Monday, April 28, 2014

Day 365 – Zomblog: Year Two

My name is Alex Mathews. One year ago today, the Kharon Outbreak began and spread around the globe in a miraculous eight days. Those infected with the fatal virus had their corpses reanimate in what can only be described as “zombies.”
For the last year, I (along with a group of survivors) have lived barricaded inside a grocery store ten miles from my childhood home. Our goal was to outlast the zombies while their flesh-and-bone bodies succumbed to rot. I spent this year with my father, Ryan Mathews, as we learned how to adapt and survive in this post-apocalyptic world. He broadcasted an on-line blog during our time within the grocery store to be a record of our time and hopefully a survival manual for those outside the contagion zones.
For reasons that I cannot explain, I am immune to the Kharon Virus. We discovered this only after I was bitten and the virus refused to take hold in my body. Unfortunately, I must get this immunity from my mom because in an effort to get me to the government, my dad was bit and succumbed to the virus. In his dying words, he begged me to get to the government because he believed that I – and others like me – would be the puzzle piece needed to break this thing.
We have arrived in Oklahoma City and found the military. So now we are waiting to see just what the next move is.
My father’s blog was his legacy. I have chosen to take up where he left off. This is the voice of the survivors. This is the voice of the resistance. We are still here. We are still alive.
And Year Two of the Zombie Apocalypse begins tomorrow…

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Day 361 – Fever

I am struggling to type but I want you to know. Last night, I started showing signs of fever and the nausea is getting pretty bad. Whatever immunity Alex has, he doesn’t get it from me. I am going to succumb to the Kharon Virus. It is not a question of if. It is a question of when.
I am so sorry for my son. I am sorry for leaving him alone in this world gone so horribly wrong. I can only hope that this last year has prepared him for the journey he is about to face. So many times, I just wanted to give him a happy life. I just love him so much and I am so scared for him.
But I am scared for me too. I don’t know what lies beyond. I hope I know. I hope it is all I imagine. Maybe it will not be so bad. I hope that He is there to answer my questions. If things go the way people say they go, then I will finally get to see my mom again and I have missed her more than I could possibly describe in this blogg.
I’mm just so sorry for all my failures in this life. I always tried to be the best man that I could be. I cannot say that I was always a big successful but I always want to tried so hard.
I hope that Alex is the key to solving this thing and hope my friends can get him to whoever charges in control of things now. I am leaving him alone and I just want him to be safety.
I hurt so much. Like fire. I love you son. Whereever you are going, know that I am with you and I love you. Please remember me for the rest of your life and know that I only wanted your best in life. I am so proud of you.
Hope this blog saved someones life or kept you going. It saved my life. Hope it saved yours. Please fight. Fight to the end. Life is precious. I love you, Alex. Please find a good wife and grow old. Have kids. You were the greatest thing I ever did. So sorry I got bite.
Going to rest. Sorry I did not make it a year.
Remember me and know I love you.
Goodbye.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Day 360 – Compromised

As we were making repairs to the bus, our crew was besieged by a large group of zombies. We are now back on the road and heading south. I am sorry to report that in the ensuing melee and escape attempt, we lost Yulonda. She went out like a warrior and she went quick.
There is no doubt in my mind that because of my actions Shala and Jennifer are still alive and I prevented a fairly large contingent from getting on one of the buses. But in doing so, I was bitten on my forearm and on my shoulder blade.
There was talk of amputation and if it was just on my arm, I would have consented but getting tagged on the shoulder blade… Well, there is not much they can do about that.
I do still have an ace in the hole. Maybe the Mathews side of the family carries the “immunity gene.” Maybe Alex gets it from me.  
I hope. My God, I hope. I am not ready. I’m not…

Day 360 – Outside Catoosa: Flat Tire

News flash. Apparently some school buses don’t use spare tires. Wish we knew that beforehand. If it was a back wheel we could probably just roll on but the fuel bus hit some debris and one of the front tires were compromised.
Thankfully we are close to the Catoosa high school and we are looking to salvage a replacement. Things are quiet and we are not ready to abandon the three rig convoy just yet. I am just happy we stuck with this multi-vehicle plan as it is paying off dividends now.
More news when we are back on the road.

Day 360 – Last Entry from Home Base

This is my last entry from our home base of operations in Langley, Oklahoma. I did a test with the aircard and we are still up and running, so I will be blogging from the road as we make our trip to Oklahoma City.
We loaded the last of the supplies late last night and everyone is eating our last breakfast together around our table. The goal is to head to Tulsa, circumnavigating the trouble spots and use the old turnpike to get us to OKC.
Maybe with luck we will merge in with a convoy of other survivors heading the EBS broadcast telling us to get to the capital or even get a military escort to a safe zone. It is risky but the potential reward is worth it.
News as it warrants. We are heading out. Wish us luck.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Day 359 – Travel Plans

In order to maximize efficiency and give us the most redundancy in our skill sets, we have divided our group into three teams: Bus One, Bus Two, and the Fuel Bus. We have stacked bunks on all the buses, enough for everyone to have their own mattress. We’ve secured the motorcycles to give us scouting capabilities. I feel really strong about this. Aside from being in an RV, one of those half-a-million touring coaches, or a tank, this is a pretty solid option.

BUS ONE
Jennifer Brown
Justin Burkes
Brad Chambers
Kim Chambers
Nicki Silvestri
Kasondra Taylor

BUS TWO
Kimber Caskey
Shala Martin
Alex Mathews
Ryan Mathews
Eric Nestor
Yulonda Veloquio

FUEL BUS
Lance Wiggington
Hunter Woolsman

Day 359 – Goodbye to the Fortress of Solitude

From the moment I started this blog, I wanted you to know who we were. I wanted to paint a clear mental picture for you. Maybe it was the storyteller in me. I wanted you to understand where we were living and how we were lucky enough to survive this whole thing.
As we are preparing to leave, it is almost like saying goodbye to an old friend that has sheltered us, kept us safe, and provided us with a literal boat load of food. I can say that without hyperbole. We have/had literally a boat load of food.
Part of me is going to be sad to leave her behind but I am very much ready to move on. Now here comes the tough part. Nolan Lang, Judy Myers, and Jenny Deffenbaugh are staying behind. They are going to remain in the store. I am really not cool with leaving people behind but it is not a bad choice on their part.
With only three people, there is more than enough food and resources for them to just keep on keeping on. Naturally, we have agreed to send armed military detachments to claim them if we find an organized government or military presence or Alex’s DNA hold the key to ending this whole thing. Their theory is that is safer to let the military come to them.
Honestly, I don’t think having three more people on the buses will be the difference between success and failure on our part. I know a single grain of rice can tip the scales but I feel solid about our chances even without them. I think their biggest challenge will be keeping from going stir crazy but I understand their decision.
And they understand my insistence on getting Alex to the “proper authorities,” especially if he can be a key to a cure.
We leave tomorrow.
We’ve waited a whole year to get to this day and suddenly it is tomorrow. So tonight, we are indulging in a very choice meal and enjoying everyone’s company. Eat, drink, and be merry. 
I wonder if anyone sleeps tonight… More soon.