Pad and Paper

I knew they were coming for me. I could hear the shrill growling off in the distance, the moaning and shifting of legs. They were so fast - who knew they could be so fast? We all thought the undead walked with the slow, groaning pace of the old Romero movies. Boy were we wrong. Those fuckers can cruise.

I slinked along the shadows, the only light from the fires burning in the distance and an obscenely full moon. That moon would be my savior and my downfall, I was sure. Yes, I could see the bastards, but they could see me too. Their vacant, yellowing eyes bulge and glinted red when they caught sight of me. At that point, it was kill or be killed, and pacifist as I once was, I ain't too bad a shot.

As I rounded the corner of the decaying brownstone block, I saw them. There was a feeding frenzy off in the distance, and the bastards seemed to be coming from miles around to join in the mayhem. I took the opportunity to swing up on the fire escape, one of few that I had seen that seemed sturdy and still attached to the building. Always go for higher ground, pappy always told me.

A blessedly cool breeze met me at the top of the 4 story building, carrying with it embers of the burning city, but also a refreshing spirit. Maybe I could make it after all. God knows how, but maybe... It was then that, at the far end of the building, I spied him. A tall, ragged figure hunched over a pen and paper. I didn't know any of those remained in this hell hole, but like everything else, if you lucked into it, you could find stashes of just about everything. Canned food, porn, baby dolls, magazines, you name it.

He scribbled with such intensity, such fury. What could he be writing? Had he learned a way to defeat the undead hordes? I rushed over to him, sawed-off cocked and ready. As I neared, he finished scrawling, pausing to re-read the tome. At that point, he must have heard my weak footsteps, as his head perked up. Then it cocked at the most unnatural angle to look straight through me.

Those eyes. Those yellowing eyes, tinged with red. He was one of them! It took no time at all for me to do what was needed. Fucker had to die, and die he did. As he staggered backwards and fell from the precipice, I crouched and snuck over to the pad to see what secrets he had to share. Ugh, figures... the non-sensical scribblings of a zombified madman.... I kept down and sought cover.

NFC

East

1. Cowboys

2. Giants

3. Eagles

4. Redskins

South

1. Saints

2. Falcons

3. Bucs

4. Panthers

North

1. Packers

2. Vikings

3. Lions

4. Bears

West

1. 49ers

2. Seahawks

3. Cardinals

4. Rams

AFC

East

1. Patriots

2. Jets

3. Dolphins

4. Bills

South

1. Colts

2. Texans

3. Titans

4. Jaguars

North

1. Ravens

2. Bengals

3. Steelers

4. Browns

West

1. Chargers

2. Broncos

3. Chiefs

4. Raiders

NFC Wildcards: Giants, Falcons

AFC Wildcards: Bengals, Texans

NFC First Round Winners: 49ers, Cowboys

AFC First Round Winners: Texans, Patriots

NFC Divisional Winners: Cowboys, Packers

AFC Divisional Winners: Colts, Ravens

NFC Champion: Packers

AFC Champion: Ravens

Super Bowl Champion: Packers

Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rodgers

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, GB

Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees, NO

Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Willis, SF

Questions:

1. Over/Under Interceptions for Favre at 20 - Over

2. More rushing yards, Adrian Peterson (Minn) or Chris Johnson (Ten) - Johnson

3. Over/Under wins for Seahawks at 7 - Over

4. More receptions, TO or Ochocinco? - TO

5. Over/Under on games Tony Romo throws 2 or more interceptions at 4 = Over

6. Best Record in the NFL: Saints
7. Worst Record in the NFL: Bills
8. More Yards Passing Rivers, or Brady?: Brady
9. Cowboy with Most Rushing TDs: Barber
10. Sack Leader in NFL: Mario Williams

The moments of forgetfulness are what matter. Release of the mind allows me to survive in the present. Instinct forms the man into the beast within. Just like them.

But I can't forget. Not for long. It chases me, the past. Taunts me with its mundane complexities, and comfortable simplicities. My boring bloodless life before the Moon turned red, and the Sun shone black.

I hunt people now, just like the dead. They hunt for food. I hunt for hope. I'd found one months ago. Obviously a bear of a man once, he'd shrunken and bent to the bitter realities of a world cursed. He was anxious to leave. Like most people after the fall, he felt there was safety in hermitage: stay low, stay quiet, stay hidden. Any group draws attention, and the only ones paying were the hoards.

We talked around a fire that night; a dangerous thing. His spirit had grown so dark as to be a shadow. In an effort to help, I broke my rule against memory. We talked about football. That silly pointless game that left the players broken, and the fans broke. We both had loved it once.

He surprised me with a sudden brightening. An offer of a wager. The prize a bottle of fine whiskey. It was a silly thing, a pointless thing. I couldn't say yes fast enough.

The horrors came before dawn, and we were scattered. I ran over a mile before looking back. The creatures are fast, but clumsy over rough, uneven terrain. Once out of sight they stop chasing. The prey forgotten. The dead have no memory.

But mine was back. I'd scratched my answers to the wager in ash with a smoldering twig onto the pages of a battered hymnal. I'll find him I told myself. And I'll win that bottle of whiskey. And I'll drink this whole damned world away.

Fin.

NFC East
1. Cowboys
2. Giants
3. Racist Logos
4. Eagles

NFC West,
1. 49ers
2. Cardinals
3. Seagulls
4. Rams

NFC North
1. Packers
2. Vikings
3. Bears
4. Lions

NFC South
1. Saints
2. Falcons
3. Panthers
4. Bucs

AFC East
1. Patriots
2. Jets
3. Dolphins
4. Bills

AFC West
1. Chargers
2. Raiders
3. Chiefs
4. Broncos

AFC North
1. Ravens
2. Steelers
3. Bengals
4. Browns

AFC South
1. Colts
2. Texans
3. Titans
4. Jags

MVP: Drew Brees
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson
Defensive player of the Year: Demarcus Ware
AFC Wildcards: Steelers, Jets
NFC Wildcards: Giants, Vikings
AFC First Round Winners: Ravens, Patriots
AFC Second Round Winners: Ravens, Colts
AFC Champ: Ravens
NFC First Round Winners: Giants, Cowboys
NFC Second Round Winners: Packers, Cowboys
NFC Champ: Cowboys
Super Bowl Champ: Cowboys
Super Bowl MVP: Tony Romo

1. Best Record in the NFL: Colts
2. Worst Record in the NFL: Bills
3. More Yards Passing Rivers, or Brady?: Brady
4. Cowboy with Most Rushing TDs: Barber
5. Sack Leader in NFL: DeMarcus Ware

1. Over/Under Interceptions for Favre at 20: Under

2. More rushing yards, Adrian Peterson (Minn) or Chris Johnson (Ten): Johnson

3. Over/Under wins for Seahawks at 7: Under

4. More receptions, TO or Ochocinco? Ochocinco

5. Over/Under on games Tony Romo throws 2 or more interceptions at 4: Under