Waking the Fallen

The band and the few remaining fans just sat there as the National guard continued their sweep for survivors. Normally when they were backstage with fans, they were partying and female fans would be all over them, wanting hugs or even a kiss.

But the mood was very somber. The novelty of meeting the band had long passed as some fans began to worry about their families back at home.

Sasha only had her Dad since her mother walked out of her life when she was only ten years old. Supposedly her mother had another child with her new husband and she was written off. But her father raised her and encouraged her singing, and told her never give up as she kept getting rejected at auditions.

Gina had both her parents, and an older sister who had gone off to law school. Unfortunately she was always compared to her, both of them saying, “Why can't you be more like your sister?” Gina wanted to go to art school, but her parents didn't think she could make a career of it.

While Brian was talking with his dad after finally getting a hold of him, Zacky decided to make some small talk with the ladies.

“So you two are friends?” He asked.

“Oh yeah, we met in art class in high school.” Gina answered.

“Ah, are you an artist?” Zacky asked.

"Yeah! I brought my drawings!” Gina happily said as she opened her sketch book and handed it to Zacky. He looked through it and stopped at the drawing of himself.

“That's pretty good!” Zacky said as he continued to flip through it and could see there were lots of sketches of Matt. He chuckled and said, “I can see who your favorite is.”

Gina blushed and said, “Aww I like you too!”

Sasha scoffed and said, “Oh please! She can't go a day without saying 'Oh Matt this, Matt that!' like he's her boyfriend.”

“So you just tagged along with her here?” Jimmy asked as he joins the conversation.

“I had gotten two tickets and wanted her to come along so I wouldn't be here alone.” Gina explained.

“And you needed my car since your parents would never let you go.” Sasha added.

“Hey! I'd still want you to come, even if you didn't have a car! Besides, you're the only friend my parents like.” Gina responded, then said to Zacky, “I did have to lie to them just to be here.”

“Let me guess...your parents don't like our music?” Zacky guessed.

“Yep! They think you guys are satanic and would prefer I listen to christian rock.” Gina said.

Zacky chuckled and says, “Christian rock, there's no such thing.”

“They don't like my art either, they won't let me go to art college because they think that I can't make a living off of art. They want me to go to law school like my perfect, never-does-wrong, over achieving older sister!” Gina remarked bitterly.

Then she adds, “I wish they were more like Brian's parents, they seem really cool!”

“Yeah, they totally are! Some parents really suck!” Jimmy remarked.

“I'm sorry your parents are like that. They probably mean well, but...it really sucks when they discourage you from your dreams. But don't let that stop you from achieving them.” Zacky encouraged.

“Thanks, this is why I like you guys.” Gina said. Despite her obsession with Matt, she really did like Zacky too.

But a scream from Matt scared her and everyone else.

During the time Zacky and Jimmy started a conversation with Gina and Sasha... Brian was surprised he finally got through to his dad since the service has started to go haywire.

“Brian?” he heard Papa Gates say as he answered.

“Dad! Yes, it's me! Are you guys OK?” Brian Jr. asked.

“We're fine. I was gonna ask the same thing about you guys. I saw the news and it said there was an outbreak and that they were evacuating the stadium.” Brian Sr. answered.

“Evacuating? I don't think so! It's so much worse, they shot at them!” Brian Jr said.

“Who shot? And at whom?” Brian Sr asked his son to clarify.

“The fans! They were being attacked by the walking dead. Then the national guard came in and shot everyone, both dead and alive!” Brian jr. cried out.

“What!? Oh my God! That's terrible, but you guys are all OK?” he questioned.

“We're quarantined into some tents they set up. I think I heard something about the CDC coming soon?” Brian jr said.

“They probably want to make sure you guys didn't get infected. Hey...Michelle wants to talk to you.” Brian Sr said, and then hands the phone to her.

“Brian? Oh my God! Are you OK?” Michelle asked with worry over her husband.

“I don't know, but are you?” he asked his wife.

“I'm fine.” she answered.

Matt overhears and asks, “Ask her how Val is.”

“Matt wants to know how Val is doing?” Brian asks.

“She came here earlier with the boys, but she went back out to get more things, but...” she says before stopping.

“But what?” he asked.

“She hasn't come back yet.” Michelle answered.

Brian doesn't say anything, which worries Matt, so he grabs the phone from him.

“Michelle? Is Val OK? What about our boys?” Matt asked.

“The boys are here and are fine, but Val went back to your house to get more things and some food but...it's been a few hours since she went out.” Michelle explained.

“What!? Did you guys go out to look for her?” Matt questioned.

“We can't.” Michelle answered.

“What do you mean you can't!?” Matt asked as he gets agitated.

“There's a curfew and they won't let us out.” Michelle explained.

“A curfew? Who won't let you out?” Matt pressed.

“The police. But they told us they'll look for her!” Michelle frantically explained as she hears Matt getting angrier.

Matt throws the phone back into Brian's hand and starts pacing around as he looks around for the nearest national guard.

“Matt? Matt?” Michelle called out over the line.

Matt screams, which scared everyone in the tent with him.

He spots one guard and runs up to him. Zacky quickly gets up to stop him.

“Hey!” Matt yells to the guard.

The national guard turns around.

“When are you guys gonna let us out of here?” Matt demanded.

“When it's safe enough. Can you please sit down?” the guard requested.

“Sit down!? We've been sitting here for hours! My wife is out there and I gotta go find her now!” Matt yelled in the guards face.

“Sir! I'm gonna have to ask you to back down!” the guard ordered.

Zacky grabs his shoulder and says, “Matt!”

Matt smacks Zacky's hand off his shoulder and screams, “Fuck this! I'll find my own way out of here!”

The guard runs after Matt as he heads outside the tent, but three more guards run toward them and inside the tent.

“Get back! Everyone get back!” the other guard yelled.

“There's more of them!”

But Matt pushes through, but stops when he sees the most horrifying scene before his eyes. There were hundreds of their fans heading toward them, but not to ask for autographs. They were the ones that had been shot up by the soldiers earlier in the evening and had now risen from the dead and were walking.

The guard that Matt yelled at earlier grabbed him and said, “Let's get back inside.”

Zacky was surprised to see Matt back, but his face looked as if he'd seen ghosts.

The other guards were panicked and saying, “I don't know how it happened! We shot them all! But they're walking!”

Zacky, Sasha, Gina, and a few others look outside and they see the walkers heading toward them.

“Oh shit!” Jimmy exclaimed.

Then the sound of a helicopter is heard. Everyone assumed it was to rescue them.

“Oh thank God!” one of the fans said.

Another guard jumps out of the helicopter and meets up with the four guards at the venue. The one that was with the band had a look of shock and the next thing everyone sees is some arguing. Then they see the other three run toward the copter.

“Let's go!” they yell toward him.

“I can't just leave them here!” he yelled.

“Did he just...?” Brian questioned.

“Fine! You're on your own!”

“And don't come back! Unless you want to be dishonorable discharged!”

The guards yelled as they boarded the helicopter and left behind the soldier who stayed behind.

The helicopter takes off.

“What the fuck!? I don't believe this! They're leaving us behind!” Matt stated in disbelief.

The guard comes back.

“Hey what the hell was that?” Matt questioned the guard.

The guard looks at them and says, “I'm sorry! They were ordered to evacuate to Edwards Air Force Base, but were told to leave behind civilians.”

“How could they do this?” Matt questioned.

“They think you're contaminated and that a rescue would be pointless.” the guard explained.

“Why didn't you go with them?” Zacky asked.

“Because...it felt wrong, and you guys could use some my help to get out of here.”

“Well thanks soldier, appreciate that.” Zacky said.

“It's Jones, but you can just call me Nick.” the guard introduced himself.

“Thanks Nick. But how are we gonna get out of here?” Zacky asked as they looked around and were soon surrounded by walkers.

Notes