Interview With A Turner

The apocalypse was basically over. The cure had been found for zombies. It was possible to return the not so decomposed ones back to human. It was after a night out on the town when I met my first turner. Turner's is what these people were being called now. They turned into a zombie. Then they were turned back. The turner I met called himself Jake. I was curious about what they had going on in their head.

"Jake can we meet for a drink tomorrow."

he wasn't fully changed his movements were still slow and he was still regenerating so still had a rancid smell. His speech was still slow like his tongue was struggling to find words.

"ugh, ok time."

I really hope his speech is better tomorrow or it's going to take a long time.

"How are you fixed for nine in the morning at that Turner friendly cafe across the road."

It wasn't clear if he registered what I was saying to him. not that he didn't respond but he had his thumb in an open wound and it looked like this was the greatest thing in the world.

"ugh ok tomato nine."

It was still amusing how Turner's would get words slightly wrong like Jake just did instead of tomorrow he said tomato. From, I knew he knew what I had said.

This is how the interview went down if you dear reader has a weak stomach stop reading now. For me, I have already heard the language and gore now but several times I was shocked.

At nine A.M I sat waiting with a large coffee looking out of the window. The smell of a bacon sandwich was driving me mental I had to have one. If you can resist a bacon sandwich then your not human in my opinion.

After making my order Jake appeared walking down the street with his shambling strut.

I waved and slid the chair out for him everything could do to speed him up I was going to do. 

 

Jake sat down opposite me. he looked a little healthier than he had yesterday. Once they started to heal they did it fast. I suggested this cafe as people who had lived through the days of the zeds still remember what they did. Everyone had lost friends and family to at least one zombie. This still caused painful memories to most.

I didn't feel very good when Jake started licking his lips at me. I soon realized this gesture was at my food.

"Morning Jake would you like anything to eat."

"Hmmm"

I think I had interrupted his daydream.

"Food drink do you want anything."

"Oh err no not ok to eat food."

It was well known that Turner's couldn't eat properly for about six months. They had to be fed through a straw.

"Ok Jake how far back c, you remember."

I try to keep my voice light but to be honest, I'm shitting myself. Turner haters and being with a Turner was playing a tune with my nerves.

Jake gave me a look. A sad look of water startedSadell in his lower eyelids. Then he shook his head.

"Don't want to go to that memory."

"It's ok Jake I won't judge you people don't understand what it was like for you maybe I can help with that but I want you to tell me from the start please."

I'm not a journalist but I have a small following on social media and my plan was to try to get more sympathizers.

"Ok if it helps. what yo name."

"Oh yeah sorry, I forgot to say I'm brian."

"Ok brain I tell you."

Again the simple words not quite right, in this case, a little w, in this case, oose to let it slide and cross my fingers he wasn't thinking about my brain for breakfast.

Jake started to tell me his story. This could take a while I think to myself and take a bite of my butty.

"I don't remember getting ill. remember blood. I now know the blood was wives. She dead leg in my mouth."

I was not expecting this so early in the conversation. I don't know what I thought. I couldn't help it I stopped him there.

"You was eating your wife."

After a short pause, Jake responded. I was feeling sick now and pushed my food away.

"Yes. I ate my wife but I was still hungry. smelt more food near. I now know the boy I ate was my son."

"Jesus, stop a minute, please. That is awful I'm so sorry I asked you to tell me this bit. "

Jakes face was expressionless but a few tears dripped down his cheeks. This was weird no noise came from him no sniffing or whimpering. Just a few tears.

"I ate my family before I found that I was stuck in the house. The door does not open when walked at. Don't know how to do anything but need to eat. This makes me what word brain."

"It's Brian do you mean it made you feel something. Like anger frustrated sad happy."

"Yes, Brian angry. This all-time angry. I now sad all-time wish not alive the things I do. I wish killed me so Jake does not feel sad. It hurt more than cut."

I didn't think this would happen. I feel really shit for asking now and I'm thinking that I shouldn't have.

"So how did you get out of the house if you couldn't open doors."

Jake looked out of the window. I had no idea what was going on in his head. then out of nowhere, an egg hit the window. "Fucking Turner loving piece of shit you should die as they should."

A man in his mid-thirties was screaming at the too of his voice.

It wasn't clear if it was me he was shouting at or the cafe. It didn't matter it still shook me up and I was not getting involved.

"So how did you get out of the house."

I ask Jake trying to ignore the commotion going on. It wasn't obvious but I could see Jake was bothered by the man as well.

"Hmmm oh, I was in the house for days. All-time hungry. normal people don't know but hungry all time. Just can't get enough food. One day a man came in. I ate him but the door was now open."

"Did this man attack you was you near the door and it opened and you just went for him? Can you tell me more?"

This is unbelievable I didn't know that they just had a constant hunger. well if I really thought about it I did but knowing for definite really put things in perspective for me.

"Oh ok. I was not near the door when open but the noise before open made me go to it. I bite the man as soon as he comes in. I ate him others start to come. I had finished eating. I go."

"What others cane zombies or people. If the others were zombies how did you know not to attack them."

I was starting to feel like I was asking too many questions but he had sucked me in with his tail. I was like an Uber fan now I was starting to see that this was almost like two races fighting to the death. In a fight like that there is no winner. 

  "Zombies smell rotten. That why we don't eat each other. We need fresh meat always never cooked. I try once made me sick. "

Jake came back to focus luckily. The man outside was starting to get a crowd around him. This was not looking good. These things had a habit of escalating fast.

"So you know instinctively that eating another zombie is bad. What about veg and fruit."

"Yes. No veg."

Jake looked at me like I was I had special needs. Then he picked up my sandwich. He took a long deep sniff.

"My favorite I have missed this. Soon as can get one."

Jake put my food down and I was glad I'd lost my appetite. If I hadn't already seen his scabby hands all over it would have put me off anyway.

"So what was it like when you were out of your house."

This was becoming an exhaustive exercise. Trying to keep Jake on track.

"When got side other zombies came. At first, I just walk off. They follow me I let them. They save Jake. People don't like zombies they hunt us. Shots went off bang. One zombie down two you see. Zombie hunter."

"You're telling me that when left house the zombies that came had hunters following them."

"Yes. They fell down around me. Jake was scared I ran. I get away from them zombies got in the way."

"So the other zombies that started to follow you acted as a shield."

"Yes, Jake getaway. Because of them. I learned that humans are bad."

  

In Jaske's stunted English he had told me that he saw humans as a threat and food. This put zombies in a bit of a paradox as they are constantly hungry but their food wanted to kill them.

"So Jake how did you manage to survive for so long."

"I don't know time no matter. I try to stay away from a group of humans. From the beginning of my being a zombie human try to kill Jake. Humans scare me. I only try to get one human at a time. I see more than one I hide."

This behavior was not the sort of behavior I had ever come across or heard of. I wasn't sure if Jake was a normal zombie or if he was some sort of next-generation zombie.

"Excuse me are you two gentlemen going to order anything else. You have been sat here for quite some time and my boss is getting annoyed."

"Oh err sorry could you give us a minute please."

"Ok, not a problem."

"Jake do you want to carry this on today back at my place or meet here tomorrow at the same time."

The crowd outside was getting bigger and I was not looking forward to running the gauntlet.

"I don't know Brain we meet tomorrow."

I waved the waitress over and paid the bill. I got my coat and went to the door I felt like I had enough to work with for now anyway.

As soon as I opened the door I was faced with the barrel of a gun. Before I could react the barrel flashed and a strong powerful hand pushed me to one side. I hit the ground hard. At first glance, I looked to be unharmed. I got to my feet and saw Jake laid on his back. A small round hole in the middle of his forehead.