1000 Word Excerpt

Colder weather was becoming more and more of a factor. He knew he had to hurry. He hoped, here in Okracoke, would be his last stop if he could load up on canned goods that would sustain him. He pulled into the marina on the tiny island wishing he had eyes in the back of his head. Turning constantly, he became wary of any and all movement ashore.

Cautiously Steven dropped anchor well out in the harbor. He watched the dock area with binoculars looking for any signs of trouble. The dock and harbor seemed deserted excepting gulls and a plethora of small birds. Things were quiet, eerily quiet. He boarded his kayak and paddled slowly toward the dock. Summoning courage he climbed the dock ladder, looping his bow line over a hook. He made his way over to the marina office/store feeling tense. Only a few boats were tied up in the harbor. Most of the dockside slips were empty. As he pulled open the marina door he saw what hed feared. A perfectly bare white skeleton lay just inside the doorway. It was stripped clean like a prop in a science class. Steven shuddered involuntarily as he stared at the bones. It was hard to believe this had recently been a human. Hed seen dead bodies before in gory car wrecks, but this was weird. It was more like Halloween than death.

Stepping gingerly over the bones he made a move to go on inside the marina. A scream from the dock area stopped him mid-step. It broke the shaky silence with a fear-filled feminine command.

Run! Run, damn it! Theyre coming!!

Steven ran down to the dock and out across its planked length. He heard splashing beneath him, under the dock, headed in the same direction he was running as fast as his long legs would carry him. He jumped into his kayak, untied the bow line, and back-paddled furiously. A young Oriental looking girls face broke the surface of the water very near him causing him to stop paddling.

The face shouted, Ill swim. Keep moving.

Steven obeyed the order. He stared in fascination as the gr-r-rollers came into view on the dock. One, then several, then twenty or more gray balls rolled swiftly down the dock to its end.

Once he gained the side of the anchored Aeolus, Steven held onto the boarding ladder until the swimming girl arrived. He motioned her up the ladder. He tied off the kayak then followed up over the side into the cockpit. The young woman flopped down on the wide rear seat cushion, darkly soaked in her blouse and jeans, but looking relieved to be aboard.

God, its good to see someone alive. Ive been hiding under that dock for almost two days hoping somebody would come. Im freezing. Ive got to get dry, I havent been completely dry in a long time. Pleasea towel and any old clothes.

She had said, please a towel as if drying off might save her from all she had endured. Even though the temperature was in the low sixties, that much time wet must have been miserable. Steven went below and rounded up some sweat pants, a thick pullover and heavy socks. He laid them on his bunk. Rummaging around he started a pot of coffee on his two burner alcohol stove. Then he went topside. The young woman was furiously toweling her straight black hair.

Youll find some clothes down below. Im sure theyll be too big, but warm. I started some coffee. When you are dry Ill make us something to eat. Are we safe out here?

I think we are. Thanks for the towel and clothes.

Whats your name? asked Steven.

LeeLee An. Whats yours?

StevenSteven Belmont.

Lee went below. Steven stared back in at the dock, reflecting on what had just occurred, then on to the woman below. She was young, twenties, he guessed. He believed shed be very attractive once she got herself together. Certainly her face was appealing. Open and intelligent. She was small, probably shopped the petite section of ladies departments. Her dark eyes, hair, and oriental features alluring, Lee was very welcome company in Stevens mind.

When she came topside she was carrying a steaming cup and had a chocolate chip cookie dangling from her mouth. Sorry, she laughed, taking a bite of the cookie. Couldnt help myself.

Thats just fine. Here sittalk, motioned Steven. You are probably ravenous. Ill whip up a meal. Just relax.

Im not arguing. Go right ahead, said the smiling Lee, looking even smaller than she actually was, in Stevens oversized wool pullover.

As he began a simple meal of left-over beef stew, Steven talked up through the hatchway. Where is everyone? he asked.

Dead. Eaten by those gruesome little fur balls.

Gr-r-rollers, theyre calling them, said Steven.

We heard that on TV, before it went off the air a few days ago. Its horrible here and everywhere else as well, I hear. Before we stopped getting the news, there were reports of hundreds of thousands of deaths, maybe millions by now. They were on us in a flash, with no warning, she said.

Us? asked Steven.

My friends. College friends. We were camping on vacation. Theyre all dead. I think Im the only one left on this island. At least Ive seen no one else.