eaten out the heart of that man!

Suddenly, Tim felt the heavy breathing now growing faster…

Faster…

Faster…

Faster…

Suddenly, the bus jolted up on a road bumper. Tim fell facedown on the metal floor – the derringer went off, hitting off the above dim tube light. It burst into pieces before going dark.

Before Tim could do anything, he heard someone lunging upon him,

 

‘AAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!’

***

 

M.Macabre

20.06.2021

 

Writer’s Notes: This article was ‘lost’ for 3 months before I took it up again…

And yes, it has some apocalyptic vibes…maybe…