How the Survivors in Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Spent their Holidays (Patreon)

Bailey

Our story starts off in Thousand Oaks, California, December 25, 2011, at a contemporary, three-story home wrapped in multicolored Christmas lights. The front lawn displays a life-sized nativity scene, and the three wise men line the walkway. Inside a young woman fixes hot chocolate for her family.

“Bailey, don’t forget the gingerbread cookies,” Helen said as she fixed a red velvet stocking on the fireplace mantle.

In the kitchen, Bailey placed the mugs on the wooden tray lined with a lace napkin and added a plate of the cookies. She yawned, not because she was tired. O Holy Night played in surround sound in the living room, as the Christian Christmas Classics station on Pandora played on for hours.

She walked into the living room and set each mug on the center coffee table. The video of a crackling fire on the television drew her attention for a moment. “Mom, why don’t we just make a fire? I mean, we have a fireplace.”

“He doesn’t want that smell in the house. Now help me with the tree,” Helen said and climbed on a step ladder at the base of the twelve-foot Douglas fir.

“Every night? Really?” Bailey said.

The front door opened, and in walked Harry, briefcase in one hand and a Starbucks cup in the other.

“Hello dear,” Helen said and turned to her husband. A brief look of disappointment crossed her face. “Bailey just made you hot cocoa.”

“Thank you but I was in the mood for coffee. I’m just in time to see the angel again. Don’t let me hold you up,” he said and took off his long overcoat.

Bailey watched as her mother climbed the stepstool and placed the angel atop the Christmas tree. Her heart sunk. She wanted to be with her friends. She hadn’t seen them all semester, and here she was stuck with her parents, listening to boring music and redecorating the same damn tree. How was she going to get through tonight?

She grabbed her stomach. “I’ll be right back,” she said and hurried up the stairs.

“Are you alright, honey?”

Bailey ascended the stairs and cut back toward her bedroom. Once inside she closed the door and stood with her back against it, taking deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. She stood there for a few minutes and could hear the faint sound of the Christmas music flowing up through the floor. She rushed to the window and opened it, lifted her backpack, and unzipped the inside pouch where she kept a small baggie of special cigarettes. Jimmy called it Permafrost, and that’s just how she wanted to be—permanently frosted.

Brody and Madison

Snow just started over the town of Nightfall, Colorado where the story takes us to an even nicer home on a larger estate where a black Mercedes-Benz SUV pulls to the front driveway. Brody hopped out of the back driver’s side, carrying an enormous, overflowing paper bag.

“Careful with that,” Madison said and climbed out of the rear passenger side.

“You could help if you were that worried. Why do we even need this stuff? We have everything. We should just donate this stuff to the homeless or something?”

Madison turned towards him just to roll her eyes. “What’s a homeless person going to do with a GoPro?”

“Well then we can sell it all and donate the money,” he said and lumbered up the front steps.

Madison opened the door for him. “We’re not allowed to sell anything. If grandma and grandpa show up and ask us about all this junk, we can’t tell them we sold their gifts.”

A uniformed servant darted out of the entryway and grabbed the bag from Brody. He hurried off as quickly as he came.

“Who was that?” Brody asked in a whisper.

“Guillermo? Dad just hired a few new people,” she said.

“What happened to the other people? I liked them.”

Madison shrugged. She didn’t want to tell her brother that they were all let go by her parents to avoid raises and bonuses right before Christmas. It all seemed ridiculous, since a few thousand dollars for their family meant nothing. She knew it would hurt Brody to hear this about his own father and mother, so she pretended ignorance.

A text message came through on her phone. Madison stood a few steps behind her brother and clicked on the message from Hilary Miller. “I need to know if you’re going to Stanford with me next week. If you can’t split the hotel with me, I need to figure something out. Call me later.”

“What’s with this eggnog? Tastes like cat vomit.” Uncle Nate said from the dining room.

Brody shrugged. “I don’t drink eggnog.”

“Mom and dad ordered it from Scotland,” Madison said and walked over to give her uncle a hug. “It’s made from organic milk from grass-fed cows.”

“Can’t we get anything in this house from a supermarket? Everything has to be five times the price just for the sake of being hoity-toity.” Nate Milford tossed his drink onto the fire, which flared in the fireplace. “This family wouldn’t last for ten minutes on a deserted island.”

Dante

The door opened and Dante stepped inside, a bag of presents in each hand and a full white beard hanging from his face. “Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!”

“Ain’t no hoes in here,” Maxwell said, moving around a toothpick in his mouth.

From the kitchen came Mama who smacked her oldest son on the back of his head. “Hush with that talk. Be respectful of the Lord on his day.” A smile came to her face when she saw Dante. “Is that Santa or my son?”

Dante placed the bags down and lifted off the beard. “Mama!” He wrapped his arms around her, and the two rocked back and forth.

“How’s everything going for season two?” she asked and pulled away. “Come with me in the kitchen. I don’t want this rice to burn.”

“I thought you were making yams?” Maxwell asked.

“I made yams too. Your brother loves my Dirty Rice. You know that.”

“She only made a turkey this year, because some people think they’re vegetarians,” he said, following them into the kitchen. “Last year we had fried fish, roast beef, andturkey.”

Dante sighed. “Last year you were out of work and just moved back in. I was finishing up my first season and didn’t know if anyone would watch it. Things change. Adapt.”

Mama laughed. ”He’s right. Nothing stays the same forever.”

Jillian and Lyle

Jillian stepped up to the door, raised her hand in a fist, and paused. Her stomach churned. She thought about leaving. What was the point of this? This wasn’t her family, and what did she even care? Lyle was more her partner than anything else. Sure, the sex was decent. She just didn’t trust him completely, even after all of the time they spent together.

The curtain moved, and Jillian acted like she didn’t see it. She knocked on the door. It swung open to a tall, thin woman with a crew cut.

“Hi, Jillian,” Simone said. “Come on in.”

Jillian detected a slight tone. It wasn’t a pleasant welcome but more like, “oh, you’re here. Let’s make the best of this.”

“There she is. Now the party can get started,” Lyle said as he sat down a tray of champagne. “There’s my Jillie-bean.” He rushed across the living room and gave her a hug. She put her arms around him and gave an awkward smile as Simone watched. Jillian noticed someone else in the room, a thin, olive skinned man with a thick black beard. He wore a heavy gold chain and matching bracelet, a Vacheron Constantin watch, and Louboutin shoes.

“Sorry I’m late. I couldn’t get off the phone with my family,” Jillian said and pulled away from Lyle.

“No problem,” Simone said. “I was just carving the turkey. I’ll be right back. Elliott, introduce yourself.” She stepped through a swinging door into the kitchen.

Jillian could smell the aroma of spices and roasting vegetables. She hadn’t eaten all day, and her mouth watered. Turning to the man at the table, she walked over to him and smiled. “Merry Christmas. Elliott did she say?”

“Don’t wish the man Merry Christmas,” Lyle said. “He’s Jewish.”

Elliott laughed and offered his hand to Jillian. “I don’t mind a Merry Christmas. I know it’s just customary. I say Happy Hanukkah to everyone anyway.”

Jillian smiled at him. She caught his look across her cleavage. It was brief, but she saw it nonetheless. “Happy Hanukkah. I don’t know much about that holiday. Maybe you can tell me about it.”

Lyle walked towards the kitchen. “I better help my daughter with the bird, so maybe we can eat before New Year’s Eve.”

“I heard that!” Simone shouted from the kitchen.

Jillian walked towards Elliott. There was little space at the small dining room table, and he stood to let her by. She placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed until he sat down.

“No, don’t get up. I’ll slip into the corner where it’s nice and cozy. Don’t mind me,” she said and lifted her leg over his. Her loose dress ran across his lap, and she brought her other leg over. For a brief moment her chest grazed his face.

His forehead glistened with sweat, and he swallowed hard. “Maybe I should help Simone in the kitchen as well.”

She put her hand on his. “No. Keep me company. Tell me all about you, Elliott.” She slid her hand to his wrist and felt the latch on his watch. She smiled as he spoke but didn’t listen to a word he said.

Jaime and Woody

“Save me some of those burnt ends,” Woody said and moved to the kitchen table. He reached for a piece of the charcoal-colored meat, and a hand slapped him away. “Aww, come on now, Aunt Celia. I haven’t had food like this in a long time.”

“Mind your mitts, boy,” Celia said and lifted the pan to carry into the living room. “Not my fault you’ve been eating Buffalo on that reservation.”

“They don’t eat Buffalo…” His voice drifted as his aunt left the room. He followed her and saw a crowd of people seated at the table. His parents sat on one side with a seat in the middle for him. Jamie took up two spaces towards the end, and his family sat on the opposite side.

“Have a seat, Moses. Get yourself a plate, ‘cause nobody’s servin’ you here,” his Uncle Clem said with a laugh.

Woody grumbled under his breath. “Nobody calls me Woody.” And then he said much louder, “No more burnt ends? Y’all know I love me some burnt ends.”

Jamie rose from his seat and passed over his plate to his cousin. “Here, take mine. I can’t eat this much.”

Woody took the plate and scraped the meat into his own dish. He knew Jamie enjoyed the ends as much as he did. But this was Jamie. Woody handed him back the plate and smiled. “Thank you, cousin.”

Lopez

When the door opened, Cristian woke up with a startled look. He blinked hard, and as his vision cleared, he saw his sister stepping inside the apartment.

“I can come in, but you have to give me a few hours,” Valeria said into a cellphone. “I just worked a twelve hour shift. I still have to cook for me and my brother. We haven’t even opened presents.” She looked over at Cristian and held up one finger, mouthing the words, “one minute.”

Cristian stood, took the plastic bag from her hand, and walked to the kitchen. It was a simple studio apartment with only an efficiency kitchen. From the bag he took out peppers, onions, a package of sausage, a jar of olives, and a can of pigeon peas. As he placed the items on the cutting board, his cell phone buzzed. It was a match. He looked over at his sister who was still far away. Pressing the app, it brought up a screen with the picture of a shirtless man with ripped abs and red hair. Cristian swiped right and put the phone away.

Valeria came next to him and slammed her hand on the stovetop. “I can’t believe I have to go back to the hospital. Two people called out tonight. The first Christmas with my brother in years, and I can’t even cook for him. I was going to make your favorites, but there’s no time. I only have two hours, and I still have to get a shower…”

He turned to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it. Go get ready for work. I’ll make myself a grilled cheese for tonight. I’ll cook everything and put it in the fridge. We can celebrate tomorrow.”

Valeria frowned. “Are you sure? That would be so wonderful. I promise I’ll be here all day tomorrow. It will just be me and you.” She stepped across the room and walked into the bathroom. “I hope you won’t be too bored by yourself on Christmas. You don’t know anyone here. Temperance is a small town.”

The phone buzzed in his pocket. “Don’t worry. I’ll get by.”

Nora and Reilly

Reilly stepped out of the shower, wrapped himself in a towel, and walked out of the bathroom. From the first floor came the sounds of Dean Martin singing Let It Snow! The front door slammed, and voices mixed in a cacophony. He could make out his mother’s cackle. What the hell is going on down there, he thought. He moved into his bedroom and slipped on jeans and a black T-shirt with an image of Al Pacino in Scarface.His boots were missing, and he noticed things on his dresser were moved. He slipped on sneakers and went downstairs. Just as he hit the middle of the staircase, a fire alarm sounded from the kitchen. White smoke billowed out, and Nora ran into the living room waving a flat pan in the air.

“Sorry everyone! I had the biscuits on too high,” she said with a laugh.

Reilly took in the full spectacle of the downstairs in one full sweep. Over twenty people were in his living room, sitting on his couch, in front of his TV, at a folding table near the kitchen, on his recliner. Who are these people, he wondered.

A scrawny man in a comical reindeer sweater staggered up the first two steps. He had a scraggly beard, bloodshot eyes, and held a martini glass in his hand. “You coming down or going up?”

Reilly continued down the staircase and shoved the man to the side wall. The drink spilled on his lap.

“Damn, why’d you do that?” the man said.

Reilly stepped past him and moved into the living room. Christmas Story was on the TV, the part with the dogs running through the kitchen and stealing the turkey. A woman was stretched out on the couch, her head tilted back, eyes closed, mouth open, and remote control hanging precariously in her hand. He snatched it and changed the channel to SportsCenter.

“Hey, I was watching that,” Fast Eddie said. He stood from his chair and hobbled across the room, each slow step made with effort.

“My house, my choice. If you want to watch Christmas movies, go steal your own cable,” Reilly said. He walked into the kitchen and shivered at the cold blowing in from outside. All the windows were open, and a black hunk of meat sat on the table. “What the hell is going on here?”

Nora placed a beer bottle on the edge of the table and slammed her hand down on the top. The metal cap flipped off the neck and landed in an ashtray. She took several long swallows. “Aaahhh. Hits the spot. I forgot how long I left it in. That used to be a ham. The biscuits are like hockey pucks. Don’t worry, China Palace is open. How many egg rolls you want?”

“I’m not talking about the ham or biscuits. Who the hell are all these people?” he said, raising his voice.

“Watch your tone, Sonny boy,” Nora said and belched. “My friends came to visit.”

“Your friends? They’re all a bunch of freeloaders if you ask me.”

Nora waved at him dismissively. “Nobody asked ya.” She picked up a set of keys off the kitchen counter and tossed them to him. “I’m calling in the order now. Go pick it up, but first, stop and get a few cases of High Life.”

“You want me to go pick up a bunch of Chinese food and beer for these people? And I’m supposed to pay for it? I thought this was going to be just you and me this Christmas.”

She dug into the front of her house dress and pulled out a wad of crushed bills. “Here. It’s on me.” She tossed the bills which fell on the floor. Reilly waved his hand and left through the back door.

“Merry Frickin’ Christmas!” Nora shouted from behind him.

Tommy

Tommy ran up the walkway, leaping over the end of the manicured lawn to reach the front steps. He slid on a patch of ice and grabbed the metal railing to keep his balance. When he regained his footing he leapt to the porch and opened the front door. The house wasn’t how he remembered it. The sectional couch was pushed to one side in a clump along the far wall. Folding tables stood on their sides with the legs folded and leaned against the wall. The dining room table was filled with plates and cups and dirty napkins.

From the kitchen, a small white-haired poodle ran at him, yapping and tail wagging.

“Foofoo!” Tommy said and lifted the small dog who squirmed and licked him. “I’m excited to see you too.”

His mother stepped out of the kitchen. An apron hung over her neck, and she was drying her hands on a towel. “Oh Tommy. You’re home. Let me heat you up a plate of food.”

As she turned back towards the kitchen, Tommy hurried across the room. “No. It’s okay. I’m so sorry I’m late. The first train was delayed, and I had to argue with them to get me on the next one. It was a madhouse at the station.”

“It’s okay. You did your best. Everyone asked for you. I was just cleaning up.” Mrs. Monroe looked around the room.

Tommy put the dog back on the floor. “I’ll take care of everything. Why don’t you sit down and watch TV. While I clean up, we can talk. I’m not going anywhere else tonight.”

“That reminds me. Joseph called. He said he tried your cell phone but couldn’t get in touch with you. He asked me to pass on the message that him and some of the guys are going to a club and want to pick you up at ten.”

Tommy walked his mother over to the couch and sat down with her. “Like I said, I’m not going anywhere tonight. I’m right where I want to be. Okay?”

His mother smiled and held his hands in hers. “It wasn’t Christmas until you came home.”

Rachel

Rachel knocked on the door of the flat and fixed the crooked wreath on the single bent nail. She heard footsteps on the floor which caused a few steps away.

“Who is it?” a voice came.

“Rachel.”

Locks clicked, and the door opened. The woman stood in a house gown with fuzzy slippers and large bifocals. Rachel stared at her own eyes through the oversized lenses.

“Hello, mum.”

Her mother’s mouth opened wide as she smiled. “My goodness! I didn’t know…come in, come in.”

Rachel stepped inside to a small room with a simple couch, to simple end tables, and an old box TV with rabbit ears.

“It’s lovely to see you. What a shock,” her mother said and rushed to shut off the TV. “Are you hungry? The couple across the way dropped off a plate with roasted goose and plums and…well, I could heat it all up.”

“No, thank you. I’ve already eaten. I just came to see you.” She could see a bit of disappointment in her mother’s eyes, which were her eyes. “I fancy a cup of tea.”

Her mother perked up and went to the kitchen. “If I knew you were coming, I would have tidied up.”

“No bother. Everything’s fine. How’s work?”

“I have off until New Year’s. I don’t know what to do with all this time. I woke up this morning at 8 AM. It felt like a right holiday.”

Rachel smiled and sat on the couch. A cat jumped on the arm next to her. It was black and white and plump. She pet it’s back and it hopped down in her lap.

“Oh I see you’ve met Darcy.”

“From Pride and Prejudice?” Rachel asked with a laugh.

“I couldn’t help myself. It’s one of my favorites.” Her mother placed a cup of tea on the end table next to her daughter and then sat on the other end of the couch. “Careful, it’s hot.”

Rachel smiled. “Yes, it’s tea.”

Her mother giggled. “Of course it is. I’m just giddy. My daughter came to visit. Are you staying? Should I make a bed?”

“No, mum. I can only stay a few minutes. I’m leaving for…well, I’ll be gone for a while.”

Her mother leaned forward and bit her bottom lip like she was getting ready to tell a secret. “You can’t tell me? Can’t you give me a hint?”

Rachel wanted to tell her but knew she couldn’t. She also didn’t want to lie to her mother. She was the only person in this world Rachel would never lie to you. “Sorry.”

“No worries. Oh, but wait.” Her mother stood and placed her own cup of tea on the table. She hurried across the room to desk and from a bottom drawer pulled out a neatly wrapped box in festive paper. It was no larger than a deck of cards. She stepped back over and handed it to Rachel.

“What’s this?” Rachel asked. She turned it over and over, studying it.

“It’s a gift, silly. For you.”

“How did you get me a gift when you didn’t know I’d be here?”

Rachel’s mother clapped her hands together so lightly they didn’t make a sound. “I’ve had that in the drawer from last Christmas. I knew you’d be home, just didn’t know when.”

Rachel stared at the small present. She didn’t want to open it. She wanted to keep it just like this forever.

“Go on. Open it.”

“Alright, I’m doing it now,” Rachel said and peeled apart the wrapping paper. Inside was a box, and she opened it to reveal a red-and-gold ribbon.

“Remember the story?” her mother asked.

Rachel nodded. “The orphan in the palace. Will you tell it?”

Her mother kneeled on the couch next to her. “A little orphan girl lived in the village and won a contest to attend Christmas dinner at the palace. Her caretaker scraped together a few farthings to buy her a new dress and a red-and-gold ribbon for her hair. The girl arrived at the palace and was amazed at all she saw. It was bigger than any house she’d ever seen, and there was crystal chandeliers and silk tapestries and even real silverware. All the guests were wealthy landowners and business people who came from far and wide in their fancy carriages with their gems and jewelry, and some even had servants of their own. But the little orphan girl stood at the far end of the table and spoke to no one, because no one knew who she was.”

Rachel’s mother twirled her finger, so Rachel turned with her back to her. She felt her mother bundling together the length of her hair. “All the guests were exchanging gifts but none had any for the little orphan girl. When the Queen entered the room, everyone stood and marveled at her amazing red-and-gold gown and her waist long golden hair, which she had been growing ever since she was a girl. The Queen called for everyone to take a seat, and the little girl noticed no one had a present for the Queen. Maybe it was not the custom or maybe no one wanted to be the first to give her a present, but the little girl walked along the long table and stood next to the Queen. When her Majesty turned, she said to the little girl, ‘hello, little one. Enjoying the party?’ The little orphan girl took the red-and-gold ribbon out of her hair and presented it to the Queen. ‘A gift for you, your Majesty.’”

Rachel felt her mother tying a ribbon through her hair.

“The Queen lifted the ribbon and handed it to the girl. ‘Tie up my hair with your gift, little one.’ And so the girl did. When she finished, the Queen’s hair was bundled up perfectly. And so the Queen had the girl sit next to her for the rest of the party, and she received the first plate for dinner, the greatest honor at the party.”

Rachel felt a kiss on the top of her head. She turned to her mother and smiled. “Thank you for the gift and the story. I really needed this.”

“Any time, dear,” her mother said.

“Before I forget, I have something for you,” Rachel said and reached into her coat pocket. She pulled out an envelope and placed it on the table. “Best if your open this after I leave.” She lifted her tea cup and drank it down.

“What is it?”

Rachel laughed. “You’re always so curious. It’s just a bit of money. I’ve been doing well, and I want you to have it.”

Her mother nodded. “Can I fix you something for the road?”

“No, mum. I have everything I need.” Rachel stood and hugged her mom. She held her for a few moments, long enough to commit that moment to an everlasting memory. She wasn’t sure if she would ever see her again. That’s how it always was.

“Goodbye, dear. See me again soon?”

“I’ll try,” Rachel said. “Bye, mum.” She reached down, pet Darcy, and left the flat. As she walked through the hallway, only a few meters from the door, she heard an excited shriek from inside the flat. Rachel smiled, knowing her mother had opened it.