Dawn of the Diapered: An Invasion of the Adulthood Snatchers Story
By: Dementia’s Knight
Part III: Miles to Go Before We Sleep
Chapter IV: Separation Anxiety
The group made their way to the gun store down at the end of the row of stores on the fourth floor and closed and locked the metal security gate that kept the store secure behind them. Though no one said it, everyone was relieved that they, for a short time at least, were safe from any further attacks. Everyone went looking for a weapon that suited them while the two newest inductees to the group sought out answers from Tanya.
“So how do you know these things aren’t zombies?” Marv asked the brunette mother of two as she looked over a row of handguns she knew she wouldn’t know how to use.
Tanya sighed. “Well, a few reasons. One, zombies aren’t real. Two, if zombies were real, which they aren’t, they’d be undead which these people are not. Three, I’ve seen people I care about become something they aren’t, and since I know it’s not some mental breakdown, it must be some kind of infection.” She explained, clearly annoyed at the two younger men for even approaching her.
Marv and Rob nodded in understanding as Tanya explained things to them and only spoke once they were sure she was done. “So you don’t really know that these people are infected? I mean, you’re not a doctor or scientist or anything, right?” Rob asked.
Tanya shook her head. “No, I’m not. I’m a real estate agent.” She confessed.
“Did the people you saw act like these people?” Marv asked.
“No, they were different.” Tanya started. “My husband, and his daughter,” she said pointing to Douglas. “They both were like,” she paused, searching through her mind for a way to give description to what she’d witnessed her husband and Sarah doing. “They were like babies, but only in their minds, they still looked like them.” She explained, realizing just how crazy what she was saying sounded even to her.
Marv and Rob looked at Tanya and then at each other, and said nothing for a long while. “I’m sorry about your husband.” Marv finally said. “We didn’t think that these people were still people, it makes it easier to kill them to save ourselves.” He explained.
“Those people out there are a whole different can of worms.” Douglas said as he walked up behind Tanya. “Have you ever seen a person high on PCP?” he asked.
Marv, Rob, and Tanya all shook their heads.
“When someone uses PCP they become this unstoppable force. Their adrenaline is cranked so high that they become faster and more aggressive, they feel no pain, and they lose whatever sense of humanity they had. Those people out there are showing the same characteristics.” Douglas explained.
“So you think they’re on drugs?” Rob asked.
Douglas shook his head. “I’m saying that whatever caused her husband and my daughter to become baby minded might have affected those others differently to make them violent and crazy.” He said.
“But what could that thing be, aliens?” Marv asked.
“Don’t be stupid.” Tanya said. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for what happened to those people.” She said.
Douglas had stopped listening, he was thinking about his wife, and the horrible thing that had come out of her mouth just before the crash that had killed her. “We need to get ready and get out of here before anymore of those things show up and box us in.” he said before leaving the discussion.
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“I hate to rain on the parade, but I need to use the bathroom, and I’m not going alone.” Bethanne said.
Tanya nodded. “I’ll go with you.” She said with a smile.
Tria sighed. “I’ll go too, lord knows you two sissies can’t defend yourselves.” She said with a scoff.
The metal security gate was lifted and the three women ducked under it and watched it drop back down.
“Ten minutes. If you’re not back by then, we come looking for you.” Douglas said.
“Wait, take this.” Marv said as he ran up to the gate and held out a walkie talkie for Tanya to take. “Channel two.” He said with a smile.
Tanya nodded and stuck the radio in her back pocket before the three women walked down the row of stores to the restrooms.
The hallway to the restrooms was long and ominous given the circumstances of the day. Doors dotted the walls, leading to various storerooms and janitorial closets. All three of the women looked nervous despite the fact they were alone in the hallway with no sign of any attackers.
“Douglas seems nice, are you two?” Bethanne said, her tone leading to the question of a romantic entanglement between the cop and Tanya.
Tanya laughed, startling the other two girls. “No, not at all, he’s my neighbor.” She said. “We’re both married.” She explained, and then immediately wondered if the vows she’d given still held any water now that her husband was an infantile minded drone.
“He’s way too old for you.” Tria said. “But I guess the fact that you’re a whore makes that alright.” She added.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean.” Bethanne asked.
Tria stopped walking. “It means that you already have Richard wrapped around your little finger, and now you’re trolling for Officer Hardass?” she asked.
Bethanne started giggling, and then broke into full laughter. “Richard is gay you blind twat!” she shouted.
Tria fumed. “That’s it Barbie, you’re dead.” She said as she stuck her gun in the back waistband of her pants and lunged at Bethanne, sending the two of them tumbling to the floor where they thrashed and punched at each other, screaming loudly as they did so.
“Hey! Knock it off!” Tanya screamed as she knelt down and grabbed Tria by the shoulders and pulled her up off of Bethanne and tossed her backward down the hallway.
Tria staggered back and tried to keep from falling down. She lost her battle and landed roughly on her rear end on the linoleum floor, sliding backward a bit after she landed.
“That’s enough, both of you.” Tanya yelled. “We’re in a fight for survival here. We’re under constant attack by dangerous people that don’t care who we are or how old we are, and you two are acting like a couple of children. Well if you want to fight with each other then do it somewhere where the noise won’t endanger the rest of us.” She told the two girls.
Tria scowled at the older woman from her position on the floor but said nothing.
Bethanne looked down at the floor, not wanting to make eye contact with Tanya.
“I want you both to apologize to one another so we can get on with this.” Tanya said as she went to Tria and helped the girl up.
“I’m sorry I called you a blind twat.” Bethanne said.
Tria glared at Bethanne and then at Tanya. “Fuck you both, I’m not apologizing.” She said as she pushed past both women and entered the bathroom.
Tanya sighed. “I hope my daughter doesn’t act like that when she’s that age.” She said.
“Look, I know it’s not really a great idea to separate, but would it be alright if we went to the other restroom just down the hall?” Bethanne asked.
Tanya looked at the closed bathroom door for a moment as she thought about the ramifications of leaving Tria alone. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She said after a moment.
Tria heard Bethanne and Tanya walk away from the bathroom door and sighed as she walked over to the row of sinks below the long mirror in the bathroom. She looked at her reflection in the mirror; her eye makeup was beginning to run from tears of rage and frustration that she had no way of controlling. The young girl turned on the faucet and let the cool water pool in her hands a bit before she splashed her face, gasping at how cold the water felt on her flushed face.
As Tria washed her makeup off a tiny sound began to build in one of the stalls behind her. It started out barely audible, but as it grew louder it became obvious what the sound was, it was crying.
To Be Continued…
