Why Do You Get To Drive? (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1 - Robberies and Zombies

Atz tried to control his trembling hand as he backed up toward the entrance. Someone moved in the corner of his eye, he spun around to wave his Glock 9mm at them. It was a woman. She whimpered and shrank back.

"Nobody move until I've left!" He screamed. It echoed through the small convenience store. He glanced down momentarily, making sure brown bag was still there intact. He swallowed hard. Shouldering the door open, he backed up into the parking lot. He looked around frantically for his car. Spotting it, he let the gun fall from his grasp and onto the concrete sidewalk so he could scramble over to the vehicle and jump inside. The engine was running; the seats were worn and ripped; the carpet was covered in food and... was that blood!? It didn't take him long to realize this was not his vehicle.

"This isn't my car!" Atz practically shrieked. "Not my car! Not my car!" He looked up to see people exiting the convenience store, pointing in his direction. Some were talking on their cellphones while others held theirs up, seeming to be taking videos. "Screw it. It's my car now." He shifted gear into reverse, backing out of the parking lot, then shifted into drive and sped off.

The sun had gone down and Atz had found himself lost on a deserted dirt road in the middle of nowhere, running low on gas. As he continued through the dark, the car suddenly jerked and shook, making obnoxious screeching noises before it sputtered to a halt.

He frowned and turned the key, shutting off the engine, leaving the key in the ignition as he got out of the car to investigate. It was difficult to see in the dark, but evident that his tire had blown out. He stared at it for a long moment, taking in the misfortune. With a loud groan, he hit his head against the car door.

"Why me." He whined under his breath, hitting his head against the car again with each syllable. "Whoever's car this is. You had better have a spare tire or something." He made his way to the back of the car, groping for a button or something to open the trunk. When he found it, the trunk lid flew open, smacking him in the face. He stumbled back, holding his nose. "Ow, ow, ow." Blood trickled from his nostrils onto his hand. "That's just great!" He yelled, "Flat tire," He felt around inside the trunk, "Bloody nose," His hand touched what felt like... clothes? And skin? Flesh?! Human flesh!? "And there's a dead body in the-?!" A cold hand wrapped around his wrist, coaxing a loud, incoherent noise from his throat as he was tugged into the trunk. "SHIT! PLEASE DON'T EAT ME! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO KILL ZOMBIES!" Atz screamed, flailing like a fish out of water. The 'zombie' pinned him down inside the trunk. "I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THIS! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!"

"Shut up." The 'zombie' hissed. It was a man. Definitely a man. Atz stopped moving, biting his lip to cease his hysterical screeching. "Who the hell are you." The man asked. "And where are we?" Atz contemplated whether he should answer, or if he should stay quiet so he could make some sassy comment later about being told to shut up. One of the man's hands left Atz's wrist and came to his throat; his freezing fingers tightening around his neck. "Answer me." It was enough persuasion to make Atz let go of the opportunity to sass someone and speak up.

"I'm Atz. And I have no idea where we are. I kinda got lost." Atz wheezed.

"Why the fuck would you take me if you didn't know where you were going?!"

Atz didn't answer at first. So he'd stolen a car with a kidnapped person inside? Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Add that onto the list of all his misfortune. "I didn't take you." He protested. He whined as the man's hand tightened even more. "I stole this car! Technically-" He stopped short to try and breathe. "Technically I rescued you." White dots outlined the corners of his vision. "I think I'm gonna pass out." He breathed weakly. The man took his hand away and Atz inhaled like it was the last thing he was ever going to do. The trunk door slammed shut; a dim, red light being the only source of illumination in the dark. He froze. Did that zombie man just lock him in the trunk?

"My luck is just coming in handfuls today." Atz grumbled as he felt around the trunk. A grin spread across his face as he took hold of what he was positive was a tire. "That murderous zombie man can't go anywhere without this." Just then, the trunk opened again. Atz opened his mouth- finding yet another opportunity to use his sass. But the tire was snatched away and the trunk was slammed shut once again before he could utter a word. He laid there in the trunk, silent, mouth agape and his hands clenched as if he were still holding onto that tire. "I think I'm gonna cry." He whimpered.

He collected himself before doing his best to roll onto his side in the confined space of the trunk. He squinted, looking around the trunk in an attempt to find the trunk release. Unfortunately- unlike most trunk releases -he couldn't see it glowing in the dim red lighting. "Please be here." He said, patting the trunk down. The car started and the vehicle began moving. He let out a triumphant cheer as he found the trunk release. He pulled it down. His hopes for escape were dashed when the trunk release didn't work. He tried it again; nothing. He hit the back of his head on the floor. "I hate life. I hate life so much."

The only thing he could do now was wait, and hope that the man eventually let him out of the trunk…