It's happening outside Chicago too

Just outside Chicago in Elmwood park.

I woke up this morning like every other morning. Alarms blaring, hitting snooze over and over again until 7:30 rolls around. I stumbled out of bed like a zombie, made the coffee opened the blinds, turned on my computer for e-mails and feeds.

In retrospect, I can't believe I made it through the morning. I live in a basement apartment, so I can see people's legs when they walk by my building. I noticed more people than normal out and about around my building this morning, but I really didn't think that much of it.

I never noticed anything out of the ordinary until I sat down and checked my feeds. Sifting through stuff about Apple's keynote and 'summer-movie' round-ups I ran into a post from Geeks of Doom about a zombie outbreak.

I figured it was about a movie and actually skipped right past it, but my girlfriend loves zombie movies so I figured I read it and forward it to her.

I thought it was just some great fan fiction when I read it until I clicked on some links to others in San Francisco and around the world. I checked CNN and there was a splash page up, like they had when 9-11 occurred. Zombies.

I got that cold chill of realization and it finally dawned on me how quiet it was outside. All I could hear was the birds. I hadn't heard a train horn all morning. I could still hear jets taking off from O'Hare though.

It's about 9am now. I've been sitting in my apartment for too long. It's a basement apartment so I'm not safe here. One window pops and a zombie needs only fall in here and I'm screwed.

Like I said, I can't believe I made it through the morning. I ran the coffee grinder, for chrissakes.

So now, there's no time for a shower. I need to get out of here. I work at the Library just around the circle shaped drive, I have to get there. If the electricity is still on, I can get through the electronic locks, I can get on the roof. I don't know what time the library opened but if this shit went down while the doors were still closed there should be nobody in there.

The only problem is I have to get around the circle and the circle is the hub of Elmwood Park. I'm bound to see at least 20 of them. I have no weapons, save for some kitchen knives and a hammer.

I close the blinds to my windows. I don't want any of them to see me moving inside. I'm trying to stay calm and think rationally. I grab my biggest backpack. Load it with a change of clothes, my camera, cell phone... ARGH, what am I doing I can get all this stuff at the library! We have digital cameras, laptops, food it's all there, I don't need to bring it with me, it will just slow me down.

Ok.

Fuck. I never read the zombie survival guide. I don't know how to deal with this shit. That was my girlfriend's thing!

Ok. So I think what she would do. But I have no idea. I'm wasting time.

I rummage through my closet and grab my tent. I may have to camp out on the roof? I don't know, it seems like a good idea.

I grab my winter coat. I have a sturdy pair of boots too. Jeans, extra socks. I'm remembering some of the war books I read in high school.

A few minutes go by and I think I might have everything. Wait... sunglasses. Yes.

Outside, I can hear a lawnmower. I peek out the window and see the mower go by under it's own power. Just gliding over the lawn and sidewalk until it's out of view again.

Knives. Screw the knives. I don't know how to stab anything. I opt for the hammer. I'm a big guy I should be able to club a zombie pretty well, but I don't know. I haven't been in a fight since grade school.

I've got my gear. I think I'm ready. Wait. Take one more look around. I may never see this place again.

I grab some stupid personal mementos.

Time to go. If you're reading this, I'll try to post again when I get there. If the power's on and the Internet is working.

Who am I kidding. No one ever reads my blog anyway.

BLITEOTW