Remiel Rivers - Prologue 1: Iced Tea
Location: Salt Lake City International Airport
It was about four o'clock in the morning. Elder Rivers was waiting outside the door of his church for his ride as well as his partner. In one hand, Rivers clenched anxiously the strap of his fanny pack; in the other, he held onto a tacky, pink, plastic rolling luggage bag. His right foot tapped on the ground in anticipation. Early, there were few cars driving by. Whenever one did, Elder Rivers would turn in hopes that it was his car.
Soon, a white BMW drove toward the church and parked at the sidewalk. Elder Rivers stared at the vehicle, waiting for someone to step out. The headlights didn't turn off and it took a good few minutes before the door of the passenger seat had opened. Out of the door stepped Elder Valentine. He was a gentleman of about the same age as Elder Rivers, a lean build, brown eyes, and short black hair.
"Good morning!" Elder Rivers greeted excitedly. Elder Valentine yawned and weakly formed a smile. Evidently, he was not used to waking up so early. Elder Valentine spared Elder Rivers of any small talk. As soon as the silence was established, the BMW had driven away. Soon after, another vehicle parked itself on the sidewalk. It was a green Ford. A man stepped out of the vehicle and greeted the two young soldiers of Jesus Christ. "Good morning!" Elder Rivers greeted the older man. The older man yawned and formed a smile in response. Quickly, the older man gave a few minor details to the two boys before getting them in the back seat of his car and driving to the airport.
Checking in took a good hour. Thanks to the church and its benefits, the process was much simpler than would be for a normal flight. This was no ordinary flight, at least not for the two young missionaries. This was a mission to spread to the word of Jesus Christ.
Before long, Elder Rivers and Elder Valentine were waiting at the terminal for their plane to arrive.
"I'm getting something to drink. Do you want something?" Valentine asked as he got up.
"Iced tea" Rivers responded.
Not saying another word, Elder Valentine walked away, returning with two clear, plastic cups filled with clear brown liquid. Elder Valentine opened a straw for Rivers, handing it to the fellow soldier of Christ. "Thanks" Rivers said, inserting the straw into the cup.
"BLECH!" Elder Rivers spat up his drink.
"What's wrong?" Elder Valentine asked.
"This is really bitter!" Rivers answered.
Elder Valentine reached into his fanny pack to take out a clear packet of honey. "It's a good sugar substitute. Maybe it won't make the bad taste go away, but nothing really does." the Elder said, staring into his drink. As Elder Rivers poured honey into his tea, he noticed that Elder Valentine hadn't done the same. The boy didn't say anything. He only watched as the other missionary finished.
When their number flight number was called out, Elder Rivers and Elder Valentine walked got in line and waited to board. The two didn't sit next to each other on the plane. The two hours it took to get from Utah to Arkansas were quiet.
Remiel Rivers - Chapter 1: Winter
Location: Jonesboro Mall
Elder Rivers was huddled inside of a car in the parking lot of the mall of the rural town. He had trekked a long way from the Arkansas International Airport. Clenching his gun tightly, Elder Rivers checked the glove compartment of the car. A granola bar was in plain sight. Hurriedly, he took the bar and crouched back down.
BAM! A zombie had splattered itself over the windshield of the car. Elder Rivers had nearly flinched, but knew better than to compromise his position. As quietly as he could, Elder Rivers unwrapped the granola bar and proceeded to eating. Though he had just been outside, his hands were fairly clean, without a lot of blood on it. The only blood stain being on his left sleeve- and it had long since dried.
Sated, at least for then, Elder Rivers peaked out the window of the car. Knowing their slow, shambling nature, Elder Rivers drew a clear path inside the mall, towards he saw an opening just wide enough to stick his BB gun through to part the automatic door, letting himself in.
Elder Rivers opened the passenger seat door and quickly ran towards the mall. As a zombie walked close, the missionary held his gun like a bat, smacking the zombie with the butt of his gun. Finally at the door, Riders propped the butt at the door and twisted, making an opening just wide enough for him to squeeze through. Grabbing the closest piece of cloth, Elder Rivers wiped the blood off his gun.
The soldier of Christ continued toward the center of the mall, until he saw a Christmas tree put up. Before it stood what appeared to be a mall Santa. If it was undead, Elder Rivers could still shoot it. His BB gun wasn't strong enough to pacify a zombie, but he deemed it was strong enough to at least knock over a present on the tree, big and hopefully heavy enough to do some damage.
"Hello?" Elder Rivers shouted.