Hot and dry were the first sensations she felt. A collision of sounds blurred. Ermintude winced, shaking her head as light blinded her. She fought to keep her eyes closed.
A long, stretched-out buzzing switching pitches deafened the sounds of screaming. Her eyes snapped open, the color of flames, before settling into a dark chocolate color.
Ermintude turned her head in both directions. To her left was a group of children with mixed colors, hair, and genders. On the right, four female dried skin zombies pushed toward the children. The zombies had various bones showing, skin hanging off, and hair in patches.
"Hey," she rasped. "Ugly."
The zombies turned their attention to her.
Ermintude's bottom lip pressed against her top, creating a dimple. She lifted her head. "Yeah, I'm talking to you."
Three of the zombies tilted their heads and then lunged at Ermintude. The fourth one slowly reached out.
Ermintude pressed her wrists against the twine that held her in place. Her body jerked up from the odd-shaped wooden fence post. Dirt and sand kicked up from beneath, revealing runic symbols drawn in black. The twine gave way, and she undid her ankles.
The three zombies made a long moan at her hunched-over back.
Ermintude smirked at the dusty ground. Her hands swooped over the narrow-style black boots, removing dust.
The zombies descended lower with joyful gurgling sounds that leaped from their vocal cords. Their mouths seeped thick, clear drool. The slobber plopped on her leather jacket. She wrinkled her nose and shivered as it slid down. "Ugh, nope. Not doing it." Her jacket sizzled. The drool crackled and popped.
The group of children whacked each other, slowly backing away. Their faces displayed horror. They ran behind an abandoned truck. The boys peeked out, whispering to each other.
"She is going to get eaten."
"I should have stayed home."
The girls leaned out with furrowed brows."
The zombies lunged downward, their mouths hanging open. Flames slowly consumed her, burning them. The zombies welded back with charred mouths.
As the zombies backed away, Ermintrude stood. Her arms spread open. "Ahhhhhh!" She screamed. Flames burst from her, consuming the zombies and the broken asphalt.
The children only saw a flash of fire.
Her scream penetrated their eardrums, causing blood to slowly trickle out. They all glanced at each other; a loud, extended beep took away their ability to hear. After a few seconds, Ermintude emerged. Flames puffed from her bell-bottom jeans. She pulled out a pair of sunglasses and popped them on.
She glanced ahead, nothing but abandoned, rusted cars, containers, and busted-up asphalt. Her head shifted to the sides, revealing fields of wheat that practically stretched the length of the highway. Ermintude stomped her heel and then tilted it to the side breaking it off. She raised a leg behind her breaking of the remaining heel.
Steam rose from behind her. The children's eyes drifted to the bubbling, spitting asphalt.
One girl named zoe wondered to the other side of the truck. Her eyes widened at the sight of a medium sized wooden cross attached to the dark fence. She turned back turned to the others.