Waking the Fallen

While the guys went over the plans of how to get out of the venue, including gathering anything that could be used as a weapon, Matt sat with his head in his hands worrying over where Val could be. He didn't even hear his name being called.

Earlier in the day at Brian's House...

Val looked through what they had packed, but realized she forgot a few items.

“Oh shoot!” she thought as she realized she forgot their important papers such as birth certificates, marriage license, social security cards, and passports.

“Michelle! I gotta go back to the house.” Val said.

“What? Why?” Michelle asked.

'I gotta get our papers and documents.” Val answered.

“What do you need them for?” Michelle questioned since the world seemed to be heading into chaos and would never be the same again.

“Just in case we need the passports to get out of here. Plus when everything goes back to normal, we might need our papers to get everything in order.” Val explained as she was optimistic that the government was going to get a handle on the situation and the world would be back to what it was.

Michelle looked concerned. Her twin sister was always the optimistic one, and she was the realistic one.

“I'll get some food from our house, I mean we're gonna need it when the guys come back. Plus I promised River I'd get the rest of his toys.” Val said.

“Alright, but be careful.” Michelle said.

“I will.” Val said.

Val made it to their house. Grabbing the fireproof container with their documents inside it. She then went to their pantry and gathered up some non perishable food. Then she grabbed an ice chest and packed up the meat and frozen food inside. Matt liked his steaks and the boys like the chicken nuggets, so she wanted to make sure they had those items.

After loading the items up in the car, she went in the house for the last items, which was River's bag of toys he had to leave behind. She and Matt made sure they didn't spoil their children, but the boys got a lot of gifts from their grandparents, relatives, and of course their Uncle Brian and their band uncles.

Once the car was packed up, she gets in and drives back to Michelle's house. But the drive back was quite eerie since there wasn't a single car out and with the streets lights having just gone out. Val was halfway to her sister's home when out of nowhere she sees a person in the middle of the road. She panics and swerves sharply to avoid hitting them, but the car ends up hitting a tree. The force of the crash knocks her out.

Back at the Haner house...

Michelle looked at her watch and out the window. It's been two hours since her sister went out and she had yet to return. She felt a hand on her shoulder, which startled her.

It was her father-in-law Brian Haner Sr.

“Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. I'm sure she'll be back soon.” Brian Sr said.

“I hope so. But I'm also worried about Brian. I really hope he's OK!” Michelle said.

“I know, I hope he's OK too.” Brian Sr. assured her.

But an hour had passed and she still hadn't returned. Then they received a phone call from Brian and talked with him until Matt got upset about Val not being there.

Back in the present time at the venue...

After going over the plans, Nick asks, “OK, you guys ready?”

“We're going out through the gates to the back lot where the buses are.” Matt answered.

“Right. And don't forget...shoot or stab them in the head, that's how they go down for good.” Nick said.

The other guys looked uneasy because of who those walkers were.

“Look, I know how hard this is going to be. But those things out there are not your fans anymore!” Nick explained. Then adds, “Think of it this way, they're just physical ghosts, and you'll be helping them to rest in peace.”

“We're not exactly religious, nor do we believe, but you make a good point.” Zacky said, then added, “Now that I think about it...I wouldn't want my corpse to walk around.”

“Yeah, I wouldn't want that either.” Brian said, then turns to Zacky and tells him, “If this happens to me, promise to put me down?”

“Guys, this isn't the time to talk about this!” Johnny stated.

“Yes it is Johnny. We need to talk about what to do if this happens to one of us.” Zacky replied. He says to Brian, “I'll do it, if you would do the same for me.”

“This won't happen if we stick together! Now let's go!” Matt ordered.

The guys form a line while holding up their make shift weapons.

“OK steady, stay in formation.” Nick commanded.

They walk out of the tent and see the herd of fans turned walkers approaching them.

“Oh my God! Look at them!” Jimmy stated at seeing their fans now.

“Just remember what we said Jimmy.” Brian said.

But Jimmy looked worried as he looked over the walkers. Almost all of them were wearing Avenged Sevenfold shirts, a few wore different band shirts, and some of the ladies were dressed up in dresses. They once screamed out their names and sang along to their songs, but now they only made gargling hisses.

“Alright! Let's take down as many as we can and head toward that gate! Ready....Go!” Nick ordered.

Gina and Sasha along with a few survivors were behind the line. Matt, Brian, and Zacky hit the walkers in the head. Johnny and Jimmy were still having trouble with accepting what happened to their fans.

“I'm sorry!” Jimmy kept saying after hitting the former fans in the head.

“Jimmy! They're dead!” Brian shouted as he could hear him crying.

“Oh poor Jimmy!” Gina whispered to Sasha.

But Sasha knew that this was time to get serious and stop feeling sorry for those who were now dead. Then a thought came to her head.

“Jimmy, just know that they spent their last lives here having a great time.” Sasha said.

“Huh?” Jimmy reacted.

“I was there, and I could see that everyone enjoyed the great show you guys put on.” Sasha explained.

Understanding what she was doing, Zacky spoke up, “She's right Jimmy. They all died happy, or at least they were happy before all this happened.”

“Guys! We're here!” Matt shouted as they reached the gate that lead to the parking lot. But it was locked. The security guard that was near it, had been turned and was coming toward them. Matt hit him in the head and grabbed the keys off his belt. But there were several keys and Matt tried out different ones to unlock it, but there were more walkers coming.

“Oh shit! Incoming!” Zacky shouted.

“Hurry up!” Brian demanded.

“I'm going as fast as I can!” Matt shouted as he fumbled with the keys. “Aw fuck it!” he added as he starts banging on the lock to break it.

“Stand back! I'll get it.” Nick said as he points his gun and then fires a shot. The lock breaks and the gates opens.

“Alright! Let's go!” he shouted to the group. The guys let the ladies through first, and then they go through. Nick closes the gate and barricades it to keep the walkers contained.

“Let's head to the buses!” Matt ordered.

Everyone heads toward the tour buses. When they get to one, their driver Lenny was still asleep. Since he usually drives to each tour stop overnight, he sleeps in the daytime while the band performed.

Matt bangs on the door and a few minutes later Lenny opens it.

Lenny was surprised to see the band there so early. “You guys are done already?”

It was clear he had no idea what was going on. The guys looked at each other and wondered how to tell him. But they had to go.

Finally Matt spoke up, “The show got canceled.”

“What? Oh I'm so sorry! And this was the last stop too!” Lenny responded in surprise.

“Yeah, we are too.” Matt said as he realized that this truly was their last stop.

If the whole world had become like this, they may never get to perform again.

“So where to now?” Lenny asked.

“Take us to Huntington Beach. We really need to get home.” Matt said.

Lenny looked confused, especially with all the extra guests that came with them. But he got in the drivers seat.

Gina and Sasha were about to get on right after the crew got on, and Brian notices.

“Whoa, what are you two doing?” Brian questioned.

“We're coming with you, aren't we?” Gina asked. Deep down inside this was a fantasy come true getting to go with the band on a journey, but Brian's reaction shattered it.

“No you're not!” Brian spat.

“Brian come on! Don't do this to them. We're already taking Nick, we can take a couple more.” Zacky said

“The difference is that Nick is useful, they're just a couple of fans! This isn't the time to hang out with the band! That time is over! The other fans are going home in their own vehicles, and they both should too! They're just gonna slow us down” Brian said to Zacky in front of Gina and Sasha.

Gina looked like she wanted to cry, but Sasha looked mad.

“Yeah, but you don't have to be a jerk about it.” Zacky scolded Brian.

“It's OK, we're leaving. I don't want us to be a burden to you guys.” Sasha said to Zacky and then said to Gina, “Come on Gina. We'll go to my Dad's house, I need to check on him anyways.”

“Kay.” Gina sadly replied. She knew the band were regular people too, but it still hurt to get yelled at by one of your idols.

She could hear her mother's voice in her head saying, “See? I told you they'd treat you like garbage! I warned you! But you had to find out the hard way!”

But Zacky had followed them out and then said, “I'm sorry about what he said to you.”

Gina said, “I guess my mother was right about what she said about you guys.”

Zacky remembered her story about her parents not approving her music and how her mother had thrown out her Avenged CD's when she found them. It wasn't the first time Zacky heard from fans about how they had to sneak their music in. Some fans having to copy their music and write in a name of a christian band on the burned CD.

“Don't be put off by Brian, he's just worried about his family and wants to get home safe.” Zacky said and puts out his arms. Gina moves closer and he hugs her tight.

“Thanks Zacky!” Gina said happily.

“Yeah, thanks, but we really should go anyways. I need to make sure my Dad is OK.” Sasha said.

“Well please be careful.” Zacky said, and then he pulls out a sharpie from his pocket that he uses for autographs and writes his number on Gina's arm. “Call me when you get there safe.”

Then he autographs her arm with his number.

Gina smiles and thanks him again and says, “We will! You guys be careful too!”

Zacky gets back on as Gina and Sasha head out in the parking lot look for their car.

Brian looked displeased with Zacky as he said, “Really? You had to give her your number?”

“I just want to make sure they get home safe!” Zacky explained.

“And an autograph? Why don't you just give them some merch while you're at it!” Brian remarked.

“Alright cut it out Brian! They're gone, OK?” Matt said as he was annoyed with Brian's behavior.

“Whatever. I'm going to sleep.” Brian brushed off as he headed to the bunks.

Sasha and Gina went to go look for their car. Gina felt a little better, but she still couldn't get over Brian yelling at them. But she was glad that it wasn't Matt that did the yelling, however he didn't talk to her very much. It kinda hurt to be ignored by Matt because she liked him the most, and Brian was second. Now in her mind Zacky just moved up to the top of her list, even above Matt.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when Sasha shouted, “Gina! I found the car!”

Meanwhile Val groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. The airbag had gone off, which kept her safe from the crash, but she was pinned between her seat and the dashboard. She looked around and forgot for a second where she was. “Matt!” she whispered as her eyes were still focusing and was starting to remember how she got here.

Notes