Jim Rhodes here – I hope you’re all still safe.  I hope some of you out there still have internet access.  It’s been increasingly difficult for me to find any signals besides ham radios.

I’m not alone, obviously there is a lot to update you on…but we’re on the road right now.  Home is still the hotel, right now we’re out scavenging. Out of no where Bill’s iPhone started receiving text messages. I gave up looking for signals weeks ago…I don’t even carry my phone on me anymore.

For now, just in case you’re local I’ll list the names of the surviors with me in case you know them.

Bill Alcott and his daughter Penny.

Michael Graves

Adam Jaworski (I’m not sure if that is spelled correctly)

We still have plenty of room at the inn so to speak, if you can get to the Days Inn in Hillsboro, Ohio we have food and we can offer protection.

We are on Harry Sauner Road, 500 Ft west of North High Street (Route 62). Hillsboro is 60 miles South of Columbus and 50 miles East of Cincinnati.  If you’re coming try to signal us so we can sure you don’t get swarmed at our gates.

Happy to be heard again,

Jim

It was obvious the room was empty, the bathroom door was shut as was the adjacent closet.  I lucked out, this room was empty.  I was pretty sure that wouldn’t be the case throughout the hotel.  There were too many cars in the parking lot for that.  I didn’t want to burst into the hall guns blazing.  I pressed my face against the peephole, but the corridor was dark.

With more than a little trepidation I headed out, there was no one in the hall. After the drive out I needed to get some sleep, I didn’t want to tackle the hotel while drowzy.  In hindsight I should’ve just stayed in that upstairs room.  I don’t know why but I headed downstairs. There were a bunch of lurkers at the windows, they pushed right through the vestibule doors.  Whoever abandoned the hotel couldn’t even be bothered to lock up before they went.

I ran across the lobby, grabbing a stool from the breakfast nook on the way.  I didn’t want to use the gun and risk shattering the glass.  I lunged with all my weight at the two intruders.  They were a short man in a tattered suit and teenager; a skater kid by the looks of it but he had long since lost his board.  The kid hit the tile floor of the vestibule hard enough to fracture its skull, the little man got up.

I’ve only seen a few of these guys up close before, so I’m no expert.  This guy seemed different, defiant.  He was angry that I tried to throw him out.  I pulled the inner vesibule door shut, within a second he was back at the door.  He pounded it with the strength of a live man.  Not just a live man, but someone significantly bigger than he appeared.  There was no deadbolt on the door.  It needed a key to lock, I figured it had to be in the manager’s office.

The little man was going beserk. I only made it a few steps before he burst back into the lobby. He was hot on my heels, I vaulted over the reception counter.  My less agile friend ran into it hard and bounced off with a thud.  At this point I just wanted him dead, I reached for my 9mm. It was gone. Dropped somewhere in the lobby.

Like I posted before, I had to get into 4 wheel drive to get any traction.  I don’t know how they look by you, but the zombies in my neck of the woods look very dry. Like kindling.  Don’t be foold, they’re quite wet on the inside still.  (and in the immortal words of Han Solo, “I thought they smelled bad on the outside…”)

I eventually got off of the farmland and back to the road, that made traction much easier.  There were more runners than I hoped for.  I was only doing about 25 mph, I didn’t want to risk missing a piece of debris that could puncture a tire.  I was outpacing them, but not losing them.  These bastards are nothing if they’re not persistant.

Route 62 was much worse than I thought it would be.  It seems that became one of the main evacuation routes at some point before everything collapsed.  I spent much of my time on the shoulder, I even had to push an old toyota out of my way.  I pulled up to hotel at about 4AM.  Resistance was light, but steady.

I drove around back and tied all my bags together and exited through the sunroof and made my way onto a canopy.  As I pulled up the bags a big fat zombie noticed me. He grabbed the duffel bag like a fish on a hook.  He almost yanked me off the roof.  I couldn’t believe its strength.  I put a bullet in his skull and hauled up the rest of the gear.

From there I made my way in through a second floor window and proceeded to have the most stressful week in my life.

More on that tomorrow.

This is a sketch of the hotel.

The sold black line is the outside wall, dotted black line is the fence around the pool. It’s only 4 feet tall, it doesn’t keep the rotters out.  They walk into it and trip over it.  The cover is still on the pool, but I think a few must have fallen through it.  There are two, well…human sized holes in the cover.

If I wasn’t alone, I might be able to setup a patrol to keep the pool clean.  In other news, I was actually sunbathing the other day. It was more than a little surreal.

Most importantly, no one (alive) is currently trying to kill me.  My ribs are just about healed and I can finally take deep breaths again.  Also, since this building is 2 stories and built to be quiet last night I was able to sleep without what listening to what I affectionately call the “Chorus of Pain”.

My to do list is extensive, but I’m not in dire need of anything at the moment.  There are several cases of bottled water in the store room as well as a good amount of food.  It’s mostly breakfast food (for the lavish continental breakfasts).  The menu consists of cereal and powdered eggs, there were frozen waffles and sausages too but weeks without power let them spoil.  There are also vending machines in the lobby and second floor.  Even the generator isn’t an issue. On top of my little generator this place has a unit that will power the whole building. It must have a 500 gallon fuel tank — and it’s FULL.  I’ve killed the power throughout the building, I’m only powering 1 electrical panel now and most of those circuit breakers have been turned off.  Fuel will not be an issue for months.  In celebration I powered up the water heater and took a hot shower.

I just wish Jackie was still here….hell, even Justin.  He wasn’t a bad guy. He snapped after Jackie got hurt.  I miss both of them.

I’m sorry I haven’t been able update.  Electricity was secondary to security. Actually, I finally got the power up about 15 minutes ago. I was really happy to see there is still an Internet to connect to, I hope all of you are still surviving out there.  I’ve been up almost 35 hours.

I’m hitting the racks for a while.  This will be the first decent rest I will have gotten since…early July.. I don’t even remember the day.  It was after the 4th of July.  I promise to give anyone that’s still left all the details after I wake up.

Stay Safe.

Jim Rhodes (surviving in a king sized bed.)

For now I’m camping out in the manager’s office.  The main doors are locked and barricaded. The lobby is clear (didn’t use the guns to keep things quiet). I didn’t venture down the halls because I didn’t want to alert any crowds that may be inside.  The manager’s office has a small window with wire in the glass and the door is solid.  I should be okay for the night.

Tomorrow I will begin reclaiming this place. Once I’m settled in I’ll update everyone.

Most importantly, when I was rummaging through the desk I found a 3 ring binder entitled ‘Emergency Procedures’.  It listed emergency exit locations, fire department numbers, police – all that jazz.  The last section is titled “generator”.

I just hope it has fuel. . .

It’s wall to wall with these creeps. They’re rocking the truck now. I’m hunkered down in the back, I hope they lay off soon.  I hope they don’t tip me.  If they don’t lose interest soon I’m going to have to put it in 4 wheel drive and try to power over them.

The trip from my house to here was no fun either. I couldn’t get the front door shut, my house it utterly lost.  I got off the porch and into the cab, dropped the last of my luggage on the passenger’s seat. Then I couldn’t get the keys out of my pocket because of the gloves I was wearing.

One of the rotters started bangin on the window with two crusty stumps.  I fumbled with gloves off and finally got the keys.  The engine roared to life, I stomped the gas and tachometer jumped. I didn’t move.

I heard my father’s voice.  Step on the brake and put the transmission in drive. (It’s funny how your mind can slow down time). That did it.  I had a few hitchhikers when I drove off.  I tapped the brakes, a chubby teenager tumbled from my roof to the hood.  We shared a look. He snarled and clawed at the windshield.  I turned on the wipers, I don’t know why.  My view was now obscured by a mixture of gore and winshield washer fluid.

I accelarated and abrubtly stopped. The kid rolled again, his entrals spilled out the gaping hole in his belly.  I drove over him like any other speed bump. I was faintly aware of a wet popping.  Suddenly I heard  curious sound. A pleasant ringing. *bing* *bing* *bing*

I never got a clear glimpse of it, but its hand was wedged into the rear door handle. Against all odds the right amount of pressure was applied at the right time for this reanimated pile of filth to open the back door.  I jerked the wheel back and forth. The suspension shook back and forth. From the outside it must’ve looked like a steampunk rodeo from hell.

Finally it fell off, or broke apart and the door slammed shut. I clicked the auto-lock.  Enough story time. They haven’t stopped rocking me.

Time to make some roadkill patte.

There is a Days Inn a few miles from me…I’m going to head there.  It seems like a good idea to me.  I don’t think many people would congregate there, but they should have some kind of kitchen and therefore food.  If the kitchen is big enough they might have a generator there to keep the refrigerators going.  It should also be pretty easy to secure since I don’t think any of the dumb-fucks could break down a hotel room door. Even if they broke the windows and got inside I could clear one room at a time at my leisure.

Finally, I don’t think any of the employees would’ve risked their lives to protect it. I really, really hope it’s deserted.  The most direct route takes me onto Main Street….the last two times we I ventured that way we came up against…I don’t know how many thousands of them. The alternative is to take the back roads AND off roads, it’s been pretty dry lately so I don’t think mud will be a problem….but if I’m wrong I’m dead.

Fuck it, I’m not going to think anymore. I’m out of options (and fuel, food and almost water.)  I’m not overly religious, I haven’t been to mass since 2003.  Tonight I’m putting myself in your hands God.  I don’t know what your plan for me is, but I’ll accept it either way.

The generator is stalling, next update will be via cell (if I can get a signal) or from my new home (if it has electricity).  If I’m unable to update (for any reason) Don’t be sad.  I won’t be walking around like them.

I’m sure everyone is aware of the odor by now…like rotten meat and dogfood in the sun….

But when they grab you, the texture of their skin…it’s like over rippened fruit in a ziplock bag, gooey and squishy….I honestly don’t know what’s worse…if it’s been in the sun because of the quasi-warmth or when they’re bone cold…..

I killed a bunch of the military soldiers that were stumbling about (the ones without helmets at least).  I grabbed (2) M-16s and striped the ammo off of 4 more.  There is one with a radio, but he has a helmet, haven’t been able to penetrate it yet.

The generator fuel gauge is on E. I’m on borrowed electrons now.